Mac vs PC for school

[Schniapereli]

I don't want to start another battle of the never-ending war, but my school is hoping to be buying a computer for our booth, but we are not sure what kind to get.

The type of computer we will get will be based largely on what software we can get on it. We will be using some form of show-control (Sound Cue System, or Multiplay if PC, Qlab if Mac) some Lighting CAD (Vectorworks or from Martin) and some light Video Editing. We will also be doing a lot of audio editing. (Audacity or Adobe Audition.)

(any other good programs I should know about...?)

Every lighting person I have ever personaly met has carried a Mac, and every sound man a PC. But I don't know which way to lean when the computer will be doing a lot of both.

So, if there are any high school personel out there, or people who can remember that far back; what works/ed for you?

[avkid]

If they'll let you, get Mac hardware and both operating systems.

[Footer]

Usually sound people are hard core mac, lighting usually go PC simply due to autoCAD/WYG, but then again many do mac because of vectorworks.

If you do get a mac, you will need to dual boot to be able to do everything.

[soundlight]

Get a Mac, get Q-Lab, and get an AudioFire interface in the budget. (I'm a crazy PC person for everything except booth computers. For booth computers, especially mainly sound computers, Macs make sense.)

[icewolf08]

Originally Posted by Schniapereli

I don't want to start another battle of the never-ending war, but my school is hoping to be buying a computer for our booth, but we are not sure what kind to get.
The type of computer we will get will be based largely on what software we can get on it. We will be using some form of show-control (Sound Cue System, or Multiplay if PC, Qlab if Mac) some Lighting CAD (Vectorworks or from Martin) and some light Video Editing. We will also be doing a lot of audio editing. (Audacity or Adobe Audition.)
(any other good programs I should know about...?)
Every lighting person I have ever personaly met has carried a Mac, and every sound man a PC. But I don't know which way to lean when the computer will be doing a lot of both.
So, if there are any high school personel out there, or people who can remember that far back; what works/ed for you?

Lets go down your list.

•Sowcontrol/Sound Playback - Could go either way
•CAD Software - VW is becoming a real standard, I would venture to guess that more people use it over WYG. Plus, it is fully compatible with ACAD files. So, Mac
•Video Editing - Final Cut is the standard so Mac
•Audio Editing - There are lots of options for both Mac and PC but as was said, many prefer Mac. So, Mac

Then there is the fact that your Mac can run windows, and you don't actually have to dual boot. VMWare will allow you to run windows on your Mac, and probably faster than on a Windows box. Makes it real easy to go back and forth from Mac to Windows will drag-and-drop support between them.

If you can get the school to spring for it, get a Mac Pro with a big LCD and you will be quite happy.

[Schniapereli]

Mac it is!

[avkid]

Originally Posted by Schniapereli

Mac it is!

Good choice, the Mac Pro is a beast.
4TB fully decked out.

[Grog12]

Originally Posted by icewolf08

•CAD Software - VW is becoming a real standard, I would venture to guess that more people use it over WYG. Plus, it is fully compatible with ACAD files. So, Mac

Not really a point for Mac as VW runs on both platforms.

[SteveB]

Originally Posted by icewolf08

If you can get the school to spring for it, get a Mac Pro with a big LCD and you will be quite happy.

Not sure about whether this is an issue with Mac's, but usually a laptop with a larger screen eats up battery time. Big screen units are heavier as well.

I have an early HP laptop with the 17" screen and if I had to do it again, I'd go to a 14" or 15" and with the money saved, buy a separate 19" LCD. Dual screens are terrific for looking at 2 VW plots at the same time, or ground plan and plot, or plot and Lightwright, etc...

Steve B.

[Footer]

Originally Posted by SteveB

Not sure about whether this is an issue with Mac's, but usually a laptop with a larger screen eats up battery time. Big screen units are heavier as well.
I have an early HP laptop with the 17" screen and if I had to do it again, I'd go to a 14" or 15" and with the money saved, buy a separate 19" LCD. Dual screens are terrific for looking at 2 VW plots at the same time, or ground plan and plot, or plot and Lightwright, etc...
Steve B.

Mac Pro's are Apples desktop line. They are extremely well build computers. They are made only for high end processor intensive work.