LOL! Dell doesn't have customer support, I found that out the hard way years ago.
 
You can't tell me all MOBO's and Ram are the same, because they aren't. You get what you pay for. Dell is notorious for using low grade garbage in their systems....that's why they appeal to consumers looking for a budget system. Can they even be user upgraded to 64GB Ram? Open up a Dell desktop PC, a Vision DAW, RAIN, or an HP Z series and tell me the quality of the build and peripherals are all the same. Better yet, walk into a professional recording facility and see if they bought their Pro Tools HD computer off the shelf at Best Buy or Futureshop for $799.
 
Anyways, this is just my opinion based on my experience.

I'm beginning to think there is a lot of difference between Dell UK and Dell US.

I haven't tried it with my new macbook, but previously I found bootcamp to have some performance lag with drivers and some other issues. It ran, but not perfectly.
 
As such, I'd opt for a dedicated PC for a SONAR DAW. They're so dang cheap these days anyway. 

Apple use quality parts?.. LOL....What I believe, is Apple use parts that are Snuck in without the customers mindful knowledge at double the price.
Intel CPU chips made in different parts of the world, are Not COMPLETELY the same !!!, And DDR2 is not as fast as DDR3, yet they have not made the transition..but charge a fortune for memory.
 
Sata 2 5400rpm Deskjet Hard drives in their laptops anyone?..or cheap memory perhaps ddr2..wink...and when it bogs down, or the drives go belly up early in their life time...they want to charge for the fix...
Yep support that is where they make their final cash grab...."don't void the warranty by putting in your own higher grade parts"....for god sake!!!
 
So Apples should be eaten with care...not flare!
Although the new unreleased yet workstation has spun the word of...2x intel cpu,  sata 3 , DDR3,USB3, and sports thunderbolt 2 or 3?, and double ATI Fire Pro graphic cards...all cooled with one fan...SO less air flow is more cooling off time for the dosh spent??..LOL..it is moving a little late in the game, to where PCs have been the forerunners of those new technologies MACs seem to lack in, for a few years now....surely, a $5,000.00 over priced thought coming soon should turn the tide towards Mac Computing ?....But if buying in when released, make sure the hard drives/SSD or Hybrid drives, and memory, are of the highest quality!...and I would wait for the reviews before laying down the dosh..
 
Sorry I had to chime in on that Mac comment...about quality parts.

Yup...
Here are some workers who lovingly forge "quality" parts for peoples enjoyment in the west.
Most of your "high quality parts" cost $1 to make in some sweatshop, you can be certain of it.
 

I agree about the parts being made cheap, everything is made in Asia. But I still ask the question....would a pro choose a mass produced, consumer grade PC, or go for a top of the line custom build?? The answer is obvious, and its because pro work requires certain specs and quality components. Hans Zimmer (who switched to PC exclusively) is a perfect example. There's no way he or his crew are going to rely on a bunch of Dell Pc's from the Shopping Channel. The average music enthusiast would do fine, but not for pro level work.

PS- Nigel Tufnel rocks!!!!

> would a pro choose a mass produced, consumer grade PC, or go for a top of the line custom build??
 
A "professional" just chooses a tool he feels comfortable with or gets what tools he is given.
I've never ever saw a "top producer" or engineer ever talk about PC specs or software revisions. That Sir is the land of audiophile musicians :) 
He just gets on with recording the music.

> There's no way he or his crew are going to rely on a bunch of Dell Pc's from the Shopping Channel. 
 
I know one who has worked on at least 10 major albums, some of which you may have heard of. Just one Dell though.

By the way. I'm Alex Shirley, I am a top engineer and producer and I endorse Dell, I love it:
Here is a video of me in action (on a major TV network):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBL2eiO0pDA
 

CakeAlexS
I'm beginning to think there is a lot of difference between Dell UK and Dell US.

There just might be. I am beginning to think the same thing