MacBook Pro for Music

Hi,
I'd like to get a Mac as my personal computer, mainly for composing music. The programs I use include Logic, Navtive Instruments Komplete and Spear. I am also a Software Developer and program music using C, C++ and Python.
I will be taking care of a baby full time for the next year so that's mainly why I'm going with a laptop rather than a stationary. This will make it easier for me to compose for a while when the baby is playing by himself.
I have settled on the standard 15 inch MacBook Pro without the Retina Display.
Do you think that I am making a good choice for around $1800 or have you other suggestions? My budget is $1800 but I will stretch it a little if it makes sense to do so.
Additionally, I have a few concerns.
- Other laptops I have used previously have burned my hands either via the battery sitting under the touchpad or because of heat coming from a side fan. Can I expect such issues with a MacBook Pro?
- In you opinion, will it be reasonably comfortable to work for up to an hour on a soffa with a 15 inch MacBook on my lap? Is there any reason to consider a 13 inch in this case?
- I have a 2006 iMac. Can I use its as a secondary monitor for my MacBook Pro?
- Does the MacBook Pro work well with multiple third party DVI monitors?
- Is there any reason to wait until the release of Mavericks?
Thanks very much for your help!
Barry

You've made a good choice. Actually any of the Apple notebooks would have been a good choice but for some of the software you mention the 15" display will be more comfortable to work with than the 13" I think. There's always a trade-off between 13" and 15" - the 15" is a bit preferable for its larger display and the 13" for being a bit more comfortable to carry around.
Both the 13" and 15" MBP get toasty. For me it isn't burning hot but rather sweaty hot. I use a lap desk just to put some distance between me and the computer. The 15" might get a bit toastier since it has a discrete video card but that's not something I've actually tested. Even with the fans running full blast I never feel it.
The newest MBP models can only use Thunderbolt iMacs as a secondary display but you should have no trouble using a quality DVI display. You'll need to purchase a thunderbolt<->DVI adaptor.
Whether to wait for Mavs is entirely up to you. We know Mavs will be out "soon now" since summer is nearly gone but just when that is we don't yet know. If you need the computer now, go for it. If you can wait a few weeks...or a month...wait. Personally, I'd get the computer.

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I'm sorry if a thread like this is already up but i couldn't find one.
Anyway, basically i'm university student studying Audio Engineering w/ Electronics and i am just currently entering my second year. After the first year of uni i have come to the conclusion that an Apple computer would meet my needs as this course is multimedia heavy and i also like to produce music on my spare time.
I have been desputing in my head whether to get an iMac or a MacBook Pro and should i get the current generations or the previous ones and try to save money. If i were to buy the current models i could only afford the lowest spec iMac or MacBook Pro. I do like the having a laptop due to portability but if an iMac is the better out of the two i'd probably use this laptop for light browsing and whatnot.
Currently, I am using a Windows PC and it crashes on me when ever i open Reaper and even Audacity which is strange as looking at the my current specs it should be able to run the absolute minium. I have managed to use Adobe CS5 on it but it takes somewhat hours to render the final video - i don't whether if it's the machine or if it's just the vidoe content. I had too many problems with Windows PC's and I feel that I am a true Apple user at heart.
Advice would be much appreciated.

There is nothing the Mac computer line can do that a Windows computer Can't do. Whatever you have been told or read is flat wrong. There are major recording studios that use only Windows and then therer are some that use only Mac's. They will both do the extact same things with the exact same software.
Both Mac and Win PCs use the exact same hardware. There is no difference except in the OS they run and the available software for each OS. Windows having a larger choice of available software.
EDIT:
Then there is something wrong with your Win PC if it crashes all the time. Could be hardware or the software is corrupted, like the OS and programs needs to be reloaded.
Same things happen to Mac's, again there is no difference. Mac's suffer from the same hardware and sofftware glitches as Windows. Just read these forums and you will see tons of problems.

Buying a new Macbook Pro for music recording, should I upgrade the RAM or Processor?

As the title states, I'm looking into buying a new Macbook (15 inch) for music recording. Should I upgrade the processor or the RAM memory?

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Need help/advice on choosing a Macbook Pro for music editing !!

Hi all
so ive just started TAFE/college doing sound production and i can't decide if i should get the high end 13" 2.7GHz i7 MBP or the low end 15" 2.0GHz i7. both refurbished. or if i need one at all?
my current pc is abit old and i would like a new computer to run either logic or cubase depending what i end up with (pc/mac) so i can do music edits and mixing (maybe with visuals) for TAFE and possibly for my future career, i also plan to do home recordings when i can get the equipment. Nothing too fancy just basic home recordings. I can afford the 15" but wuld i be better off getting ther 13" and saving the money to buy the recording equipment i.e interface, cond mic.
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Hi,
No, you indicated both MBP's had i7 chips and the 13" has a faster clock speed, so lightly better performance would be expected from that. Logic of course is Mac only so if you decided to stay with the PC you'd have to go with Cubase. Or better still use the DAW that your college recommends.
Most outboard Audio Interfaces are currently either USB or Firewire. Thunderbolt interfaces will appear over time and this should bring performance improvements. I suspect PC's will offer Thunderbolt eventually too. With the home based setup you described in the original post I'm not sure why you would need more than a couple of USB ports and you would also get a Firewire 800 port with a Mac.
Bottom line is if your existing PC can cope and is compatible with the college recommendation use it, if not, upgrade your PC and use the savings to buy the other bits you need. Or buy the 13"MBP.
While I don't want to get into the discussion about whether Macs are easier to use or just different to use, I work with both platforms doing music in UK schools and I find kids pick up the basics of computer music more quickly on a Mac. Just an observation.
Good luck with your music studies whatever you deside to do.
Alastair.

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An Intel iMac AND a MacBook Pro for Logic Pro?

I am torturing myself over this issue lately so any input you guys could offer would be welcome!
This is the situation:
After 3 months of serious debating whether to purchase a 20" Intel iMac or a MacBook Pro for Logic Pro, I went ahead about 3 weeks ago and got the iMac. My reasoning behind this was that even though I found the portability of the MBP very desirable, the iMac simply represented a better value with the big screen and bigger hard drive. Since getting it, I must say I love this machine and I have not had one single problem with it. Logic 7.2 runs like a dream on it. By the way, aside from maintaing my iTunes Library, occasional iLife stuff and web surfing with Safari, this iMac is for music production only.
But here's the problem:
Still, I can't seem to shake the desire for OCCASSIONAL portability. Keep in mind, I am only a "serious" music hobbyist; I create instrumental hip-hop, trip-hop, electronica style of music mainly with software instruments, loops and breakbeats. So needless to say, I don't tour or do a lot of travelling. But the prospect of being able to compose tracks or make beats in Logic anywhere is DESIRABLE to say the least. I could compose while sitting on the couch watching a game or laying in bed - even though I have no idea of how often I'd actually do that, just having the ability to do it is VERY APPEALING to me. Throw in the fact that the iMac currently shares deskspace with a PC that my wife uses - meaning that I often have to stop what I'm doing to let her use the space. With a laptop, I could move and still continue my flow. Lastly, I unfortunately have bad knees and a bad back so after a couple of hours (or 3 or 4) of sitting at the desk working on Logic, I am seriously hurting. Not comfortable at all. At least owning a MacBook would give me the option to move around to some place more comfortable if I desire.
So...
Even though I recently bought a wonderful iMac that works great, I'm seriously considering getting a 1.83 MBP with at least 1GB of RAM and the 100GB/7200 RPM drive to accompany it just for the portability factor. Sure, I could get a used G4 PowerBook or iBook, but all I own is the Universal Binary of Logic Pro; I would have a hard time accepting the decrease in speed I've gotten use to on the Core Duo. Besides, I inherently have a problem buying something (even used) that I know is old and out of date when the latest and greatest is available.
So here is the $25,000 question: Am I nuts for even considering this? Am I placing too much of a premium on the portability as I would use it?
This could easily be justified if I was a working musician on the road, but that ain't me. And you can believe that I'm definately not rich and thus don't have money lying around.
But I have obsessed over this so much lately, I feel that I almost have to get it just to put my mind at ease! I even briefly considered putting the iMac on eBay and just buying a MBP to replace it, but I love the screen real estate I get with the 20" iMac and I question if I'll be truly satisfied with a 15.4" screen FULL TIME. 17" might be better, but I doubt if I can wait until June for them to arrive. In addition, everything would connected via my wireless LAN and .Mac so file sharing should not be an issue.
Help!!!
What would you do? Sell the iMac or just get a MBP as cheap as I can?
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20" iMac Core Duo, 2GHz, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB HD, 128MB VRAM Mac OS X (10.4.4)

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The best one is the model without the word "Book" in it...
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Your attending high school and unless everyone else is rich also your likely going to be a target by the more poorer students for theft or damage to the machine.
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