Picking out a Laptop...

Alright, so I'm looking to upgrade my laptop ( a three-or-four-year-old Gateway with 2gb RAM, a cheap-ass soundcard and a 2GHz processor). It's been decent, but I'm looking for something with a bit more... oomph. I'm looking for something in the $600-800 range that will be able to handle hardware with ease (i currently have none, but I plan on acquiring some synths/drum machines/ musical wank tools in the near future).

So, in your collective opinion, O great Wattem, what should I buy? I've always been quite partial to HP.

Why a laptop? Why not a desktop. Just makes more sense.

And I'm gonna go ahead and move this to the EKT forum. :)

Portability. I travel frequently, and don't relish the idea of lugging a desktop everywhere I go.

I'd say get a used Mac, an Asus, or a Toshiba. Everyone else is kinda sucking it up these days.

Avoid HP like the plague. Don't be tempted by the seemingly reasonable prices. They fuck you. I've had nothing but problems with my Pavillion.

Now that you mention it, my roommate's Pavilliion just kinda... died one day. No reason at all, his... fuck, I forget what died, but... the thing couldn't be resurrected.

Trying to steer clear of Apple as a whole...

Asus or Toshiba, eh? Definitely haveta check into them.

any particular reason for steering clear of apple? fruity loops user?

I don't think your laptop has to be any faster than the one you have already to make electronic music without lag, I think you only need a proper audio interface. I might be wrong though. Toshibas are decent.

i've read somewhere that its best to avoid a certain make of firewire interface due to incompatability probs with soundcards, i think fujitsu was mentioned as ok also avoid AMD as all music software these days is made on intels and check toms hardware for benchmark tests on cpu's

Wisp uses a toshiba live if that helps although saying all this if i was to buy a new music laptop it would be a powerbook

  soundwave said:

avoid AMD as all music software these days is made on intels

lol

  On 6/14/2010 at 10:25 AM, BCM said:

any particular reason for steering clear of apple? fruity loops user?

Cause all his software is definitely above board

  On 6/14/2010 at 10:25 AM, BCM said:

any particular reason for steering clear of apple? fruity loops user?

Hah, I am actually an FL user... with freely acquired software....

Asus is probably a safe bet

if I was looking to get a laptop i'd probably go for a Sager

Ya, Asus is quality. I've had mine for about 18 months. No issues. My laptop + my FA-66 is all I need to get the sound from my Tetra into Live.

Get a MacBook. I was anti-Apple until I took the plunge, now I think it's one of the best decisions I made.

  On 6/14/2010 at 12:25 PM, soundwave said:

 

 

Wisp uses a toshiba live if that helps although saying all this if i was to buy a new music laptop it would be a powerbook

FALSNESS.

I use an Asus. Never touched a Toshiba in mah life. I hear they are shit.

  On 6/14/2010 at 9:48 PM, thanks robert moses said:

  On 6/14/2010 at 12:25 PM, soundwave said:

 

 

Wisp uses a toshiba live if that helps although saying all this if i was to buy a new music laptop it would be a powerbook

 

FALSNESS.

 

I use an Asus. Never touched a Toshiba in mah life. I hear they are shit.

Ha. Asus FTW. That's what my next one's gonna be.

  On 6/14/2010 at 8:13 PM, futureimage said:

Get a MacBook. I was anti-Apple until I took the plunge, now I think it's one of the best decisions I made.

I neither have the cash, nor do I want to, buy a Macbook.

  On 6/14/2010 at 9:51 PM, wahrk said:

  On 6/14/2010 at 9:48 PM, thanks robert moses said:

  On 6/14/2010 at 12:25 PM, soundwave said:

 

 

Wisp uses a toshiba live if that helps although saying all this if i was to buy a new music laptop it would be a powerbook

 

FALSNESS.

 

I use an Asus. Never touched a Toshiba in mah life. I hear they are shit.

 

Ha. Asus FTW. That's what my next one's gonna be.

maybe it was cylob then?

You can get refurbished macs for pretty cheap from the apple website. Apple store floor models etc.

In general you might try getting a used laptop to get more oomph from your available cash. Pocket the savings for a desktop later on.

  On 6/15/2010 at 12:30 AM, Sprigg said:

  On 6/14/2010 at 8:13 PM, futureimage said:

Get a MacBook. I was anti-Apple until I took the plunge, now I think it's one of the best decisions I made.

I neither have the cash, nor do I want to, buy a Macbook.

Fair enough.

  On 6/15/2010 at 4:57 AM, tysen said:

You can get refurbished macs for pretty cheap from the apple website. Apple store floor models etc.

 

In general you might try getting a used laptop to get more oomph from your available cash. Pocket the savings for a desktop later on.

Now, that sounds like a wicked idea... if I didn't move around so much, I'd just buy a desktop.

If you ever decide you want to try gigging, desktop is no use to you.

i've had 3 toshiba laptops, they each have been good for 3 years or so - i've upgraded for more stuff, not generally any kind of failure. if you do your research (i.e. newegg.com) you can get a good deal on a powerful, no frills computer.

like this for example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114791&cm_sp=NotebookDeal-_-34-114-791-_-07032010

the reviews say it all, their machines are not meant for gaming but the processors are solid and 4gb ram is nice. good for sound. get an external sound card with your savings (i like echo audio, search for threads here)

  On 6/15/2010 at 5:13 PM, chassis said:

If you ever decide you want to try gigging, desktop is no use to you.

really? is there some rule that desktops can never be used at a show?

laptops are so expensive and take so long to get repaired, usually heat up a lot easier

you could buy two desktops (one backup) for doing shows for the same price ass equally powered laptop

  On 7/4/2010 at 6:55 AM, Blanket Fort Collapse said:

you could buy two desktops (one backup) for doing shows for the same price ass equally powered laptop

AS POWERFUL AS YOUR ASS

Had to be done.