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Can some one give me some Laptop recommendations? [message #101501] Mon, 08 December 2008 09:16 Go to next message
Rod Lincoln is currently offline  Rod Lincoln
Messages: 883
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
I've mentioned this before, but never got around to getting a laptop computer.
I'm going to get one now. I'm looking for advice on what to get.
I'll be using it for transportable audio production. Running Cubase, stylus,
reason, etc. I'll probably want to put protools le on it. (I had to borrow
a friends laptop with protools a couple times recently to shlep some protools
sessions into Paris. Cost is not the biggest issue, but would obviously rather
pay less, instead of more, if I can.
Thanks
Rod
Re: Can some one give me some Laptop recommendations? [message #101503 is a reply to message #101501] Mon, 08 December 2008 09:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JeffH is currently offline  JeffH   UNITED STATES
Messages: 307
Registered: October 2007
Location: Wamic, OR
Senior Member
Rod,

What kind of interface are you going to be running (pc card, expresss
car,d Firewire, usb?) THat will probably affect the recommendations.

Jeff
> I've mentioned this before, but never got around to getting a laptop computer.
> I'm going to get one now. I'm looking for advice on what to get.
> I'll be using it for transportable audio production. Running Cubase, stylus,
> reason, etc. I'll probably want to put protools le on it. (I had to borrow
> a friends laptop with protools a couple times recently to shlep some protools
> sessions into Paris. Cost is not the biggest issue, but would obviously rather
> pay less, instead of more, if I can.
> Thanks
> Rod
Re: Can some one give me some Laptop recommendations? [message #101506 is a reply to message #101503] Mon, 08 December 2008 12:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Rod Lincoln is currently offline  Rod Lincoln
Messages: 883
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
Don't know. I guess I need some advice on that also.
Rod
Jeff Hoover <jkhoover@excite.com> wrote:
>Rod,
>
>What kind of interface are you going to be running (pc card, expresss
>car,d Firewire, usb?) THat will probably affect the recommendations.
>
>Jeff
>> I've mentioned this before, but never got around to getting a laptop computer.
>> I'm going to get one now. I'm looking for advice on what to get.
>> I'll be using it for transportable audio production. Running Cubase, stylus,
>> reason, etc. I'll probably want to put protools le on it. (I had to borrow
>> a friends laptop with protools a couple times recently to shlep some protools
>> sessions into Paris. Cost is not the biggest issue, but would obviously
rather
>> pay less, instead of more, if I can.
>> Thanks
>> Rod
Re: Can some one give me some Laptop recommendations? [message #101509 is a reply to message #101501] Mon, 08 December 2008 12:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Chris Ludwig is currently offline  Chris Ludwig   UNITED STATES
Messages: 868
Registered: May 2006
Senior Member
Hi Rod,

You picked a hard time to get into laptops if your buying a new one.\
Almost all the sub $2000 laptops on the PC side are sporting the new GM45 Montevina platform chip set.
Which has excellent performance but is having allot of compatibility issues with express slot and fire wire devices.
Intel for what ever reason didn't find it necessary to allow for firewire to be part of the spec so most all of shell manufacturers do not have on board FW.
If they do it will tend to be a J-micron, Ricoh or Agere all of which either have performances issues or don't work at all for audio devices.
You will see that same thing happening on the Apple side with the new 15" MAC Book Pro and the MAC Books.
People are already reporting firewire issues with them and are now waiting companies to have to rework there drivers again and again every time Apple releases a new laptop.
Currently the 17" MAC Book pro is still the "old" technology so it has TI firewire and a more compatible chip set so seems to be working fine.

We are still researching lower priced laptops sense all the shell makers discontinue "last years" model with out any warning lately.
Currently only the 17" models we sell have compatible FW and cpu chip sets.
We haven't found any 15" or smaller models that work well in our opinion for audio use.
Tested about 15 laptop models so far with no luck...

If your want a 15: or smaller I would recommend trying to find "last years" tech.
For a 17" then there still a bunch for good choices for PC and MAC.

With any of the laptop you would want to insist on the following things to reduce compatibility issues.
Intel chip set and CPU, Texas Instruments or Via firewire only. Non-Integrated graphics (i.e., shared memory).
Integrated graphics is hard to avoid on budget laptops so if you ahve no choice go for the NVidia based ones not the Intel Graphics ones.

Chris




Rod Lincoln wrote:
> I've mentioned this before, but never got around to getting a laptop computer.
> I'm going to get one now. I'm looking for advice on what to get.
> I'll be using it for transportable audio production. Running Cubase, stylus,
> reason, etc. I'll probably want to put protools le on it. (I had to borrow
> a friends laptop with protools a couple times recently to shlep some protools
> sessions into Paris. Cost is not the biggest issue, but would obviously rather
> pay less, instead of more, if I can.
> Thanks
> Rod

--
Chris Ludwig

ADK Pro Audio
(859) 635-5762
www.adkproaudio.com
chrisl@adkproaudio.com
Re: Can some one give me some Laptop recommendations? [message #101511 is a reply to message #101509] Mon, 08 December 2008 15:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Rod Lincoln is currently offline  Rod Lincoln
Messages: 883
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
>You picked a hard time to get into laptops if your buying a new one.\
Would it be a good or bad idea to look at the used market? (ebay etc)
What about vista? do I want to avoid that, and go with XP?
>For a 17" then there still a bunch for good choices for PC and MAC.
I don't necessarily want a 15, so what would be good in a 17?
Probably a PC, but I'm not apposed to a mac either. Since my home and audio
comps are PC, I was thinking it would be a better fit to go with PC as far
as compatibility.

Thanks
Rod
Re: Can some one give me some Laptop recommendations? [message #101517 is a reply to message #101511] Mon, 08 December 2008 21:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Chris Ludwig is currently offline  Chris Ludwig   UNITED STATES
Messages: 868
Registered: May 2006
Senior Member
HI Rod,


Rod Lincoln wrote:
>> You picked a hard time to get into laptops if your buying a new one.\
> Would it be a good or bad idea to look at the used market? (ebay etc)
maybe but no warranty unless its a refurb. warranties tend to be more
likely to be used on laptop.

> What about vista? do I want to avoid that, and go with XP?

Vista if it is business or ultimate are finie but you are still subject
to the same issues of bad hardware and bad drivers.

>> For a 17" then there still a bunch for good choices for PC and MAC.
> I don't necessarily want a 15, so what would be good in a 17?
The Clevo based we and other sell are excellent.
From us the the 8500SR and the 9000 SR models are the best performers.
The 9000 especially is extremely powerful. It can use a desktop Quad
core CPU, up to 8 gigs of ram, 3 internal hard drives, and very high end
video card options. Of course it is not light weight and sleek but it is
more powerful than any other laptop model on the market.
Not really designed for general business unless your business is pro
audio, video editing, 3D and CAD work or high end gaming.

A similar as possible configure of the 9000 compared to a 17" Mac Book
Pro is only a couple hundred dollar difference with the 9000 having a
Quad core and the ability to use all the current desktop Quads 8 gigs
and 3 drives. So it actually has an upgrade path unlike a MBP.
So if all you apps are PC it would not make much sense to invest in a
MBP. If you really wanted to go the MBP route I would look at some of
thier refurds.


Chris



> Probably a PC, but I'm not apposed to a mac either. Since my home and audio
> comps are PC, I was thinking it would be a better fit to go with PC as far
> as compatibility.
>
> Thanks
> Rod
Re: Can some one give me some Laptop recommendations? [message #101520 is a reply to message #101501] Tue, 09 December 2008 07:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
chuck duffy is currently offline  chuck duffy
Messages: 453
Registered: July 2005
Senior Member
Rod,

I would defer to Chris Ludwig, but IME the AlienWare laptops are the best
performing laptops I have ever seen.

They are very capable desktop replacements, on the pricey side. Smoking
fast drives, RAM, bus, processors and video.

Chuck

"Rod Lincoln" <rlincoln@nospam.kc.rr.com> wrote:
>
>I've mentioned this before, but never got around to getting a laptop computer.
>I'm going to get one now. I'm looking for advice on what to get.
>I'll be using it for transportable audio production. Running Cubase, stylus,
>reason, etc. I'll probably want to put protools le on it. (I had to borrow
>a friends laptop with protools a couple times recently to shlep some protools
>sessions into Paris. Cost is not the biggest issue, but would obviously
rather
>pay less, instead of more, if I can.
>Thanks
>Rod
Re: Can some one give me some Laptop recommendations? [message #101523 is a reply to message #101520] Tue, 09 December 2008 08:36 Go to previous message
Chris Ludwig is currently offline  Chris Ludwig   UNITED STATES
Messages: 868
Registered: May 2006
Senior Member
Hi Chuck,
They currently do not have any models comparable to 9000 but all but one
are similar to the 8500SR. But as usual they do not list the chip sets
used so he will have to contact their support if they even know.
The M17 model is based on the problematic PM45 chip set I discuss int he
other email but again they hide what chip sets are being used for on
board components.

Chris



chuck duffy wrote:
> Rod,
>
> I would defer to Chris Ludwig, but IME the AlienWare laptops are the best
> performing laptops I have ever seen.
>
> They are very capable desktop replacements, on the pricey side. Smoking
> fast drives, RAM, bus, processors and video.
>
> Chuck
>
> "Rod Lincoln" <rlincoln@nospam.kc.rr.com> wrote:
>> I've mentioned this before, but never got around to getting a laptop computer.
>> I'm going to get one now. I'm looking for advice on what to get.
>> I'll be using it for transportable audio production. Running Cubase, stylus,
>> reason, etc. I'll probably want to put protools le on it. (I had to borrow
>> a friends laptop with protools a couple times recently to shlep some protools
>> sessions into Paris. Cost is not the biggest issue, but would obviously
> rather
>> pay less, instead of more, if I can.
>> Thanks
>> Rod
>
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