'Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sibelius?'

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Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sibelius? - Leif Sundstrup, 19 Jul 03:52PM
     Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sib... - Jason Ward, 19 Jul 04:23PM
     Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sib... - Laurence Payne, 19 Jul 04:24PM
         Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sib... - Bob Porter, 19 Jul 06:56PM
             Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sib... - Eric Crouch, 19 Jul 09:23PM
                 Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sib... - Philip Woodroffe, 20 Jul 12:26PM
                     Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sib... - Bob Porter, 21 Jul 12:14AM
                         Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sib... - Dave P-B, 21 Jul 01:22AM
                             Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sib... - Fraser Sims, 21 Jul 06:14PM

Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sibelius?
Posted by Leif Sundstrup - 19 Jul 03:52PM
I would like to know which 'laptop' computer is better for Sibelius - Mac or PC.

Also, is a non numeric keyboard (such as Macbook Pro) a big disadvantage is speed?

Thank
Leif
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Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sibelius?
Posted by Jason Ward - 19 Jul 04:23PM
Hi!

I'm running 7.1.3 and made the conversion to Mac three years ago. However, whilst i'm very happy on Mac, there is very little difference, if any, between Mac and PC running Sibelius 7.

Regarding the keypad, there are numerous workarounds. Because i've learnt many shortcuts for Sib i downloaded a free app called 'Karabiner' which allows you to map your fn key to pretty much anything you like. Failing that there is a preference built in to Sib to allow you a 'Notebook' setting. Additionally there are bluetooth keypads.

Good luck whatever you decide.

--
Sib 7.1 + Macbook Pro15 2.0ghz (OSX 10.8)8gb ram, Motu Audio Express
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Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sibelius?
Posted by Laurence Payne - 19 Jul 04:24PM (edited 19 Jul 04:28PM)
I personally think that choosing a computer without a numeric keypad would be foolish, as would be paying extra for the Mac name.

And, although I have Sibelius installed on a Windows laptop, I'm always very glad to get home where I can work on a powerful desktop computer with two large screens, connected to a full-sized MIDI keyboard and a quality sound system...

You will doubtless hear strongly differing opinions :-)
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Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sibelius?
Posted by Bob Porter - 19 Jul 06:56PM
I also vote for something with a datapad. Shortcuts are fine, but for me, having to remember what all the shortcut are might not be worth it. Everyone works different, so it might not be a problem for some folks.
I don't think there is any advantage to one system or the other, so that criteria might well be off the table as far as Sibelius is concerned. Especially if you've never used a Mac before(or if you've never used a PC before). Running software is very similar on both systems. Really using the computer is very different.
Make sure the computer you buy has hefty specs. The requirements listed on the Avid site are a little weak.

--
Bob Porter
Sibelius 7.1.3,W8.1,C2Quad OC'ed to 3.4 Ghz,8 GB slower ram than I'd like, 250GB SSD.
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Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sibelius?
Posted by Eric Crouch - 19 Jul 09:23PM
I've always used Macs to run Sibelius, but I agree 100% with Jason Ward. So long as you get a high spec laptop Sibelius will run equally well on either OS (though there is a problem with Sib 7.5 and Windows 8.1 which is outlined here: http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/en_US/compatibility/Sibelius-Crash-on-Windows-8). I mostly use Sibelius with my desktop Mac using the non-keypad bluetooth keyboard. I've got a USB keypad but I've never used it; and I find Sibelius runs just as well on my a laptop

I guess a lot depends on how you are going to use Sibelius. I mainly use it for making guitar arrangements which are fairly short. If you are planning to prepare large orchestral scores then you need to be careful about getting a sufficiently high spec computer and if you are planning to enter a lot of music from the computer keyboard you might find it best to have a keypad.
--
Eric Crouch; Sibelius 7.5.1 user.
iMac 2.8GHz with 16GB RAM running Mavericks;
Retina MacBook Pro 2.6GHz with 16GB RAM running Mavericks.
http://www.guitarloot.org.uk
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Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sibelius?
Posted by Philip Woodroffe - 20 Jul 12:26PM
ok I second that the experience on sibelius is pretty much identical on both mac and pc, I have run sibelius on a pc laptop and with bootcamp on macbook.

I use sibelius on macbook because this is my preferred platform, but i suggest you use the device that you are most comfortable with. I'm quite happy with using laptop keys with sibelius for entry you soon get used to it.

what preference do you have with systems currently?


--
macbook pro i7 non retina 2.9ghz 16gb ram 10.9.3 1TB SSD boot drive, 500gb 5200 spin storage drive.

sib 6.2.0 and sib 7.1.3 and 7.5
sibelius choral and garitan personal orchestra.
(aria 4). east west symphonic east west symphonic orchestra with johnathan loving sound sets photoscore 7.2. note performer

musescore noteworthy melody assistant and virtual singer.
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Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sibelius?
Posted by Bob Porter - 21 Jul 12:14AM
Plus I'm not quite ready to give up my optical drive just yet.

--
Bob Porter
Sibelius 7.1.3,W8.1,C2Quad OC'ed to 3.4 Ghz,8 GB slower ram than I'd like, 250GB SSD.
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Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sibelius?
Posted by Dave P-B - 21 Jul 01:22AM
Have used Sibelius extensively on both with no discernable difference.

Cheers,
Dave

--
Sib 7.1.3
MacPro, 6GB RAM, OS 10.8.4
http://www.davepb.com
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Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sibelius?
Posted by Fraser Sims - 21 Jul 06:14PM (edited 22 Jul 03:32PM)
The software is very similar on both platforms, I use a MBP and miss the # sign for chords but I prefer the touch pad so use the MBP in preference to my windows laptop. However, for intensive sessions, I do use an external keyboard, and prefer the mac one with its additional USB connections As others have said, use whatever you are most comfortable with.
--
Fraser Sims
G7 on XP, Sibelius 7.1.3 on 10.6.8 and win 7 and the slightly buggy scorch 1.2 on iOS 7
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Messages in this thread

Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sibelius? - Leif Sundstrup, 19 Jul 03:52PM
     Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sib... - Jason Ward, 19 Jul 04:23PM
     Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sib... - Laurence Payne, 19 Jul 04:24PM
         Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sib... - Bob Porter, 19 Jul 06:56PM
             Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sib... - Eric Crouch, 19 Jul 09:23PM
                 Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sib... - Philip Woodroffe, 20 Jul 12:26PM
                     Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sib... - Bob Porter, 21 Jul 12:14AM
                         Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sib... - Dave P-B, 21 Jul 01:22AM
                             Re: Sib. 7.5: Mac or PC - which is best for Sib... - Fraser Sims, 21 Jul 06:14PM