Apple vs PC for Music System


I'm pretty familiar with XP owning both a desktop and laptop. But I want to put together a similar system to the Apple TV Setup featured in the Absolute Sound and PS Audio.

However when looking at PCs at a local store they had a windows media computer that looked really interestesting that I'm considering purchasing for just audio into my Levinson DAC. I was told I could use an iPod Touch to control this system just like I could an Apple TV.
Also this system included a BluRay Disc drive. The setup looked very cool and very hi tech.

So to do this system right, should I stick with Apple only like the Absolute Sound or a combo of Apple w/PC to do the ripping, or all PC with Sata drives like the computer store would customize for me w/I-Tunes/iPod running the show?
128x128sgr
Guys,

Look I design PC motherboards and computers for years. I have over 5.8M PC's in the field. I have more computers in my lab than most software companies. I have written bios code in assmbler since 1981 and have more than 135 commercial software packages written since then.

I don't know what you are listening too if you are using a PC or your just bull headed but really common guys. Your nuts, macs always sound better.

I sell some of the most expensive computer dacs in the world and can use any computer and os at my disposal. Heck I even have a motherboard I designed for a company specifically for audio. It does not have switching supplies on it at all. It uses super regulators and single oscillator so the emi and rfi is all tuned. Not even close...

Look a mac mini is less than most of your CD players. Try it...you thank me.

Gordon
Gordon I'm well aware what you do. Nothing wrong with the Mac..it just doesn't work for me.

Now I'm nuts because I have my own preferences? Is your word the gospel now? I suppose all of us that do not own your Dacs are nuts?

Thanks but no thanks I like my PC. Those who prefer Mac enjoy!
The Mac mini has garbage video resolution. I use my computer for more than just audio.
Cool, a bare knuckles slug fest between two heavy weight A'goners. Maybe it will evolve into an interesting and useful dialogue.

I may be mistaken but over the last year or so of reading, experimenting, listening to other systems (some of them high end) I've concluded that it's the equipment upstream of the computer that is really important.

Also, over the 25 years or so since I've been using desk top computers I've noticed that Microsoft and Apple, while using different operating systems, tend to converge towards one level of performance in a general area of applications (ie. word processing, spread sheets, internet support) I suspect that MS and Apple have reached a point of convergence in consumer level audio and I suspect they will soon meet a point of convergence in consumer level Home Theater computing.

In the near future discussions about differences between MS and Apple audio and video applications might be as interesting as discussions about competing word processing applications.

In the mean time, let the games begin.

JPO
I am primarily a PC guy. I really enjoy building my own. I purchased my 1st Wavelength Audio DAC over two years ago. I stubbornly held out using a Mac as per Gordon's recommendation.

Today I own 2 Macs and many PCs. The Mac just sounds better for music. I have an iMac and MacBook Pro, and would never want to go back to XP Pro or Vista for my music.
Help me understand how this could matter? If one is sending data from either pc or mac to a dac (I'm using pc to Benchmark DAC1 USB), should they not both be sending the same data and then the dac is doing the work. I can understand if one is using an internal soundcard out to an amp but not with a dac.