don't know about the new 17" macbook and pro tools, but i have the old 15" macbook pro with logic 8.

everything runs fine.
bugs are an issue of the program, not the computer itself (except maybe some general problems with the os or the hardware. some google research should help with that)
track counts also depend on your software and plugins you are using. but the macbook can handle a lot.
latency depends on your software and your interface.
what's overheating?!?

i think it should run fine. i'm working solely on my 2.2 ghz macbook with big projects with up to 60 tracks and many plugins without any major problems.

Errr, I saw a post on engadget.com today about a slight hinge defect with (what I think was) the new MBPro - and how it's not covered by warranty.

Just because it's new doesn't mean it's great and just because it's vintage doesn't mean it's great either.
Somewhere in the middle is a cheap low point of good & reliable but not yet out of date stuff.

Apple has always gone up and down with each new product. If you like to stare at pretty pics then you may like the new laptops, however some like more versatility.

Why can't they just leave a good hardware design alone and make it more user friendly? Marketing! Hype and more hype.

I'm really disappointed with the decision to get rid of FireWire 400 in the macbook model and macbook pro. The previous model had both 400 +800. Not to mention in the older pro model they gave you more USB inputs too. That means less connectivity for those of us who need more drives and devices for our laptops.

Codemonky makes a good point, these new Apple laptops are prone to design flaws. If you must have the new model wait at least another year for things to settle down.

If I were you consider looking for the older model used with someone that got the applecare warranty that is transferable.

Ah, also, I made a mistake.

The defective laptop was the Macbook Air (which you can't do much with anyway).
[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.engadget…"]Linkety clink[/]="http://www.engadget…"]Linkety clink[/]

Yeah, the Macbook Air is on the list of "No No" Computers from Digidesign!

:)

I originally started looking at the 15" which seems to be pretty tried and true and I would feel really comfortable about that purchase, but then they came out with the 17" while I was doing my research and well, quite frankly, a that's a bigger screen and more RAM which equals a happier me.

I'm just checkin' to see if I'll stay happier because I know what new computers are prone towards, and I know apple some times has, shall we say, "release issues".

This is all good though! If anyone knows anything else, that'd be great!

i have the 2.6GHz 17" generation before they got rid of FW400 (?????), but i think the new 17" has it...
i think it is great, and i would suggest the non gloss screen if you want to do video/photography, and an extra monitor (i have a cheap 20" samsung and it's fine for more screen real estate). with 4 GB RAM it edits HDV smoothly, and runs many instances of GR3 and plug ins and Superior 2 without choking.
it gets pretty hot, especially when rendering video, but you can download smcFanControl for free and crank the fans. it works fine, but i also have the MBP elevated on a small piece of foam, for extra air flow.
i bought it for a mobile rig, but it has quickly become my #1 computer...

BDM -

Great Feedback, Thank You!

I was wondering if you use the laptop for your day to day computer uses as well, as you mentioned it had become your #1 computer. I ask because as I'm sure you're aware, when you use a computer for every day use it can slow down the over all performance of the computer, thus affecting really demanding events, such as multi-tracking/heavy plug-in usage.

Thanks!

music293 wrote: BDM -

Great Feedback, Thank You!

I was wondering if you use the laptop for your day to day computer uses as well, as you mentioned it had become your #1 computer. I ask because as I'm sure you're aware, when you use a computer for every day use it can slow down the over all performance of the computer, thus affecting really demanding events, such as multi-tracking/heavy plug-in usage.

Thanks!

i use my macbook for everything. i'm even on the net while working in logic. no problems there!

i use Adobe CS3, Final Cut Studio 2, Pro Tools, and all the various programs in-between, plug ins, virtual instruments, iTunes, etc.etc etc.... and the only program that slows the computer down is microsoft word (ha ha.)
i am not aware of any performance issues, though... why would 'every day use' slow it down and what qualifies as 'every day use'? do you mean having multiple programs operating at once? or perhaps hard disk issues? i use external FW 800 drives for video/photos/music/graphics, but i know that the bus is slowed to FW400 speed when one of the pro tools interfaces are connected (which they mostly are)... or so i'm told. i still edit HDV smoothly...
i do not use it for internet. i quickly delegated my iMac to this task so i can be distracted with forums such as this while i try to avoid work... very efficient!

core audio errors in logic 8

Hi all. I'm running:
logic 8
macbook pro 17" 2.6processor 2gig memory and 250gig hd
+external seagate 1.5 TB hd
Native inst. komplete 5
superior drummer 2
kore 2 hardware controller
m audio fastrack ultra
various other third party AU plug-ins for logic

When ever I run NI with superior drummer...
even with buffer to max
repaired permissions
wireless ntwk off
no runaway application memory usage

still...
song will barely playback...
coreaudio error system cannot process in time yadda yadda

got a major project due and cannot even finish a song.
HELP!

while more RAM is good RAM, your computer should be plenty fast as is and have no problems...
the first thing i would do is make sure you have the latest OS and versions/updates of NI, Superior etc etc, and if not, download them, research at all the support sites about bugs/compatibility problems associated with the interaction of all VI/OS/Plug in/Programs involved BEFORE updating (ie: i have updated quicktime and rendered FCP useless, or pro tools or...), and back up everything before updating. generally, never update in the middle of a project, but if it ain't working...
this is good info:
http://www.dvinfo.net//conf/showthread.php?t=125182

and don't hit the computer with a hammer: it feels good, but it doesn't help in the long run...

New 17# Macbook pro

I'm not sure about PT8. However, I've got the new solid state hard drive (which has less memory ..... 300GB) but is much faster that the old SATA's. I run Logic 8, and I stored all of my instrument presets, loops, midi files, channel settings, virtual instrument UA's, etc, on a 1 TB external solid state drive. With 8GB of RAM and the main hard drive freed up in this manner, the machine is faster than I ever could have imagined.
It has also allowed me room to load Logic, Final Cut Pro, Adobe CS4, NI KOMPLETE, and the Waves Platinum package, along with the entire Linplug synth line with room to spare.

I HIGHLY recommend getting the 8GB of RAM with one of the faster solid state hard drives. Sacrificing a little storage space on your HD is well worth it.

By the way, I upgraded from the most recent version of the 17" macbook pro and they are incomparable! Apple has really outdone itself this time.

David
New Orleans, LA

Latency, tracks

To answer your question about Latency/tracks.

Again, I use Logic 8, but I did a comparison of midi to audio using a MOTIF XS7 recording midi data and audio from an internal sound generator simultaneously. I can happily report that there was NO LATENCY, even with my latency settings at 0 (instead of the usual minus......).

I've used up to 34 tracks in one arrangement, although some of the tracks were incidental FX loops that could have been merged into a single audio file. The CPU handles it fine.

As for the comment about microsoft office for mac, I did use Word along with a hefty number of tracks (that's what I read my lyrics from), and it didn't slow things down a bit.

I truly believe that this machine will take any music production scenario that we can come up with.

I haven't run much video production, but I don't think that I'll be surprised.

My advice, order the new macbook pro with all the ram and the faster hard drive, have Logic 8 installed on it, and dump pro tools. I realize what I'm suggesting about PT may be blasphemy, but I dumped PT a long time ago. Logic 8 is sometimes counter-intuitive, but has much more capability. Why am I typing so much to someone I don't even know? Maybe I'm manic, maybe the wine is kicking in..........maybe I just love my new macbook pro.

David
New Orleans

Re: Latency, tracks

dmmnola wrote: As for the comment about microsoft office for mac, I did use Word along with a hefty number of tracks (that's what I read my lyrics from), and it didn't slow things down a bit.

I truly believe that this machine will take any music production scenario that we can come up with.

I haven't run much video production, but I don't think that I'll be surprised.

My advice, order the new macbook pro with all the ram and the faster hard drive, have Logic 8 installed on it, and dump pro tools. I realize what I'm suggesting about PT may be blasphemy, but I dumped PT a long time ago. Logic 8 is sometimes counter-intuitive, but has much more capability. Why am I typing so much to someone I don't even know? Maybe I'm manic, maybe the wine is kicking in..........maybe I just love my new macbook pro.

David
New Orleans

wait a minute... do you work for apple??? (ha ha)
the Microsoft Word comment was a joke, also followed by a
this is an 'old school' smiley...
kicking it old school,
Brian

i've read a couple of overheating issues related to the 17". i would imagine the 15" could have the same problem, assuming you're talking same hardware specs between the two.