Best Performance/Price to control my Behringer X18 (wifi dual band 5ghz prefered), Ableton Live and Overbridge on a 11-13" (max) size with Windows 10
For my LIVE it will control only my Behringer X18 so better if it’s Tactile - touch thing
For studio and outdoor working i would like :
I would like to run Ableton Live (essentially audio tracks + Overbridge)
I would like to deal with sample management also for elektron machines
Any intelligent idea based on that and a good ration between Price and Performance ??? I was PRO-APPLE but as PRO is not considered well anymore i will switch and come back to W10
I would like to free my iPad air for Audio App and integrate in my Live… Laptop will control the X18 mixer from Behringer so better if 11-12" it will fit inside … 13" will be outside the device (but it’s not a big deal) and i don’t want another iPad because price is near a laptop and i should use it extensively on different tasks
I wouldn’t recommend switching to Windows if you’ve been using macOS exclusively. I don’t know in what sense the new MacBook Pros aren’t pro enough for you, but keep in mind that Windows laptops are also moving to an usb-c connectors-only world, even though that’s happening a bit slower. Also keep in mind that in most cases you can get new cables instead of using those ugly dongles.
Having said that, I would recommend taking a look at the laptops Razer makes. These get pretty close to what Apple does in terms of build quality and reliability.
I recently bought a reconditionned lenovo x201 for 190e with 4gram 1 year warranty. I had à 9 cell battery for 70 e new. I plan to put a 128 ssd in it. Its compact, live long on battery and have an Intel cor i5…
I think if every people on apple since 10 years, in graphic design, video maker and music maker would told you the same. PRO is not only inside the machine, it’s technical support - it’s warranty - it’s price for what is inside - it’s comfort in usability - it’s reliability - it’s things that you can’t find elsewhere :
and i can told you that Apple is clearly not what’s Apple WAS ! I have more problems every 2 years, price drop massively, they are going to less repair so the Apple Care will be at some point only a software support - Retina screen is a pain for every webdesigner AND there’s NO TOUCH SCREEN on ANY MODEL !!! it’s just a joke that’s coming and they’re LATE on that really LATE- You can’t evolve your SSD, RAM anymore all inside is done to make your life more complex…
I don’t care about touch id, touch bar just upper the keyboard is ridiculous so touch bar - keyboard and again a touch device that’s not what i call ergonomic and so here we are they not good in ergonomic now that’s new from Apple !!! we’re looking for the SCREEN ever we are don’t looking on this touch bar it’s a non sense !!!, Apple pay (stupid), Entry model is 200$ (expensive !!) for no reason than 2 years ago… The entry level Macbook pro is basically a specifications of a Macbook air more or less ! you can’t do what i do on that’s entry level machine…
they bump prices massively ! Only thunderbolt you will have to pay for every adaptor to connect HDMI, USB, Firewire etc…
Every Year a new system which hardware drivers is a pain for users for waiting 6 month at least and 4-6 months later coming the new MacOS Nevada or MacOS Rolling STONE !!! A Macbook Pro 15" with same capabilities from my iMac is more than 3000 € that nearly the Price of Mac Pro 1 and half a year ago ! That’s just a big APPLE JUICY JOKE !
MagSafe OUT ! one of the most secure DC Adaptor is gone so now you kick your cable Macbook pro is fallen on the ground… 1euro = 1,09 dollar so the conversion is a JOKE too ! and get the price DROP again higher … So with a PC there’s 1000 euro difference with same specifications at least and i’m very kind when i say 1000, it’s 1000/1500 euro …
As i say on another POST a macbook pro at 2699€/3199€ euro and a Wacom Cintiq at 2500 is total of 5100/5700 euro with the new Surface Studio you have a 28" touch screen with Wacom Cintiq and powerful machine on Windows 10 and W10 will keep this version for few years no more big system version to come : AT 3,499.00 euro
All now is done to make Apple stocks safe and make their progression quarter after quarter
They’re just keeping the FANBOYS as customers now, every PRO migrate more and more … Apple also don’t make what people want now… They just say now a computer is like that, and you need to use like that… that’s CRAZY They drop Flash Player/ Microsoft Silverlight you need to activate each time or tweak Safari… The iPad Pro 9.7" is more powerful than the iPad Pro 12.9" WTF !!!
imo the new base model 15" MacBook Pro would be the one to go for, if only its HD wasn’t 256. Honestly, selling 256gb hds in laptops made for work is criminal. Hopefully next refresh they simply drop the 256 and offer the 512 at the same price. To me my gut churns at spending anything more than 3300 (aud) on a computer.
I really feel like this current moment is a bad time to buy a laptop. Lots of tech and chips and ports have shifted. I’m gonna wait out another 6 months or so to let the dust settle on all that a bit.
Having said that, yeah the razors looks cool. Also the surface book, but that’s just as pricey as the MBP. Also with last years tech.
For bang for buck I’d probably grab a Dell XPS 15 but that is likely to get a refresh soon too.
Check out the DELL XPS15.
You can get an i7 Quad Core 1TB SSD with 32GB RAM. A bit of a MacBook Pro killer
They are 15" but have a footprint the size of most 14" laptops. I read somewhere recently that they were only just slightly larger than a 2015 MacBookPro 13".
The XPS13 has had an upgrade in the last few weeks with the Kaby Lake Dual Core processor but Intel havent even released the Quad Core Kaby Lake yet - that’s looking to be into the new year I read. So the new XPS15 won’t be out well into the new year probably. Not good if you’re desperately after one now
I think a lot of the folks who claim they’re switching to Windows and say “Windows is good now” have never actually tried it. Before you make the determination whether saving $1,000 on a computer or whatever grievance you have with Apple is the biggest issue in your life, remember this is the operating system you’ll be using for the next 3–5 years.
True for the OS … but almost every “new” Apple has technology inside, which is available already to the other computers too, ever since Apple went the Intel road.
There is one important point to the Apple OS for us to consider and that’s how audio hardware can be integrated. On Windows, up to now, there is only “one” audio interface slot available. IMO only the ASIO standard is acceptable for producing music, the rest is nice to view videos or listen to audio. AFAIK, if we want to use more than one audio interface simultaneously, we better would use Apple OS.
Show me a Windows laptop that offers four Thunderbolt 3 ports and that allows me to hook up and use two external 5k displays in addition to its internal display.
Show me a Windows laptop that includes an SSD that’s connected using 4 PCIe 3.0 lanes, or even one that gets close in terms of raw read and write performance.
Completely agree. It’s absolutely mind boggling how sparse the audio and midi support on Windows still is. You can easily set up an aggregated audio interface on macOS while I don’t think there is any easy way to do this on Windows.
I regularly use Windows for testing, and even though getting to a reliable pro audio setup is absolutely possible, it is a hell of a lot less fun than on macOS.
Well, I think, being a musician, I wouldn’t need two 4K monitors connected via Thunderbolt to my notebook, would I? That’s more for hard-core gaming and territory of non-Mac notebooks. One big screen like 21:9 or two of them having standard resolution provide sufficient space for DAWs and can be connected to non-Mac notebooks also. I think, USB 3 is good enough for DAW graphics (high end notebooks come with 3x USB 3 and 1x Thunderbolt). That’s not too bad, and seems adequate for musical purpose. So why pay for more?
I haven’t checked on SSD data transfer. You may be right there, but there are some notebooks with at least PCIe for SSD (Dell, Samsung, ASUS: PCIe 4x @ 512 GB SSD). Not that bad either.
By the way, did Apple invent PCIe or SSD? IMHO Apple was a technology leader for a long time, it started with the Lisa, which was a kind of predesessor of the Mac, when others concentrated on office applications - more or less. But later the PCs catched up quickly. If you read the specs of a new issued Mac or PC today, the Mac is almost more expencive only, sometimes a little behind (compare the processors), but no more that inventive, as in their glorious era. That’s sad.
But let’s not start this unholy Mac/Non-Mac discussion here. It’s not worth
I’m pretty certain the dell XPS can run two 4k monitors and the internal display through thunderbolt. It’s SSD is pretty nippy too.
Anyway, check out the Razer Blade Stealth or XPS range. I just got the 15 during the week and it’s a wonderful machine. I had waited all year for the next MBP iterations but I just can’t justify the asking price hike and it’s not as if MacOS is any better than windows these days either. Probably not been much between the operating systems for a good few years now.
One thing I have found surprisingly handy is the touch screen on the XPS 15. I thought it’d be a waste of time but I find myself reaching for the screen more often than the touchpad or mouse.
Sure, just pointing out that they still do push the boundary. I was talking about two 5k displays, by the way, not 4k.
You’re right. Looks like there are already a few laptops that also offer SSDs connected with four PCIe 3.0 lanes. Nothing in this compact form factor though; these are mostly bulky gaming machines.
Well, it’s not 1983 anymore. It’s true that most of the hardware innovation Apple works on is outside of the core x86 architecture. They have been heavily involved with USB-C and Thunderbolt though.
But to turn this around, so you know of any PC manufacturer that does more in this regard than Apple does?
Please note that I completely agree that the first iteration of this new MacBook Pro form factor generation is still pretty expensive.
I’ve played around with multitouch laptop displays a lot and I’ve only found them useful with music software. Have you tried BitWig? It has an excellent multitouch layout and full multi-pointer support.
Not yet - I can really see it becoming pretty big in the coming years. Surprisingly it’s Microsoft that’s really making in roads on this with its Surface range. A Surface Book (was on my shortlist) + Bitwig would be fantastic. I think if the Surface Book had had Thunderbolt 3 ports I wouldve jumped on board.
I’m too embedded in Live just now though. I got Bitwig with the Roli I used to have and it was great with MPE capable synths but I couldnt be arsed with the thought of switching my projects over! Off topic, but I do hope Live embrace MPE with Live 10 when it appears.
Back on to touch devices, I can see heaps of potential in the MBP touchbar. I thought their announcement day demo was pretty impressive. It’s just that crazy price I couldnt live with! I had £1800 (student discount…) ready to drop on one and they go and pump the prices up by £600 or so. Rage! haha.
Also keep in mind that in most cases you can get new cables instead of using those ugly dongles.
They drop Flash Player/ Microsoft Silverlight you need to activate each time or tweak Safari… The iPad Pro 9.7" is more powerful than the iPad Pro 12.9" WTF !!!