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Subject: who uses which laptop

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Original Message 1/22 17-Sep-03 @ 11:06 AM - who uses which laptop

the_silver_fox

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I know that laptops have been discussed here in the past, but in light of changing technology and falling costs, lets find out who's using which laptop and whether its doing what it should. My particular budget is restrictive so lower end machine users comments would be welcomed!

Thanks.

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Message 2/22 18-Sep-03 @ 12:03 AM - RE: who uses which laptop

PlazIdyllic Pleazurkraft

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Been using a Toshiba Satellite 2755DCD P3 600 for three years with little problems. I two seperate drives, one for Admin stuff and testing and an all audio drive. If an audio app is reasonably stable on the Admin drive I'll consider installing it onto the audio drive for further eval. You should be able to pick one up used pretty cheap.

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Message 3/22 18-Sep-03 @ 04:42 PM - RE: who uses which laptop

knowa

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after months of obsessive research I also chose a toshiba satellite (M15-S405). it works beautifully. it has 1.4 centrino, CD-RW, firewire etc. so it was not cheap. what can I say I'm as pleased as punch.

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Message 4/22 19-Sep-03 @ 05:57 AM - RE: who uses which laptop

toast

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I haver a newer setup running now but my old one was a ibm p3 450 with 256mb ram and an emagic esi 2/6. It worked quite well for running logic and a number of softsamplers. Voices were never a problem unless there were some heavy filters running, it disk streamed quite well off an external drive and the latency wasn't that bad (12ms). If I had too many plugins running I'd have to bounce to disk to lighten the load. Quite nice for composing really. Oh, and stable as f@ck.

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Message 5/22 19-Sep-03 @ 11:10 AM - RE: who uses which laptop

the_silver_fox

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Thanks for the info guys! I'm still pondering my options but am considering either a Compaq Evo or a Fujitsu Amilo A. Both I think are 'end of line' products which still have an adequate spec but are a little cheaper than the most up-to-date units. I've heard some vague rumours about problems with memory bandwidth on the integrated ATI RADEON IGP320M chipset. hmmmm

the_silver_fox

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Message 6/22 19-Sep-03 @ 06:38 PM - RE: who uses which laptop

knowa

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I've heard a lot about dedicated video memory making a big difference, if that's what you're talking about.

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Message 7/22 22-Sep-03 @ 08:53 AM - RE: who uses which laptop

the_silver_fox

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Yeah, I think it all boils down to integrated graphics chips and how they affect performance when taking system memory. If anyone has any feedback on their use of integrated graphics on a laptop I'd be happy to hear it.
Although my intention is to buy a laptop as a mobile sketch pad to run minimal Cubase VST and something like Reason I'd still like it to be relatively solid.
Plazldyllic - how is your satellite set up??

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Message 8/22 23-Sep-03 @ 04:01 PM - RE: who uses which laptop

PlazIdyllic Pleazurkraft

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I originally intended to get a desktop in addition to the laptop, which was intened for whe I was on the road. After giving it some thought I decided to use the lapatop to control everything.

The lappy's onboard USB is used for my US428. The serial port connects to a MIDSport 8x8. A cardbus USB2 adaptor is used for a second 8x8. An adaptec 1480 cardbus SCSI adapter connects my SCSI stuff: Orb drive, CDR-w, CDR, and E5000 and K2000VP. Part of the reason this works so well is that I have a lot of hardware so a good bit of work is done using MIDI only. Or so I thought...

Here's the rub. I have been evaluating more than a few softsynths and plugin FX on the same lappy. It definatly pushes the envelope, I have to render each synth and effected audio track as I work but it IS working. Latency is the real issue here. I can't play softsynths in real time BUT I decided to test them anyway, as "best" I could.

On a personal note, the cool side effect of the above latency situation is that I have begun to think in very different terms regarding composition, terms more in line with what originally got me interested in synthesizers (see my track postings). If I had one of today's top of the line blazing fast computers I'm not sure I would be experiencing this. Considering that I was beginning to lose my inspiration, only having access to an obsolete, underpowered computer has been a good thing.

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Message 9/22 02-Oct-03 @ 06:25 PM - RE: who uses which laptop

bradelectro.com

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knowa- I got questions about your toshiba lappy:

can you gimme a quick rundown on what sequencer,
softsynths, plug-ins you are using? What kind of
performance are you getting? latency? conflicts? which
os?

Are you using any kind of breakout box for audio or just
the stock outs on the laptop?

hmm, that's about it for now. That toshiba looks really
nice BTW. Please give me any other info you think
might be helpful. I'm considering trading my virus b for a
laptop, or just sell it to help fund my laptop.

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Message 10/22 02-Oct-03 @ 08:30 PM - RE: who uses which laptop

knowa

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yo bradelectro.

XP Home

usually run reason 2.5, audiomulch .913, soundforge 5 and recylcle 2 all at once. no problems at all. I usually record into SF with reason and mulch running in the background. don't use too many vst plugs and no vsti. I have used FL Studio with Crystal, ReFx Claw, Kt Granulator on it too, no problems.

soundcard--I've been waiting for the Indigo I/O since 1485 AD. until it finally ships, I'm using the built in soundcard which is pretty bad. 36 ms latency, any lower and it crackles. the sound quality is fine though. the vocals and guitars on on 'ESL' and rapping (me!)on 'NK vs BGMB' at link above were recorded throught the built in.

I have not had one crash in the about 4 months that I've owned it. but I'm playing my first show with it this weekend so it will probably happen then.

I have no internet, games or virus-checker software on it. I only did a few system tweaks like disabling windows sounds. I think this is the key to stability--don't fck around with it. I'm very very happy.

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Message 11/22 03-Oct-03 @ 05:38 AM - RE: who uses which laptop

bradelectro

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36 ms latency? yuck. but yeah, it's a stock card so
whataya expect. hmm, I wonder what kind of latency a
titanium has...I[m still gonna go PC but I'm just
wondering. shit, hafta do research...

So you recorded these guitars and vox thru the built-in
mic?? Oof bro, LOOOOO-FIIII ;-) tracks are dope tho, i'm
gonna download the mp3's at work and um, play 'em
and shit.

anyway I want a lappy to compose on the road, at my
girl's house, or whenever I'm bored and not at home. It'
s not for playing live. Still, I'd like to be able to plug in an
oxygen8 or something and record realtime softsynths
and samplers w/out crappy timing.

Speaking of playing live....GOOD LUCK this weekend!!!
New Jersey transit, yeah that's the ticket, har har, arf.

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Message 12/22 03-Oct-03 @ 05:21 PM - RE: who uses which laptop

knowa

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thanks brad. I've been into doing goofy stuff lately.

without a doubt, recording through the stock card sounds awful. the output is ok though.

I think the powerbooks can get real low latency out of the box, like 10 ms. there seems to be agreement that the stock mac soundcards are very good. but I read a review that reported the echo indigo to be a noticable improvement in sound quality over the stock powerbook cards too.

once my indigo i/o arrives, I think I'll be set.

some cons I should have mentioned: (1)screen is not great,(2) kinda heavy and bulky, (3) does not feel very durable.

these were tradeoffs I was ok with, but if I was doing graphic work or planning on taking it around on the train all the time, I may have wanted something lighter with a better screen for a higher price (vaio ZAP series... DROOL) or something tougher and slower like an ibook.

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Message 13/22 03-Oct-03 @ 05:27 PM - RE: who uses which laptop

knowa

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fck my computer get this:

http://www.costco.com/frameset.asp?trg=product%2Easp&catid=84&subid=1674&hierid=1675&prdid=10034434&log=

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Message 14/22 05-Nov-03 @ 08:45 PM Edit: 05-Nov-03 | 08:46 PM - RE: who uses which laptop

brad

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OK have sold almost enuff old gear to spend about $1200 on a laptop- yay!

damn, but now this whole latency thing had me stuck. I HATE latency and
CANNOT compose w/out a controller. I don't want an external soundcard b/c
1)dont have anymore to spend 2)reduces portability.

So I want a lappy w/ a "smokin" stock card (yeah yeah, long shot).

knowa said: "I think the powerbooks can get real low latency out of the box, like
10 ms. there seems to be agreement that the stock mac soundcards are very
good."

So maybe i'll do a mac- G3/G4 ibooks are way cheap. But an ibook? are they
kinda weak? Also macs don't do acid, which sucks. But there's no punch-in
recording for MIDI on Acid 4, which basically renders it useless for the way I
make beats. so I could live w/ cubase on a mac, even tho shit, there's no
soundforge or wavelab...scary.

Damn I'm trying to do my research but it's overwhelming; too much hype and
vague info- I need some real shit. Any good links for like, good lappys for music?

grrrr mac or pc laptop...your input appreciated

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Message 15/22 05-Nov-03 @ 11:11 PM - RE: who uses which laptop

influx

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brad...

you REALLY should take a look at the Echo Indigo (or the Indigo IO if you want to use it for recording, too)

with a decent spec'd laptop that thing does around 3ms which is almost nil

and theyre only like $129 for the standard, or $189 for the IO...and I can get you the best deal youll be able to get

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Message 16/22 05-Nov-03 @ 11:51 PM - RE: who uses which laptop

brad

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woah...$129? Shit...lemme lookat this thing...
cheers,
B

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Message 17/22 06-Nov-03 @ 01:16 AM - RE: who uses which laptop

influx

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where would you be without me???

let me know if you want one

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Message 18/22 06-Nov-03 @ 01:17 AM - RE: who uses which laptop

influx

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oh, also..what about an M-Audio OZONE

midi interface, audio, and controller all in one?

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Message 19/22 06-Nov-03 @ 02:45 AM - RE: who uses which laptop

brad

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"where would you be without me???"
yeah yeah, you're the shit ;-) Nah, it's true, folks don't give you enuff credit for
being such a good resource.

SO. Toshiba Satellite 2435-S255 Laptop 2.4GHz 512, 40GB, CDRW for $1100 on
craigslist but since I found it NEW for $1099, I'm gonna offer him $900. Badass
little machine w/ 3 USB 2.0 and firewire.

I think it's a good deal...

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Message 20/22 06-Nov-03 @ 05:41 AM - RE: who uses which laptop

psylichon

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whatever you do don't give up everything you know and all your current software just to get low latency!

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Message 21/22 06-Nov-03 @ 07:53 AM - RE: who uses which laptop

influx

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dude..if its $1099 new offer him $800, or even less!

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Message 22/22 06-Nov-03 @ 05:44 PM - RE: who uses which laptop

brad

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thanks psy- you're totally right.

Influx- I got a good deal. Yo, email me price, your paypal info, and shipping details
on the indigo i/o- I wanna buy it thru you, asap.

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