Windows or mac?

Do you know what you've just started....

but seriously, it depends on your budget and what you are more comfortable using.

whichever you choose you will want to use good playback software like foobar2000 (win) or Audorvana (Mac) to get the best SQ out of the computer.

also keep in mind that windows machine usually require drivers for USB DACs while Macs don't.

personally I would (and did go with Apple Macs) or ubuntu (Linux) on my asus laptop. only last resort would I go with a microsoft product. But that's just me.

If you use a MAC then unmodified iTunes, is very fine, and not only just me, but other people choose to use it in preference to such things as Bitperfect and Audio Nirvana ...

There is no compelling reason to use these third party players on a MAC unless you personally prefer them, which you might. but it is not either certain that you will or that they are actually in any way better.

ATB from George

The compelling reason to use bit perfect (for example) is the automatic sample rate switching if you  have a library of red book and hi-res music. 

It does seem that the "pro" approach is mac and the "budget" one is windows. 

The "Pro" approach is running Win7 in bootcamp on a Mac.  Nothing runs Windows better.

Then JRiver Media Center.

Oh dear

Have a look at this:

http://www.computeraudiophile....ver-c-p-s-v3-carbon/

 ...this guy knows what he's talking about!

Ralf

I don't think computeraudiophile necessarily knows what he is talking about!

If you read the article, he says that he needed to use a high-current battery power supply to "remove very audible noise from my system".

There's something profoundly wrong somewhere with his (very expensive) system building skills if he has "harsh electrical noise" unless he uses an exotic battery power supply. Surely if he really did know what he was talking about he would remove the problem at source. Alas, as he says later on, he hasn't got any decent measuring tools.

My quite modest laptop is absolutely silent at full volume.

 of course the answer is Mac.

As long as you dont:

- Want to run a server (to stream music and video anywhere)

- Want to stream more than one thing at a time.

- Want to play FLACs or other codecs not supported in iTunes

- Want 24-192 support

You can run iTunes on a PC if you really want to.

A Windows OS gives you every option.

Like I said, get a Mac, run Win7 in bootcap.  You can always boot into either OS and see which you like best.  No need to chose one over the other.

Both OS have their own list of pros and cons.

So the "No-Brainer" option is to have both!!!

Good luck!

Patrick

An alternative would be a Vortexbox solution. You can either buy an appliance or build your own. vortexbox is a Linux based solution that provides a headless ripping (to FLAC) music server. I run this on a small net top pc. 

Wat,

I appreciate your views but I was addressing the OP.  Not trying to convince a die-hard believer.

Sincerely,

Loving both Win7 and Mac OS (and iOS for that matter)

If you appreciate Naim products for their elegance, simplicity, and quality... then I have to tell you that you are a Mac person... whether you know it or not.

Get a Mac... if you really need to run Windows (ugh)... install a Windows partition. 

Hey Zipperhead - how can someone with great taste in music have such poor taste in computers?

Most of us PC guys have no need to proselytise, we just get more performance, flexibility and interoperability for much less cost. The Mac "majority" is more likely to reflect the cult like devotion of the Mac believers. It's a computer; an appliance ... they don't have souls (unlike hifi or motorcycles).  For solely music purposes either will be fine - I went Windows for my  music/home theatre PC because I wanted to have the option of an internal Blu Ray drive for movies and a wider choice of software for everything.

You have to ask? 

Since 1995 it has been Mac all the way*.

Tog

*with a teensy bit of Linux

I am finally going Apple free. My sole device - an iPod - has developed yet another fault. Although I have tried to like it, in reality it has always been a piece of crap.

That's my feeling after owning a single shuffle. My kids Apple phones are crap as well. I'm done buying their garbage, but I'm sure my kids will continue. It's a disposable mentality; if it breaks buy a new one. Just an excuse to get the latest and supposedly greatest. Funny thing is the kids all think Apple is quality stuff, even after it breaks.

Oh, and with regard to the OP - Windows.

Hi, bigsplice,

Based on the responses, you are possibly still undecided.  Which platform is more popular with your personal support network, including family, friends, and local vendors?  All platforms present challenges, at times, but are basically fine.  Any platform can fail if it is misconfigured, which is easy to do with all of the above.  If you have more experience with one platform, stick with it, unless you are certain you know why you are changing.

I am a Windows admin at work; at home I run six Macs and a Windows 7 box.  Not a dog among them, IMHO.

I support Windows and Mac for family and friends.  I do find the Home version of Wndows more difficult than Pro, for network purposes, if only because I never use Home myself.

Good luck.

Nick