Garage Band or PC equivalent?

[occimoron]

I've been using Garage Band on a Mac G4 (867Mhz) and PreSonus FP10, and I want to upgrade. I'm using typically 6 or 8 tracks max.

I could buy a new Mac ($$$),

maybe a Mac Mini ($)?

...or I have a fairly new PC Laptop with 2 gHz dual core processor, etc. pretty powerful. Does anyone have experience with a PC based software similar to Garage Band? guess I'd need a new interface too since the FP10 is firewire, no USB.

Would the PC software be able to share files with Garage Band?

Would a Mac Mini with an external hard drive be adequate?

I would appreciate any ideas.

 

[guitarnoize]

If you want to use your PC how about Reaper? I think it is only $50 and then if you want amp modelling download the free version of Waves GTR Solo.

 

[Starquasi]

Check out Tracktion by Mackie....basically garageband for PC...for sharing files with Garageband you'll have to export .wav files and import them into GB, but it is possible....