if you want your computer more stable get yourself a Mac
MAC OS X Tiger is way more solid than Windows XP
it is base on Unix and it speaks for itself
+ it feels nicer to be in it, less generic than PC
if price is the deciding factor
get a PC it could save you up to a $1000-1500
no matter which platform you chose, get a lot of ram and I meen it A Lot! it makes a huge difference
at this point of music technology
with an exception of a couple of machines new hardware synth market is dead
*wiping of a tear
looking for a serious drum module
Stylus RXM will change the way you see beats forever
and other spectrasonic products are also pretty cool
www.spectrasonics.net
Native instruments got practically every sound production aspect covered
I would highly reccomend NI essentials budle
http://www.nativeinstruments.de/inde...6&backPID=1236
get yourself a behringer knob controller and you are alset
http://www.behringer.com/BCR2000/index.cfm?lang=ENG
the hardware synths exseptions that I've mentioned above are
Moog Voyager - the bass will blow your and your neeghtbor's brains out
moog was the first synth and it still rocks $3000
Virus TI - A Sound Journey $1500-2500
you might look into Dave Smith's synth but it still can not be compared to the Virus TI
Abynth of NI comes close but still can not touch what and how Virus TI can bend and dirrect the sound Sculpture (only works in Logic) is probably a match
that is about it
unless you are into retro gear collection (because it deffinatelly makes you feel better to tweek those knobs, for sure) there is no need intthe past
you can even get the entire Vienna Symphonic to play on your next record for a couple of grands if you will get their sample library
I got a G5 quad processor
fullyweighted yamaha controller
02 controller
Spectrasonics Stylus RMX
Spectrasonics Atmosphere
Ableton Live 5
Izotope effects
Reason
and one day will get Moog VOyager and Virus TI
Ymaha NS 10ms monitors sounds like shit but can not get a cleareer mix from anything else - standart of the industry
I se protools 7.0 but if you decide to go with mac I would recommend to stay in Logic, it will save you money and the vitual synths and drum module there are already phenomenal + U get a shit load of apple loops -great tool
so if you spend a 2.500 on a mac and a 1000 on logic 200 on interface you got a system that is awesome
if you want your tracks to sound phenomenal spend another 1500 for an apogee timeclock
500-1500 for a monitors
recommendation
Yamaha NS 10m of the ebay
Mackie HR624 or HR824
and if you can affort Truth audio TA 1 P
so for 6000-7000 you will get a fucking awesome studio
you can aslo say fuck it get a dell and ableton live and it use your computer monitors it will cost you a 1000
Good Luck and trust me
stay out for the most parts try to stay out of hardware