mac users and cambridge audio 840c

Hi all,
I've got the Cambridge Audio 840c cd player and am going to buy a new laptop from which I can play music from my HD, as well as stream online music from the web, and I'm wondering what your set ups are and if you'd do the same thing again if you had the choice.

I'm not currently a mac user, but am thinking about comin' over!

My questions are mainly concerning connecting a mac laptop via the optical out to my cd player. the 840c has 2 onboard DAC's (1 per channel), and can receive signal via 2 optical (toslinks) or 2 digital coax.

Are you some of you using usb converters to connect?
How about optical to coax converters? Any benefit there?

I'm pretty green with digital audio, so use layman terminology please!

I just know that I want to maximize the audio quality coming through my system and into my ears.

thanks -

macbook pro to DAC - usb or optical out?

sorry for duplicate post

Merged cross posts. Please do not start duplicate threads.

Might have been considered an audiophile back in the '70's and 80's. Have kept up in the video/audio realm with 5.1-7.1 sound and Tru-HD,etc. By no means am I an audiophile any longer when it comes to digital stereo music.

There really is no advantage of one or the other with optical vs coax cables in short runs.

I'd just connect whatever computer you're using via an optical cable.