Doctor Varney
Cave dwelling Luddite
I was looking in the window of my local PC store yesterday and saw this second hand Dell mini computer running Windows XP going for £150 GBP. I've done business with these guys a few times and I've done a bit of DTP and leaflet distribution for them in the past. So they're great friends of mine and I trust them.
Anyway, when I asked about it, the chap said, "Have you seen the little Acer we've just had come in?" He dug it out. It hasn't been given a price yet. It was smaller than a shoe box and came with wireless and Windows 7 installed. It has 1GB RAM, which I know isn't a lot and probably can't be easily upgraded - but it set me thinking...
Two things. First I said earlier, I want to go Macintosh but for several reasons, I have to stick with the PC platform a while longer. Secondly, I've never really rated Acer as a brand. That said, I've been advised of the advantages of going with branded PCs over a home build, because of the build consistency.
So - judging by his prices, I could probably just afford this little thing. I already have monitors and peripherals to connect. It's completely silent, which for my voice recording would be an absolute boon.
It's highly portable. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to build a little portable rig, to incorporate a small monitor, keyboard, trackball and my Korg Nano controller. You could say "Just get a laptop" but building the custom case I have in mind, with an extendable mic boom and fold out 'lectern' for my reading material would bring me a lot more pleasure.
It only has 1GB RAM at present - but it is dual core, I believe. Surely, that could be upgraded in a mini PC? Yes/ no? I only want to run my recording/ DAW software on it, which is FL Studio and Audacity.
Of course, I'd need to purchase an outboard USB audio interface - which again, could incorporate nicely into my custom case idea. Until I can afford that, it might be possible to get away with using the onboard sound...?
So, given that I'm asking you guys to put aside your normal 'big studio' requirements for multi-tracking musical instruments and vocals; to remember that all of my 'music' is made 'in the box' with virtual synths and that the main requirement is just recording my voice and mixing a few tracks... what do you think? Could this be a goer in your opinion?
Many thanks
Dr. V
Anyway, when I asked about it, the chap said, "Have you seen the little Acer we've just had come in?" He dug it out. It hasn't been given a price yet. It was smaller than a shoe box and came with wireless and Windows 7 installed. It has 1GB RAM, which I know isn't a lot and probably can't be easily upgraded - but it set me thinking...
Two things. First I said earlier, I want to go Macintosh but for several reasons, I have to stick with the PC platform a while longer. Secondly, I've never really rated Acer as a brand. That said, I've been advised of the advantages of going with branded PCs over a home build, because of the build consistency.
So - judging by his prices, I could probably just afford this little thing. I already have monitors and peripherals to connect. It's completely silent, which for my voice recording would be an absolute boon.
It's highly portable. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to build a little portable rig, to incorporate a small monitor, keyboard, trackball and my Korg Nano controller. You could say "Just get a laptop" but building the custom case I have in mind, with an extendable mic boom and fold out 'lectern' for my reading material would bring me a lot more pleasure.
It only has 1GB RAM at present - but it is dual core, I believe. Surely, that could be upgraded in a mini PC? Yes/ no? I only want to run my recording/ DAW software on it, which is FL Studio and Audacity.
Of course, I'd need to purchase an outboard USB audio interface - which again, could incorporate nicely into my custom case idea. Until I can afford that, it might be possible to get away with using the onboard sound...?
So, given that I'm asking you guys to put aside your normal 'big studio' requirements for multi-tracking musical instruments and vocals; to remember that all of my 'music' is made 'in the box' with virtual synths and that the main requirement is just recording my voice and mixing a few tracks... what do you think? Could this be a goer in your opinion?
Many thanks
Dr. V