Best Laptop for recording? <1000ish

[jabulani jonny]

Chess: You're right on the separate HD. I just figure if you are getting a laptop for recording, might as well make sure the HD is up to snuff in case you get stuck having to record to it.

AMD vs Intel for desktops and laptops is such a tired argument. Honestly I have no affiliation with either, I was just pointing out the results of somebody else's testing. So honestly I've looked at an AMD lappie and would have been just as happy going with one, but when you find a great deal on the Dell's, they're hard to beat.

Ok let's say this...everyone has known someone who had a bad experience with a laptop or desktop from any manufacturer. You can't say that all brand XXX is bad because my buddies daughter couldn't boot up her machine. I just think that is overgeneralizing. There's a reason why most of these things come with warranties. I mean if it makes you feel better, extend the warranty and buy the accidental damage, that's what I did. Now no worries, and in 2 years, right after I image my HD, if my lappie takes a bit of a tumble while it's still covered under the accidental damage protection....well accidents can happen can't they?

Proton: You can check on the notebook forums site, they put out whatever Apple puts out, but I can tell you.....don't expect more than free shipping or $50 off. I'm glad I could help, even if it didn't end up helping. Dell puts out the best coupons and when you can find them, you can get a great machine for a great price.


Rocket Boy: Chess gave you some good advice. Here's what I like and don't like about the firepod:

likes-
8 pretty decent preamps, with trim on each input
atleast some inserts on a couple channels.

dislikes-
no DSP software to route channels
the mix knob is just kind of a funky monitoring setup

Me, I've got an M-audio 1814 that's been pretty good. It doesn't have the quality and some extra features that I'm looking for. I was initially going to go with the firepod, but nixed it. I was going to wait on the Firestudio, but nixed that too. I've settled on a MOTU 896HD which provides all the features I need and a step up in the quality of the pres and converters.

Anyway, just my thoughts.

Jonathan

 

[Rocket Boy]

Thank's so much for all your help

Decided to go with a Desktop for now... since I decided I should have a really solid desktop to mix on and everything first and then I can work into the laptop after I have that covered. Great advice all around, and it really helped me come to that decision actually(based on how much it was going to cost to get a decent laptop vs desktop).

I am planning on working into the laptops though and getting a firewire interface also. So I'lll definately check out that Echo. Would this be able to run with the 1010 for a total of 16?

 

[brzilian]

Chess, not doggin you or anything, but I don't like either of those choices.

1. The 80gb HD on the first link is 4200 rpm, not sufficient for audio IMHO. The second one has a 100gb HD, but it doesn't list speed, I'm willing to bet it's the same.

2. Also, they both have DDR333 RAM, slower than what I configured on the Dell.

3. From what I've read on different forums, the Pentium M performs better than the AMD Turion for audio applications. Just what I've heard.

Both of those laptops are 15.4" screen size, the Dell E1505 link that I posted is a 15.4" with much better specs than either of the two circuit city laptops and it's less, $718 after coupon versus $900.

Hate to burst your bubble, but you're wrong (on several points).

1. 4,200RPM is enough depending on your needs. I run Sonar with a Makie Onyx 1220 with firewire card and my 4,200RPM HD in my Gateway MX7515 keeps up just fine. If it didn't, an external Firewire HD fixes the problem.

3. Can't speak to the Turion, but the Athlon-64 mobile in my Gateway clearly outperforms many P4-M systems running math intensive apps like Adobe Premiere and Photoshop - DAWs fall in the same category.

Finally, user reviews of the Inspiron 9300 on the net repeatedly say that the display on the 9300 is vastly inferior to the one on the older 9200 because of light leaks and washed out colors. People even say they experience more dead pixels with the 9300.