I don't know? I've always built all of my desktop machines since day one. If you know what you want and/or like to mix and match, expand, modify your computers, get a PC/build a PC. If you want convenient drive-through slam Bam, I want a Mac, man and you're happy with leaving well enough alone and having something that works, get a Mac. People that use Macs are generally people that don't like to play touch and go with the computer. It's like guys who choose to work on their cars in their backyards and those who don't. That's your real criteria.

Quad core Mac Pro or a 12 core PC? Whose software do you want to run? I'm not talking about Macintosh or Windows. Whose audio software? Not everything is available for both. Though everything is available for both. Ford or Chevy? You must think about what kind of work you need to accomplish with this machine? You need to figure out, whose operating system you are most comfortable utilizing? What music software have you been working with in the past? Your question is like asking should you get a left or right window seat on an airplane.

I'll take the left window seat since I'm voting for Obama.
Mx. Remy Ann David

If I had the dough I'd get the mac with PT 10 OR PT HDX and associated hardware. One thing about Macs is there's less worry about getting virus's and worms from the net. Used to be you could avoid this by not connecting a computer you are useing for music production to the net but these days you really need the connectivity for downloading software / updates or projects.

A close second would be a PreSonus thing and Studio One 2.0 software.

I would be hard pressed which system to choose.

Caution! There are problems with PT10 & mountain lion. I am sure they will eventually be resolved but that is not something that you want to now.

......also the availability of plug-ins for HDX is a serious problem. Waves has no intention of EVER doing anything but native AAX.

Be careful. IHTH