I'm a Machead trapped in a boxy Wintel body.
I've felt that way for years, but this morning's release of Logic Studio, Apple's upgrade to its popular Logic Pro audio recording software, has me all but convinced.
Allow me to backtrack for a moment. I remember my college days, spending my time toiling away at PC-powered labs on campus before running off to my band's recording studio, where everything was run by a pair of Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL ) computers.
Even my wife, who also grew up in an IBM-compatible world, had little choice but to succumb to the way of the Mac when she became the advisor for her school's newspaper.
Yes, Apple has a funny way of appealing to the inner artist that dreams away inside all of us. Apple may command just a tiny sliver of the actual PC and notebook market, but check out what the creative folks are using. Bands that require computing power on the road lean heavily on Macs. The most popular personalities on Google's (Nasdaq: GOOG ) YouTube are blogging and editing their clips on Macbooks. When Disney (NYSE: DIS ) recording star Marie Digby needed a home solution to self-produce music clips that transformed her into a YouTube sensation, the studio sent her a Mac.
And the beat goes on
Apple has always had a soft spot for musicians -- in addition to other niche audiences. Yes, you can record music through your Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT ) PC. I've tried, but it was no Cakewalk. Bad joke. OK, so it's been years since I tried Cakewalk. It's not fair to knock the Windows-based recording solution, which obviously appeals to many PC users out there. I just know that I ultimately walked away, envious of my Mac-using musical buddies. To me, it's no surprise to see 28 different Apple products stocked at Guitar Center's (Nasdaq: GTRC ) online store, a wider selection than its motley assortment of PC-centric recording gear.
Maybe I've seen one too many of those "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ads, but I'd love to see cool PC ads that don't involve a surrealistic Gwen Stefani or powerhouse boxes that appeal only to diehard gamers. I have nothing against Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ ) ads that try to paint the PC maker as the key to unleashing imagination. My last two computers have been HPs, and I'm a fan. Still, Apple is where it's at if you're a musician, no matter how many musicians HP signs to its promotional roster.
Appealing to garage bands is important, because the Internet has leveled the playing field. Getting noticed is no longer about gigging around until your demo tape finds the right ear. Label execs are trolling through sites like MySpace and YouTube to see where the buzz is building. That should encourage anyone with musical ambitions to take their music seriously, and that will eventually come down to the convenience of building up home-based studios around their computers.
Apple's software rocks hard
Apple encourages musical exploration. Apple's iLife -- an apps suite that ships with new Macs -- offers the GarageBand program, a surprisingly robust entry-level home studio solution. Logic Studio is a lot more, though. It's not part of a popular suite like iLife, and you have to pay as much as $500 for it. But it's got nearly everything you need if you're serious about recording and performing.
Between professional studio effects, a library of instrument samples, and slick post-production functionality, it's a complete package. Logic Studio also introduces MainStage, giving artists even greater confidence in taking their Macs on the road to assist with live performances.
Add it up, and it's just one more reason why Apple continues to eat away at its PC rivals' market share. Instead of churning out bland boxes and software, Apple chooses to tailor its products to unique audiences like musicians, and that means something nowadays. Sure, it's got a long way to go to catch up with the dull Wintel crowds, market-share-wise. Sure, starving musicians are unlikely to afford Logic Studio, or the high-end Macs that make the software scream.
That's OK. It will simply give their inner artists a little more to dream about between sets.
A few more Apple dippers for you:
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