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The Mac Pro is the most powerful and expandable of Apple's computers.

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Verdict

If you're a professional musician with money to burn (congratulations on that, by the way) then the Mac Pro remains the best choice. It'll give you all the computing muscle you need to run the very latest music software, and it's easily the most future-proof solution that Apple sells.

There are certainly reasons not to buy the high-end Mac desktop, though, and they're not all financial.

If you're short on space, the Mac mini is definitely worth considering, though it'd be worth maxing out the memory to 4GB (you'll probably be able to save money if you buy and fit this yourself) and going for the 320GB hard drive version. This could be a good solution if you already have an Apple laptop but require a second Mac for home – or if you already have a good-sized display that you want to keep using.

Arguably the best compromise solution, though, is the 24-inch iMac. More affordable than its predecessor, this would be a great option for anyone who's starting from scratch. However, its strength – that it provides everything you need in one box – is also its potential weakness: it won't suit those who already have a display, and its own can't be re-used once you're done with the computer.

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Now read FIRST TEST: Apple GarageBand '09

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