Total Newbie Alert: What Computer Should I Buy?

[mattyN]

i am just getting into digital recording and i am looking at Macs & PCs to build around. i haven't made any big software decisions yet either but i'm leaning towards Cubase or Cakewalk. or probably PT if i get a Mac.

i'd like to put together a very portable set up so i'm very tempted to get a laptop but i want to make sure i get a box that can handle the load.

here's a few machines i'm interetsed in... i'd love to here what peope think.

Rain Recording LiveBook, (Pentium M)
http://rainrecording.com/livebook

Digital Audio Wave Mobile, (P4)
http://www.digitalaudiowave.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=446

G4 Powerbook, can it get the job done?

G5 Dual Processor, if i go desktop this is where i'm headed... prices just dipped.

i'm also tempted to use the machine for routine light internet use. is this a bad idea? would storing *all* my audio data on an external drive help mitigate system problems relating to mixed usage?

thanks,

-M

 

[arjoll]

i am just getting into digital recording and i am looking at Macs & PCs to build around. i haven't made any big software decisions yet either but i'm leaning towards Cubase or Cakewalk. or probably PT if i get a Mac. i'd like to put together a very portable set up so i'm very tempted to get a laptop but i want to make sure i get a box that can handle the load.

The LiveBook looks like a pretty basic Pentium-M laptop, nothing particularly special. You'd get better performance teaming an HP Comaq nx8220 or nc8230 with a good outboard sound card (which you'd need anyway - it looks like the audio in the LiveBook is nothing special).

For the US$2000 you could get one configured to order with optimised specs - I have an nc8230 with Pentium-M 2.0/533, 1024 MB 533 MHz memory, 60 GB 7200 RPM, 15.4" 1680x1050 display, DVD+/-RW. This can eat anything you throw at it and will definately perform better, at probably at pretty similar pricing, to that LiveBook.

I'm also a bit dubious of the brochure - in large print it has a 2.1 GHz processor and 100 GB drive, but the actual specs show a Pentium-M 1.6 and 60 GB drive.

Your link to the other PC laptop is just back to the LiveBook.

A PowerBook G4 certainly will handle most tasks.

In terms of the overall decision it comes down to what you want to do - you know your software, so issues like the number of tracks etc come into play.

Hope this helps (somehow!).

Cya
Andrew

 

[mattyN]

thanks...

i fixed the above URL... if i was to go w/ the livebook i'd get it suped up. not the 1.6 ghz processor that they ship by default.

i also know i want a full gig of ram.

 

[Ronan]

As a guy that bounces between formats, I would say that the Mac world is far superior. This is a religious debate to some people.

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

*anti-spam Bump*