computer - Page 2

KevWind · #16 08-18-2018, 07:15 AM

Mid 2010 Mac Pro desktop for my home recording studio
I am writing this reply on my Macbook Air laptop

FrankHudson · #17 08-18-2018, 09:22 AM

I keep a small, light low powered laptop around for portability needs, which are occasional for me. I have an older Lenovo Thinkpad which I'd use if I had to be portable with lots of typing (as nice a keyboard as you'll find on a laptop). I tend to think of my laptops the way some of us thing of "beater" guitars, as something that you're taking out in the world where they may suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, so I don't care to have an expensive laptop.

For everyday use it's desktops. I have a Mac Mini where I record with others and another one in my "Studio B" (aka that room in the house where I research and type stuff and edit audio). My main Windows computer is a self-built tower.

A Mac Mini is not unlike a laptop without a screen and keyboard, but my older model Mini is still user serviceable/upgradeable to a degree that newer Macs generally are not. I may upgrade my hard drive in one Mini to a large SSD if there's no attractive new Mac desktop available at fair price. Why desktops? I'm a bit of a bug about keyboards, and I really like multiple monitors. I also tend to keep computers a long time, and conventional desktops are very user serviceable and upgradeable. Some (non-Apple) laptops still are as upgradeable as my older Mac Minis, but as I get older the watchmaker's screwdrivers and eye-loops for magnification need to come out for me to work on them.

If the CPU power in my older Mac Mini starts giving me issues (I have only very occasional issues with large number of Virtual Instruments now) I guess I'll need to look at an iMac.

Of course you can use multiple monitors and a good keyboard with a laptop too.

imwjl · #18 08-18-2018, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankHudson

Of course you can use multiple monitors and a good keyboard with a laptop too.

It seems like a lot of people are unaware that a Mac and Windows 10 do multiple or virtual desktops. Earlier Windows versions did it with Microsoft's Power Toys.

Most CPUs people have used for quite a while have supported virtualization.

Adding those up I kind of shake my head over people who do dual boot or go between two computers. For good performance virtualization does require enough RAM and decent storage speed.

Knowing our keyboard commands to move around fast and these little bits can really make a difference. It's why I can be so happy with a little 12" display laptop as an example. It's more simple than multiple displays for many things.

harpspitfire · #19 08-18-2018, 11:24 AM

imwjl, still have the issue of losing internet while the wifi works, i did clean all the connectors, it does seem better though- i have HP p7-1026, it doesnt have wireless, is there a cheap adaptor i can get to make it wireless with my verizon box?

Denny B · #20 08-18-2018, 12:09 PM

I've had a desk top computer in my home office for many years...I like going upstairs to the office, sitting in my comfortable chair, having my desk around me with everything I want, having a good sound system connected for my listening pleasure, my large monitor screen, etc. etc...

My wife loves her laptops, and I tell her I believe her when she explains to me once again, all the advantages she finds from using one...

Then I tell her she needs to believe me when I say I have absolutely no need or desire to own one...

Jeremy · #21 08-18-2018, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harpspitfire

imwjl, still have the issue of losing internet while the wifi works, i did clean all the connectors, it does seem better though- i have HP p7-1026, it doesnt have wireless, is there a cheap adaptor i can get to make it wireless with my verizon box?

Look for a USB Wi-Fi adapter: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...b+wifi+adapter

rmyAddison · #22 08-18-2018, 03:43 PM

I'm retired IT so I've been a "geek" since the 80's.

I have a laptop in the kitchen where I can see the home theater if I want to multi-task, and a PC in my studio with ProTools 12 and studio monitors, for recording and listening/watching YouTubes or Show and Tell here.

I also can cast anything I really like to the home theater from either system, for that wow effect.

I update every 4-5 years and donate the old systems to local shelters....

fitness1 · #23 08-18-2018, 04:23 PM

I have two desktops (one is dedicated at my studio - patched into a nice sound system for streaming Youtube concerts for my clients) Also have a laptop at home. And thankfully - no smartphone.

MikeBmusic · #24 08-20-2018, 07:29 AM

I've got 2 desktops (one for recording and video processing) side-by-side with shared video monitor and keyboard (simple switchbox to flip between computers) and smaller gateway box audio speakers and my studio monitors controlled with a Mackie Bog Knob.
My wife has a desktop in her hobby room. No laptops.

Tico · #25 08-20-2018, 11:59 AM

The only computer I have is my desktop iMac.
I love the 27" high-res retinia display.

No tablet/iPad.
No data plan that delivers Internet to my phone.
No whatever else people use these days that I don't even know about.

PorkPieGuy · #26 08-20-2018, 12:01 PM

I use a desktop at work all of the time. All of the labs at our college have desktops as well. I guess they are more difficult to steal than laptops.

imwjl · #27 08-20-2018, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tico

The only computer I have is my desktop iMac.
I love the 27" high-res retinia display.

No tablet/iPad.
No data plan that delivers Internet to my phone.
No whatever else people use these days that I don't even know about.

I'm with anyone who loves those large 5k/retina iMacs. They are what I wanted personal computers to be long ago.

Whether my kids or me, I can't imagine a phone without a data plan. The funny part about that is my wife and daughter exceed my data usage but I'm the enterprise IT admin who I thought used a lot of data. When I look at the breakdown my frequently using the phone for admin tasks, accounting, and hotspot doesn't match their use for social media, video, and games.

Take a look at those retina type iMacs folks. I know a few who found them to be just what they needed yet didn't even know it existed.

fumei · #28 08-22-2018, 03:01 PM

Two desktops. One for music recording and video. One for astronomy related stuff. One has an internet connection. The other has never touched the internet, and never will.

No laptop.

harpspitfire · #29 08-22-2018, 04:34 PM

fumei, do you do astro image processing?

Pura Vida · #30 08-22-2018, 04:35 PM

100% Apple family:

Late 2013 27" iMac in the office, which stores most of our media (music, movies, photos, etc.) and my wife's primary workspace.

2009 13" MacBook Pro for the kids' school work (MS Word, internet, etc.). Possibly upgrading this fall / Christmas.

2016 15" MacBook Pro for work (due for an upgrade next spring).

Four AppleTVs (one for each TV) + four iPads (one for each human) for most non-work stuff (social media, YouTube, internet, games, etc.) and absolutely critical for travel.

And three iPhones (youngest doesn't need one, yet).