current state of nt/mac comparisons

[AdamFrick]

i've read some old posts comparing mac to nt, but the IT folks here are trying to get me off my mac, and want to know if i can run protools on an NT.

so, what are the advantages or disadvantages of either version?

thanks.

=a=

[David Chen]

Hi,

I just bought a PT rig and being a PC user, I was going to run it on Windows 2000. However, after some digging around, I found that many of the plugins I wanted to use were only supported on the Mac. And upon emailing the respective companies, I got the impression that PC support was not a priority.

So...I ended up buying a Mac and I'm pretty happy so far with its performance.

David

[PYRAMIDLEA]

WHAT ABOUT NT? DOES ANYONE KNOW?

[Philthy]

Hey Adam,

just a little encouragement here to tell the IT buffoons to jump off a cliff. Tell them the problem is that they aren't running macs!

I tried the ProTools/NT thing about 15 months ago- things may have changed, but at that point in time, it was a disaster. Constant crashes and little support due to lack of a user base-

In contrast, it takes me about 30 minutes to set up a smooth mix+ system on a mac...

Don't let a bunch of database hacks anywhere near your system...

Just my (highly biased) opinion! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[bvance]

I have used both NT and Mac and have found systems basically equal when running PT. It really comes down to your computer preferences. If you're building a TDM system for pc I believe Digi only supports an IBM Intellistation running NT which is fairly expensive last time I checked. The LE systems run on Win 98, and you can get a compuer for a song running 98. You can get into a Mac TDM system cheaper only because the computer would be cheaper. And yes there are more plugins available for Mac. I choose Mac only because it's the OS of my choice. But my year long experince with the NT system was pleasant. No problems.

[taiazeez]

Why is it that this topic always brings the MAC vs PC slanging match, I use a Mac and I am an NT guru so to say for one reason only PLUGINS end of story, now my experience of NT was a joy and I was using an sblive card for midi as well and a scsi drive, never ever crashed not even once I now use a G4 again never had a problem with Protools it must be said crashed with Logic though. If plugins is not an issue then go with NT.

[Kamurah]

THIS kind of **** is why I don't use a PC....

(Taken from the Host section for Windows)

"I've had a day of it now... I have a radio keyboard/mouse PS/2 setup that I never could get the (or any)mouse to work on the system without windows locking up at the very last few seconds of boot up. So I gave a try at getting it working for convenience (the wirless keyboard is great & the wired mouse is so crap...i'll have to get a trackball again) so after trying for ages I reloaded my BIOS to get back to where I was before and changed the few things I normally change from there. (still couldn't get the mouse working). I started PTLE and could only play a couple of seconds of a track before it went "increase buffer size" it was at 512 which is HIGH for my crappy P11 350 (i have a P111 1G which runs the multiplier too high and crashes) so I switched to 1024 and I get "audio proccesing is interfering with CPU, lower buffer".
Uh-oh I think... the stopping remainds me of the DMA problem I had with PT free when i was trying it out first before getting the Digi001. So I check device manager and see my drive has changed from generic 1de 47 to generic ide 46.... what's that about?. So I click on DMA in properties and I get "unstable mode check with vendor". This then forces a reboot and the DMA mode is unticked again and PT won't run properly.
I can't get the drive to change and I've loads of crap loaded on the C drive so I figured I'll just do a quick reformat and reinstall... I've all the important stuff on other partitions. An hour later it's still the same story.... hair pulling time.. Although I've 5 ADATS (blackface Ugh-none of them belog to me though) I work in PT all the time these days, So i had to have it working. So I figured here we go again... This time I removed everything extra from the machine and reformatted and reinstalled. BING. It worked, seeing IDE 47 was a joy I can tell you. everything worked fine...
ironically most of the software on the other partitions ran without a reinstall (some needed registration codes again but that was fine. The machine is faster and leaner so I'm happy again....
and the moral....
PC's Damn PC's

Sean

Oh I still can't use a PS/2 mouse!"


Ok. so I posted that for humor's sake...but...could YOU afford a problem like that in the middle of a session???
I have NEVER had a time like that with my G4. If I was that guy I'd probably go on a killing spree....

Stay with your Mac.... [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[tom_mac]

there ARE good things to both ......but ....first of all
pt 5.1.1 is windows 2000 ONLY (as far as i know)
I LOVE using my pc for : email, chat, porn, and
catching viruses.....

but if somebody wanted me to work on a windows
protools rig ....I'd tell them to get theyre F^%#ing
head examined..

[AdamFrick]

thanks guys - just the info i was looking for. the IT folks aren't database hacks, they just don't like the unfriendliness of our macs in their happy NT / linux studio...

thanks for the info -- will pursue with our folks further.

=a=

[MichaelL]

I think you'll find horror and success stories on both sides of the fence depending on the user. I've worked on Mac and Windows very successfully. The real issue is third party plugins....PERIOD.

Personally, I've had more sessions halted by a crashing Mac and I've never crashed a single time on Windows, my current platform for over 2 years now.

By the way, the IT guys may be interested in support issues beyond porn surfing....

Time to lighten up.