Macbook vs p.c. laptop..????

Hi all
I recently purchased a Traktor S4 mk 1 but to my disappointed my specs on my old laptop was way too slow to run the software Traktor pro 2.
I need to know what works best a Macbook or p.c.laptop runing on Windows 7, 8 maybe. Idealy i would like a system that i could simply plug in play. Can anyone point me in the right direction. Thanks

 

Both will work fine. You may have slightly less fuss with a Mac but only marginally compared to a well built Windows PC. You might need to optimise a bit more on a PC though.

http://www.native-instruments.com/e...2/windows-7-tuning-tips-for-audio-processing/

 

Thanks tmccoy for the link. Much appreciated. I feel like i"m leaning more in favour for a Mac though but avoid a 2013 model with the u.s.b 3.0 issue or Haswell chip.

 

If i was to go with a Mac what would you recommend i choose. Maybe a secondhand earlier model. I have a budget around 800 pounds.

 

My most recent DELL i7 has been an excellent audio machine. Best DPC latency specs I've seen on a laptop. Effortless performance under heavy loads running Traktor, Live, Maschine and Komplete plugs. I think the same specs in a Mac would have cost me twice the price. For numerous reasons I prefer to use Win7 ... (one of them being the ability to uninstall USB3 drivers and run all ports as USB2).

 

Thanks for your feedback Scaper7, it looks like you have a nice piece of kit. I have just hooked up my girlfriends Sony VAIO.
Specs:
Sony VAIO VPCEB1E0E
Intel Core i3 CPU M33 @ 2.13GHz
3.00GB
64-bit
Windows 7.
I have now completed all the necessary tuning tips that N.I. has advised for windows 7 which really is quite a time consuming operation as it consists of what some 15 sections and sadly i am still experiencing audio drop-outs. Very very bad sound out of my amp and speakers. Maybe it is an issue with the processor speed but i"m not sure. I have a friend who have told me to get me up and running i should invest in a Macbook pro OS X (2008 -2010) cheap system now, but still have all required specs for the S4 MK 1.
Still very indecisive...!!

 

Apple's products are really nice to use and enjoyable. However, problem starts when you use Macs late 2013(mavericks osX) with S4 mk1, mk2 and even S2 mk1, mk2. There is a problem with their drivers.

As long as you start to use sound card of the S4 mk1, mk2 and S2 mk1, mk2 your nightmare going to start.
Here is link for you to see with what kind of problem you are going to deal with if you going to buy Mac late 2013
http://www.native-instruments.com/forum/threads/s4-mki-mbp-crash-2-times-last-night.211919/

I have contacted to NI, Apple so many times. Actual problem is with the NI. Its been 1 year, that this problem hasn't been solved yet.

So what i recommend you? If it is in your budget.
Buy Mac and buy any other sound card works well with Mac, lets say audio 10 (you won't regret, its reliable).

Instead of using s4's sound card use audio 10. On that case you are not going to have any problem.

S4 is really nice controller if you are not using its sound card

 

Hi artykasar,
Thanks for taking time to reply, much appreciated.
I am taking your advice very seriously and have read all the issues with the Mac late 2013, i truly sympathize with all you guys and can"t blame you all for getting very frustrated.
Okay, so if i was to buy a older Mac (2008) running OSX Mavericks with Traktor pro 2 (2.6.8) with S4 mk 1 would i have any problems???
Would i have to run (2.6.0) version instead... for a fix?
Is the problem due to the Intel (Haswell chip) in the MCP Retina 2013???
Is the Yosamite beta a fix?
I must admit i am getting quite frustrated as i have had my S4 Sitting in my kitchen for a couple of weeks and still unsure of what system to use with it. Lol!
Thanks for all your replies forum but please give me some more feedback especially guys who have been using S4 MK 1 for months without having experiencing audio issues and freeezes.

 

You know, it's possible your old PC Laptop might even be OK and it's the S4's audio IF that's conflicting with Windows ... I was running Traktor on a Core2duo laptop for a couple of years and in was easily fast enough for Traktor ... however, it could not run an NI audio IF, but would work fine with every other audio interface I used.

NI aren't particularly forthright about these problems, choosing either to not comment at all or blame people's computers. At first they had many issues on Windows system. Now they are having issues with some Mac OS too. Seems odd for such a happening tech company like NI but it's all spelled out in many threads going back many years on this forum. The only surefire fix I know of is to use another sound card (worth trying even as a means of isolating the problem)

 

Reading the headline, I was expecting trolls and verbal wars.. And I was disappointed. Good job guys, we're all growing up!

I would suggest you wait until end-October, where some people expect an Apple event (maybe featuring a 12" retina MacBook Air).. Even if you don't want to buy that specific model, usually prices for previous models will go down with such a launch.

Also, I have been hearing that NI is working with Apple on fixing the driver issues (caused by a specific chip in the new MacBooks) with OSX 10.10 which is also said to launch end-October.

 

Me too. I normally run straight for threads with these type of titles because within a few posts we are already heading down the (very tired) Mac vs Pc debate and needs shutting down. I left this one because it is actually a very sensible discussion. Please nobody ruin it.

 

For sure! The difference is that on an older Mac (2008) you can downgrade to Mountain Lion easily. But remember that in 1/2 years your laptop will be outdated.

That doesn´t work

It seems an incompatibility issue between Haswell/USB 3.0 drivers and the old USB chipset inside the S4 mk1, which can´t be upgraded via software (or firmware).

Some people reports working fine and other people reports keep crashing... so far it´s unclear. Let´s hope the final public Yosi can somehow fix the issue.

Some people of the forum also reports having issues with Sony-Vaio and Toshiba-Satellite laptops specially. Please take a deep look about this.

I know exactly what you mean!! Just do not desperate. Wait until final Yosemite is released and maybe any kind of "official statement" concerning the issue with S4 mk1.
If not, I would forget the shiny fruit and invest on a W7/W8 machine (Dell, Asus, Packard Bell...)