buying laptop for music.. advice?

[Bevvy Swift]

i was looking at macbook, but my tower is pc and i want to be able to work on the same tracks on both computers.. also, macs are pricey.

i am somewhat computer illiterate, so any advice in laymans terms would be greatly appreciated!

[Bevvy Swift]

im thinkng brands, soundcard requirements, anything else that might be useful

[dj_soo]

get a macbook - you can install windows on it and use bootcamp, but a few months on OSX and most people don't want to go back :)

[NinjaBoy]

Agreed. For the most part PC laptops lack the power need to keep sound applications running.

You want to get a mac, and a USB/Firewire external box.

[Phrenetic]

dont get vista

[Drazkers]

Yah thats the way to go, I got a macbook pro and i love it. You can't go wrong long as you grab an external card.

[P.A.R.T.Y]

Mac Shmack. Obviously you're looking for a PC so that you can keep all your awesome free programs and transfer your songs easily. That said, I recommend Sony Vaio. They're well priced and have strong Duo core processors (same as mac hahahahaa...)

[rawb]

Originally Posted by P.A.R.T.Y

...I recommend Sony Vaio. They're well priced and...

[NinjaBoy]

Originally Posted by P.A.R.T.Y

Mac Shmack. Obviously you're looking for a PC so that you can keep all your awesome free programs and transfer your songs easily. That said, I recommend Sony Vaio. They're well priced and have strong Duo core processors (same as mac hahahahaa...)

Bevvy, don't listen to this. As you can clearly see in this thread nobody agrees with this.

I have never seen in my travels someone who has used a Sony Vaio in a studio. And I'm sure I won't.

And they are not well priced, they are notorious for being overpriced.

[Drazkers]

Too many mistakes to believe, its time to sleep.

[rawb]

I THINK YOUR CONSIDERATIONS ARE THUS:
-WILL YOU LUG IT AROUND TO SHOWS? THEN LOOK AT FORM FACTOR/SIZE (I FIND ANYTHING BIGGER THAN 14 INCHES A PAIN TO LUG AROUND)
-HOW HEAVY WILL YOU BE PRODUCING? THEN LOOK AT THE COMPUTER IN THE FORM FACTOR YOU LIKE WITH THE BEST SPECS
-YOU ARE NOT COMPUTER LITERATE? TRY TO FIND THE COMPANY WITH THE BEST/EASIEST WARRANTY

I THINK A MACBOOK IS A GOOD CHOICE HERE, THOUGH IF YOU'RE PC-CENTRIC YOU COULD ALSO GET AWAY WITH A LENOVO THINKPAD OR A TOSHIBA l

[ebbomega]

Originally Posted by Drazkers

We needed neoteric around for this one

esoteric you mean.

Also, usually Juan is the facepalm master.

[ebbomega]

MACS RUN WINDOWS, JUST THOUGHT I'D POINT THAT OUT (again)

[Revolver]

Originally Posted by Drazkers

We needed neoteric around for this one

you mean esoteric...and he dosent do the facepalms...thats me, you are now on my list.*edit* outposted by ebbodave

*on topic

i use a MBP with a m-audio interface and a Digi 002r...

go with apple. you will be glad that you spent the extra money. on a big ticket purchase like this its best to just spend the money and be happy rather then skimping and being unhappy.

due to the cost issue get a macbook with a inexpensive m-audio usb interface and your good to go. if you need software speak to geroge he'll sort you out...just make sure to keep HIM out of your HD(ahah)

[P.A.R.T.Y]

Bevvy man,
Get a nice sound card and hope your programs don't crash (my version of Cubase 2 gave up the ghost)
For audio enthusiasts on this forum, the popular choice is mac. If your files are Cubase files, then they will transfer to Mac's version of Cubase. I think it's same with Fruity loops, Live, etc.

The reason I mentioned Viao, is because I was looking at this 1.8gz Duo at London drugs on Broadway that some one brought back after installing Lynx. For $800, it was pretty sweet.
Basically, the choice is up to bevvy, so if he's determines to buy a PC, then let him. An computer such as:
IBM,
DELL
VAIO
ASER
Alienware, are going to rock.
Just need something with lots of RAM and peripherals.:P

[NinjaBoy]

Originally Posted by P.A.R.T.Y

The reason I mentioned Viao, is because I was looking at this 1.8gz Duo at London drugs on Broadway that some one brought back after installing Lynx.

"Lynx" is badass for music, I use it all the time!

[Phrenetic]

if your going to go mac go ahead, macs are fisherprice to me.

if your gonna go pc you can save a lot of cash and get more bang for you buck if you build your own, as well as it tends to be more rewarding

[NinjaBoy]

Originally Posted by P.A.R.T.Y

Bevvy man,
Get a nice sound card and hope your programs don't crash (my version of Cubase 2 gave up the ghost)
For audio enthusiasts on this forum, the popular choice is mac. If your files are Cubase files, then they will transfer to Mac's version of Cubase. I think it's same with Fruity loops, Live, etc.

The reason I mentioned Viao, is because I was looking at this 1.8gz Duo at London drugs on Broadway that some one brought back after installing Lynx. For $800, it was pretty sweet.
Basically, the choice is up to bevvy, so if he's determines to buy a PC, then let him. An computer such as:
IBM,
DELL
VAIO
ASER
Alienware, are going to rock.
Just need something with lots of RAM and peripherals.:P

Just because someone is determined to buy a PC laptop doesn't mean they should.

It's like when you were a kid and you wanted to learn guitar. Your mom may have been determined to buy one from sears, but it wasn't such a hot idea.

I would be supportive of the PC choice for maybe a desktop, but for a laptop to do audio production it's a terrible platform.

[inside]

Get a Mac! Logic is a far superior platform. I would get a Mac Pro desktop over a book, because of it's near infinante possibilities to upgrade.You can stick up to 32gb ram. 8 core Xeon proccessors are now the standard on the Mac Pro. This Daw would last at the very least ten years, if not a life time.

[GSG9]

Originally Posted by rawb

I THINK YOUR CONSIDERATIONS ARE THUS:
-WILL YOU LUG IT AROUND TO SHOWS? THEN LOOK AT FORM FACTOR/SIZE (I FIND ANYTHING BIGGER THAN 14 INCHES A PAIN TO LUG AROUND)
-HOW HEAVY WILL YOU BE PRODUCING? THEN LOOK AT THE COMPUTER IN THE FORM FACTOR YOU LIKE WITH THE BEST SPECS
-YOU ARE NOT COMPUTER LITERATE? TRY TO FIND THE COMPANY WITH THE BEST/EASIEST WARRANTY

I THINK A MACBOOK IS A GOOD CHOICE HERE, THOUGH IF YOU'RE PC-CENTRIC YOU COULD ALSO GET AWAY WITH A LENOVO THINKPAD OR A TOSHIBA l

agreed. im retarded on a mac so i went with a toshiba satelite. best computer ive owned for sure, and ive built 4 desktops in my life. (one being my game machine right now)

im not diggin the vista much but if you get 2 gigs of ram with your dual processors, you should be able to run any sound software no problemo. i havent run anything too advanced all i have is fl studio 7 and some piddly basics. when i have logic running ill tell you how it is on the toshiba.

[ebbomega]

Originally Posted by P.A.R.T.Y

IBM

good

DELL

shite

VAIO

shite

ASER [sic]

half-decent

Alienware

Gamer machine

Dells and Sonys were good about 5 years ago, not anymore.

Thinkpads have always been pretty solid. I had one that lasted me from 99-2005 and still ran at full tilt.

If you're using it for production, I say don't go outside IBM, Toshiba or Apple. Acer you'll probably get a good deal on if you're looking for the economy package.

[ebbomega]

Originally Posted by Phrenetic

if your going to go mac go ahead, macs are fisherprice to me.

if your gonna go pc you can save a lot of cash and get more bang for you buck if you build your own, as well as it tends to be more rewarding

Um, since when is building your own laptop a viable option?

[inside]

does it really matter what it says on the chassis? (brand)

[inside]

Originally Posted by Phrenetic

if your going to go mac go ahead, macs are fisherprice to me.

if your gonna go pc you can save a lot of cash and get more bang for you buck if you build your own, as well as it tends to be more rewarding

Macs are fisherprice? good luck with that.

[ebbomega]

Obviously you're looking for a PC

i was looking at macbook,

OBVIOUSLY