I'm getting a Mac and I can't decide between an I-Mac and a Mac Book.

I'll be using it primarily for school, but I want to be able to demo songs with it. I currently have a Presonus Firebox with Cubase LE, so I have I have an interface to plug into, and plan on getting a Garageband Keyboard for Midi and such.

What would be the better of the two for recording and general use?

Thanks.

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My Rig:

Guitars:
Rickenbacker 330 'Grace'
Fender Telecaster 'Betty'
Schecter TSH-1 'Lucy'

Amps:
Still searching.

Pedals:
Keeley True Bypass Box, Boss TU2, DOD Icebox Chorus, Line 6 DL4

I *just* went through this same decision process a few weeks ago and when all the stuff was laid out a 24" iMac was ordered. That screen is -- WOW! Gorgeous. I really wanted to *need* a laptop but really, when it comes to recording, more screen is king.

I haven't bought a new audio interface yet but I'm leaning heavily towards the Presonus unit. Largely because it comes with Cubase and I won't have to go through the cross-grade, upgrade pain to move my SX3 license from PC to Mac.

The Apogee Duet looks sweet but at $500 for the interface, plus having to shell out for Cubase 4 SE...I just don't have that cash right now.

I'd switch to Logic, which can be had for a pretty reasonable $400, but then what do I do with literally years of Cubase-based song snippets? I don't want to sit there and export them all.

Lock in is a bitch.

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- IAN C. -
Rig: PRS | Schecter USA | Gibson | Axe-Fx II | empress effects
Beta tester: Fractal Audio | empress effects

It comes down to Performance vs Portability. The laptop will be easier to move around, but you will get a bit more speed and storage with the iMac. I bought my iMac 20" last Novemeber and love it. I'm using a M-Audio Axiom with GarageBand and it works well.

Side note: Behringer Fire + Mac=Awesome.

Don't mean to derail, but what's a Behringer Fire?

Oh, and get a macbook. I just got one and it's incredible.

I've seen 2 iMacs spontaneously die for no apparent reason. My boss uses them; he likes the big screen, but he's on his third since I've worked for him (4 years), and he hasn't constantly had an iMac throughout those 4 years. On average, I think each one has lasted less than a year total (two months with the current one; so far so good).

I have no idea if that's normal or not, but personally I'd shy away from them based on the failure rate that I've seen.

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Very old stage rig

Mourn not the dead
that in the cool earth lie...
But rather mourn the apathetic throng
the cowed and the meek
Who see the world's great anguish
and its wrong and dare not speak.
- Ralph Chaplin

"All good people are asleep and dreaming..."

I have a mac pro and a mac book pro for over a year now. No problems yet.

I personally am in super duper duper love with Logic Pro.

Between the mac book and the and Imac, it depends. If your focus is recording/Studio work : iMac. If your focus is playing live : mac book.

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Call me Jem, or Jeremy.

Homophobia is gay.

why? compared to cubase?

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Ibanez SA160QM (w/ Lindy Fralin's)
Boss TU-2 > Boss DS-2 > EHX Big Muff Pi > Arion SAD-1 > Boss PH3 >Boss RV-3 >Visual sound Jekyll & Hyde> Akai Headrush > tech 21 triac> "borrowed" Roland JC-50

For Sale/trade, PM for info:
...
Epiphone Alleykat (w/hard case)
DOD fx25B Diago gigman pedalboard (virtually as new) Boss OC-2 MXR Dynacomp

If you'll be using it for recording as opposed to performing, get the iMac. And use your student discount!

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