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You could always plug in a mouse, which I prefer to the trackpad anyway, personally.

I don't know about Mainstage - I might have to check that out!

I just bought a 2016 mbp but it just has usb c connectors - a cable hunting I will go... again... and adapters.. my usb mouse won't hook up to usb c

Speaking about MainStage replacements for Windows - there are Cantabile and Gig Performer.

And Camelot Pro.

These replace the routing and performance capabilities of Mainstage, but do not include a sound library, which Mainstage does.

We can add EWQL Goliath, IK SampleTank or NI Kontakt... but I don’t how to buy them for less than $30.

Precisely.

I forgot to mention the big elephant that is approaching the room.

The next versions of MacBook will have a completely new and different processor, matching those that use iOS today. Old application software will run in a shell inside the new operating system. Which might be just fine for non real-time apps like browsers. But music creation apps require all the processing power of a computer and must be rewritten to be optimized.

Most people who use the current Intel -based Macs believe that Apple and music software vendors will make the transition smoothly. This includes me. But, check this issue out to your own satisfaction.

Windows PCs to me always win. Mac PCs are too stylish and overpriced. You're paying for the brand, not the specs. You're paying for the look, not the function.
https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/...sor-with-turbo-boost-up-to-3.9ghz-512gb# MacBook Pro, i5 @ 1.4ghz 4 core, 8 gb ram, Iris Plus Graphics (i5)
https://www.newegg.com/silver-asus-..._re=asus_vivobook-_-34-235-378-_-Product Windows Laptop, i7 @ 1.8ghz 4 core, 16 gb ram, NVIDIA GeForce MX250
Twice as much ram.... A newer processor... MUCH faster graphics... I mean, come on.
You'll see people that don't know a lot about computers still trying to argue that macs are better than windows.
The windows laptop is $600 USD cheaper than the mac, while being much, much faster.

OTOH, a Windows user typically has to add an audio interface (for basic use, Mac users often don't need that); and, as mentioned, will typically need to spend more than Mainstage's $30 to get a comparable set of sounds and hosting capabilities. So that reduces the price difference somewhat.

Also, price and speed are not the only variables. A Windows user is likely to have to locate, download, figure out, and configure ASIO4ALL, along with whatever hosting environment and VSTs he wants, and then may have to tinker to get it all working right. It can take hours for a new user to do in Windows what might be done in minutes on the Mac. That's worth something too (the difference in time and also often the difference in frustration).

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You're entitled to your opinion, you're not entitled to insult people who don't share it.

For basic use you don't have to buy an audio interface 'cause it's already present in every motherboard nowdays.
If you want to buy and audio interface there are many that are good and don't cost so much money (Focusrite and Steinberg little ones) and you need just less then 2 minutes to be ready to use them (1 minute to download the driver; the other minute to install it).
You don't need to use ASIO4ALL when you have the audio interface drivers.

Btw, if you need to use external hardware with your mac, for example to record a digital piano or a synth in your DAW, you need to buy an audio interface too, 'cause you need two or more inputs.

And don't forget about the problems that come everytime that Apple changes the OS!

True - but MS hasn't been stellar in this department either with the last few releases of 10 Certainly interesting points either way!

I have Pianoteq 6 running on a 2012 MBP and on a one year old high end Windows Laptop that I got for work. The Windows laptop (on paper) is better in everything: SSD, more ram, more processing power and not by little, but by a huge margin (8 years is a world of difference in the tech world).

If I listen to a midi of Chopin Ballade 1 on the Windows laptop it runs O.K but constantly on the upper limit with the occasional clipping issue when it runs out of power. The Mac doesn't even come close to clipping with the exact same settings.

The difference on paper means nothing.

It’s all ‘bout that OS, FloRi89; macOS, that is!

You have to tweak Windows to make it run smootly...

without reading the whole thread, if you are going for playing vst, mac , NO question about it. I've had both, and the latency is better (less) on MAC.
It is due to the software, particularly the MAC Operating system being superior for this type of thing.

Indeed. My 2012 Samsung Windows laptop with a dual core i5 works perfectly well with all but the most demanding pianos.

I have a very old windows box with a Firewire interface that has been flawless recording audio. Firewire, and its replacement Thunderbolt, do I/O via DMA, which is why the main reason they work well on a Mac. There are midi interfaces/adapters for Thunderbolt (and Firewire), though I've not used them for midi.

So, if you want a MAC because you like the Apple user interface, or prefer BSD Unix as an OS, or because their are audio or music apps you want that run on a Mac, then by all means get a Mac. But if you just want good performance with audio interfaces, tou may be able to save on the cost by getting a Windows PC with Thunderbolt interface.

Thunderbolt ports are usually not found on low-end/mid-range laptops.
Here is a somewhat representative sample of the laptops with Thundebolt 3 ports and their prices.

https://www.ultrabookreview.com/10579-laptops-thunderbolt-3/

All those laptops are priced in the same range as the most recent MacMini/Macbook Air/Macbook Pro, which all have Thunderbolt ports also. Perhaps there are desktop PC’s that are cheaper, but I have never researched that area.

I don’t see much of a price savings just because it’s a windows pc laptop.