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Laptop Advice

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 5:59 pm
by f bomb
Ive recently decided its time to get a new laptop


I don't know whats spec's would be oright for making music on


the current one i have is shit

Any one got any advice on what a decent basic specs i wouldneed would be? :D

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:06 pm
by fuagofire
macbook

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:07 pm
by f bomb
I was thinking bout a macbook

but i prefer windows software

Cheers anyway.

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:40 pm
by whineo
macbook + bootcamp

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 7:06 pm
by 11eight
seconded

macbooks are great
nice and portable as well

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 7:22 pm
by f bomb
Any advice on what model i should go for?

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:36 pm
by deadly
What is your budget? What is your DAW?

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:21 pm
by futures_untold
Almost any laptop worth more than £300/£400 will suffice nicely. Buy a usb break out box/souncard and your away! :)

Minimum I'd go for on the PC route is a P3 3Ghz with 1Gb Ram. Dual core or more ram and you'll be laughing. Don't settle for the onboard souncard though, definately invest at least £100 on an audio interface.

Macs are more expensive to begin with, and cost more to repair. Macs have fewer programs, and fewer free vsti's floating about. The only reason I'd use Mac's personally, is to use Final Cut & Logic (both of which are sick! :)). PC's have far more software, and are friendlier imo.

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:54 pm
by spencertron
f bomb wrote:I was thinking bout a macbook

but i prefer windows software

Cheers anyway.
fair enough but i still say

Macbook. :)

sturdy clean machines. Many arguments for and against the 2 platforms. but i'm certain you wouldn't look back after working with one for a few weeks.

if i went back to production on a PC, it would be a machine running basic XP OS and not connected to the internet. i'm uber anal.

Edit: i think it's time software developers came up with products (daws/softsynths etc) that did not require an operating system to run on and just use a standard VDU/CDROM/HD to store and run music apps on. it should be a different computing world, with apps programmed with consideration for nothing else but themselves (but run VST/AU), and file types that don't adhere to Wav/oggvorbis/mp3 standard necessarily , like anything though, in theory it's simple.

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:32 pm
by futures_untold
spencerTron wrote:If i went back to production on a PC, it would be a machine running basic XP OS and not connected to the internet. i'm uber anal.
Defo XP over Vista, Vista causes grief and nightmares! :o
spencerTron wrote: I think it's time software developers came up with products (daws/softsynths etc) that did not require an operating system to run on and just use a standard VDU/CDROM/HD to store and run music apps on. it should be a different computing world, with apps programmed with consideration for nothing else but themselves (but run VST/AU), and file types that don't adhere to Wav/oggvorbis/mp3 standard necessarily , like anything though, in theory it's simple.
Maybe you could go to Business Link/Dragons Den ;)

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:35 pm
by futures_untold
spencerTron wrote: Macbook. :)

sturdy clean machines. Many arguments for and against the 2 platforms. but i'm certain you wouldn't look back after working with one for a few weeks.
In my opinion, Macs aren't particularly more or less slick than Windows based operation systems........ Once you've plugged in a two button mouse so you can right click like normal people again, and sussed out the file system, its all about the same......

The fun software aimed at kids is good on a Mac though..! :)

Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:25 am
by f bomb
Thanks for all the sick advice:D


especially futures untold


Think il go browse now

waste some dollar.

Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 4:08 am
by westl
futures_untold wrote:
spencerTron wrote: Macbook. :)

sturdy clean machines. Many arguments for and against the 2 platforms. but i'm certain you wouldn't look back after working with one for a few weeks.
In my opinion, Macs aren't particularly more or less slick than Windows based operation systems........ Once you've plugged in a two button mouse so you can right click like normal people again, and sussed out the file system, its all about the same......

The fun software aimed at kids is good on a Mac though..! :)
Hah you can right click in Macs, just open the preferences an change the right click option, not hard, and the screen spread buttons are wicked for producing!

Go mac all the way, My old mans accounting firm just switched over to macs, they are still running XP with bootcamp, but wanted the better machine! Working a charm, and so easy to set up an use!!

Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 7:51 am
by f bomb
Any advice on how this would cope?

Core 2 Duo Processor (2.0 GHz, 667 MHz FSB, 2 MB L2 Cache)
3072 RAM
320GB hard drive
56 graphics card

and a M-audio fast track pro interface.

Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:37 am
by 11eight
yeh that would work alright
im running 2.16 with 2gb ram and a 250gb HD

havent had any problems so far - apart from using about 5 different Massive synths all on different patches at once - and to solve that just bounce them down to audio.
that will do ya fine

Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:44 pm
by futures_untold
3Gb's of ram is plenty to support the 2Ghz processor! :)

You'll have plenty of HD space too! (You can always buy a cheap portable HD later if you need more storage space).