Macos 9 Or Os X?, To buy a dual booting Mac or not? Options

[zeze]

hi all!

I'd like to buy a new dual 1.25G Mac, but I have a doubt about it;
I use a 9600/450, 640MB, OS 9.1, with Digidesign d24 card and Pro Tools 5.1.3, plus Native Instruments, and for this reason I'm planning to buy a dual booting Mac 1.25G to continue using my stuff; I dont know how PT 6 manage soft synths since Direct Connect it's dead, also, when the NI synths will be available for X?
Please, if there is someone who made this upgrade, I'd need a suggestion about which mac to buy: dual booting mac or not? what I'd miss with Firewire 400 instead of 800?
my last question: do I need to install a 10k or 15k rpm hard disk inside the mac to make 32 tracks playback without problems? if yes, what accelerator card suits best?

thanks in advance
peace
zeze

[tnitz]

1) I wouldn't worry too much about Firewire 800 - it will be a while yet before things are out at a reasonable cost to use - it is likely that a PCI slot card interface will be available for cheap far before the peripherals are.

2) I don't know what you plan to do with the 9600, but if you are keeping it, you could always rely on it for your OS9 stuff until you are completed converted over.

3) Do you currently have any hardware you need to move over to the new machine? If so, are OSX drivers available? Your hardware investment may make the decision for you.

4) While there really isn't a reason to not get a dual-boot machine (except, perhaps, Airport Extreme and even then there will probably be a PCI unit available), I personally would make the leap all at once. I'd go with the newest unit and not look back. Anyway you cut it, it's a big leap and gonna cost some dough. I can't answer for you, but I am glad to be finally out of OS9 completely - I never did like the transition stage. However, it does work well, for what that's worth.