Need Advice on laptop selection - TranceAddict Forums

TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Production Studio
-- Need Advice on laptop selection

Posted by djsparta on Oct-01-2004 23:10:

Need Advice on laptop selection

I am very interested in buying a moblie pack for myself but have found it difficult to choose between an apple laptop and a windows compatible laptop. Even though the apple is more expensive than most of the windows compatible laptops, why is it a more popular choice for making music? Any feedback and advice on what I should do is greatly appreciated.

Posted by moth on Oct-01-2004 23:17:

Well I think Apple's motorola CPU uses less power, so that could be a plus, unless you get a Centrino, those are awesome on power.

Posted by Pimp_fu on Oct-01-2004 23:33:

A lot of it is going to depend on what software you want to run also. I can't run Sonar on the mac, so I bought an IBM Laptop. I'm running a P4 Thinkpad G40, and I couldn't be happier. 2.4Ghz processor, 40GB hard drive, 4usb ports DVD/CDR-w drive. $1800. It looks a little old school as laptops go, because its designed as a desktop in a laptop case, so its a little harder to cram everything into one of those tiny ass cases. but it more than does the job.

Posted by DJ InfraRed on Oct-02-2004 01:20:

If u want a bad ass PC get it from these guys. Exellent Laptops u can even put three hard drives into them. Very good for your money.

http://www.digitalaudiowave.com

Check em out!

Posted by Pimp_fu on Oct-02-2004 01:31:

quote:
Originally posted by DJ InfraRed
If u want a bad ass PC get it from these guys. Exellent Laptops u can even put three hard drives into them. Very good for your money.

http://www.digitalaudiowave.com

Check em out!

Top of the line is a 2GHZ, with a 20GB hard drive, 128MB of RAM, for $2k?
Where is this a good deal?

Posted by DJ InfraRed on Oct-02-2004 03:52:

Maybe your looking at the list price. I own the DAW 8889 And it was about 1700. You have to call to get the sale price. but What other company would have fans like that or have 3 hard drives in a laptop. Also u can put 2024 megs in memory. Comes with a 2.4 Ghz but upgraded to 3.2. And 4 usb ports. These guys even got a good rating at the namm show in January. These laptops are very upgradable checkout what they can do.

And also the computer u got for 1800 same value just get this at same price and is able to upgrade when ever u want. It's basically a desktop replacement and would have alot more room to upgrade in it. And look at the specs. It comes with 512MB. 60 gig hard drive and 2.4 Ghz.. I don't know what your looking at? man. We paid around the same amount and I got more for my money.

I mean This is The best u can get and for under 2k and it's made for music. You could go to alienware or others but they have alot of defects. Or u can get a dell, ibm, or whatever but they are not able to upgrade that's were they get u. Well that's just my opinion. Don't have to take my word for it.

Posted by Pimp_fu on Oct-02-2004 05:21:

What you got for that price IS a pretty good deal. I'm actually using the laptop "temporarily" until I get my baby built. Dual 3Ghz Processors, 40GB system Drive w/ partitioned 160GB Hard drive, 4 dedicated USB, 2 Firewire, DVD-R. 2GB of RAM, and that's right, WATER COOLED (NO fan noise)

Posted by djsparta on Oct-02-2004 17:55:

now hearing all of your suggestions, which I greatly appreciate, I think it would be a good time to ask, what do you think is the best external sound card for a midi keyboard and other plugins?

Posted by TranceMuzik02 on Oct-02-2004 22:07:

Get a Echo Indigo I/O and use the USB port for the controller.

Posted by DJDIRTY on Oct-02-2004 23:56:

Try out an RME card bus with a multiface or a digiface. You will not be dissapointed. And if you wana swap between you laptop or a desktop just get a pci interface for it as well. Quality/sound vise it will not dissapoint..

http://www.rme-audio.com/english/index.htm

http://www.rme-audio.com/english/hdsp/cardpci.htm

Posted by CynepMeH on Oct-12-2004 03:15:

If you hurry up, Sam Ash has the Steinberg version of the Multiface on close out for lousy $299 (plus you'll have to find the PCMCIA card somewhere). I just got my second one with a PCI card, all togheter it came out to $450 and I shelled out $220 for PCMCIA hammerfall card at 8th street music.

Update: just checked out samash.com - no longer have the multiface... You might be able to find it or try calling them.
Also, I'd highly recommend Motu 828 MKII - not as portable as RME but an excellent unit and can work standalone (without PC), unlike RME.

As far as MIDI goes - I'm a big fan of Ediroll UM-880 (or UM-550) series (USB-based).

Posted by Scottaculous on Oct-14-2004 17:26:

I think it's safe to say, look for a laptop with a firewire interface.