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Topic: Buying a Laptop |
Garry Simpson
From:
Oklahoma
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Posted 3 Oct 2007 11:13 am |
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I'm getting ready to retire at the end of this year and the company I work for has a discount program through Dell Computers so I think I'll order a new laptop.
I want to run BIAB output to a PA and use it for my music stuff. Is there anything special I should look for when I order?
Thanks,
Garry |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2007 8:56 pm
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| Garry, I use a Dell laptop with BIAB and PowerTracks. I run a chord from the phone jack which is stereo to my amp so I have to adapt it from stereo mini to mono 1/4. I also use Coyote Fortedxi with BIAB which is sold by PGmusic.com and makes BIAB sound ten times better. My sound card doesn't support the ability to "record what you hear" so it sucks when I'm tryin record a steel track over some BIAB rhythm tracks and can't hear what I'm recording. I get around it with some extra connections but if you have the right sound card it's a lot easier. All in all a good laptop with BIAB and Coyote Fortedxi makes recording and practicing a lot of fun. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 4 Oct 2007 2:38 am
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Although very popular, you may want to rethink a Dell, unless they get the Vista/Audio problem resolved. Currently there is a global problem with the integrated Sigma-Tel audio and Vista. The Line In cannot be monitored (heard on the PC's speakers) as you record. It records OK just you can't monitor to the input.
Last thing I got form a Dell support forum moderator is that Vista handles the input monitoring function differently than older Operating Systems and they haven't figured out hot to fix it yet. Personally it sounds like a lame excuse and they should have fixed it by now, but I see propblem posts almost daily on the Dell users forum about the problem in both Desktops and Laptops. Many Desktop users are installing a PCI SoundBlaster sound card to get around that issue and that the Dell integrated audio will not record streaming audio from the net (does not have the "what you hear" or "system mixer" function). I'm not sure but I think this same issue is in the Laptop integrated audio. If the integrated audio's current limitations are an issue, do your "homework" before buying a Dell. I would think Dell will eventually fix the input audio monitoring issue but it doesn't look like they are going to do anything about the streaming audio recording capability. |
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Garry Simpson
From:
Oklahoma
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Posted 4 Oct 2007 5:44 am
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| Thanks for the responses, Jack you've got me leary about the Dell and Vista, I'll do some checking before I buy. |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 4 Oct 2007 9:57 am
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| Garry, and Jack. I wasn't necessarily endorsing a Dell, and had I known about the sound card issue before hand I would have looked at other laptops,But the ability to record "what you hear" can be easily corrected with a different sound card. As Jack suggested, definitly research this issue and try and find a laptop that has the right sound card. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 4 Oct 2007 12:01 pm
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I wouldn't condem Vista because of a problem one PC vendor has or one sound module maker has. I have both XP and Vista machines and the XP machine has been relegated to be the "shop test" computer. Everything I did or programs I had for XP run under Vista and I find Vista a little faster than XP on the same PC.
One thing, Vista needs lots of memory. The 32 bit versions of Vista (what Vendors supply with new PC's)will only address 3 GB of memory (the same as the 32 bit Versions of XP) so there's no need to buy one with more memory, however get one with at least 2GB of memory. Also get one with Vista Home Premium, not the Vista Home Basic.
The only other "gotcha" in Vista is Fax support. Only the Vista Ultimate version, designed for Businesses, has a built in Fax program; none of the other Vista versions have a Fax program. If you need a Fax program for your PC you will have to either buy a 3rd party Vista compatible Fax program or go for the pricey Vista Ultimate version. |
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Garry Simpson
From:
Oklahoma
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Posted 5 Oct 2007 11:18 am
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Ok Jack and Andy, how does this look?
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5250 (1.5GHz/667Mhz FSB/2MB cache
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition edit
DISPLAY Glossy, high contrast, widescreen 17.0 inch display (1440 x 900
VIDEO CARD Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
MEMORY 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
HARD DRIVE Size: 320GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
OPTICAL DRIVE CD / DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
WIRELESS NETWORK CARDS Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini-Card
BLUETOOTH OPTIONS Built-in Bluetooth capability (2.0 EDR)
BLUETOOTH OPTIONS Dell Bluetooth Keyboard and Optical Mouse
SOUND OPTIONS ExpressCard Sound Blaster X-Fi® Xtreme Audio Sound Card
I appreciate your input. Thanks,
Garry |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 5 Oct 2007 12:18 pm
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Garry, I believe all "Sound Blaster" sound cards support "record what you hear" so this system just might be the ticket, you might want to verify the sound card supporting "record what you hear" though just to make sure. Good luck
Andy |
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Rick Kornacker
From:
Dixon Springs, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 7 Oct 2007 2:50 pm something(s) else to consider...
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Hey Garry! I too work for a transportation company that hauls quite a bunch of Dell freight and offers us a "discount" on their products. I checked it out...Dell offered a 10% discount off the top but required I buy an extended warranty for $249.00 additional cost..add that on and then take 10% off and it's not much of a deal. Once you get a firm idea about what specs you need and want you might really be better off to shop around. A lot of your everyday deals at Circuit City and the like will give you more bang for your buck. Not knocking the quality of a Dell but everybody offers the same "guts" inside. Just look for a unit that has everything you need(and maybe then some) and I'll bet you come out ahead. Good Luck. Respectfully submitted, RK
_________________
"think MORE...play LESS" |
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Joe Harwell
From:
"I've never been bad." ........ Many, LA
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Posted 8 Oct 2007 5:09 pm Another view
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If you are going to dedicate this machine to your BIAB mostly, Garry, here's my take.
There are many "obsolete", that is, units that are not cutting edge, but will run BIAB just fine.
I've seen some Pentium M's with 1 gig of memory, big hard drives, cd/dvd burner with windows XP under 500.00. For under 600.00, Lower end Dual cores and 15 inch screens with Vista home.
But it looks like BIAB would run fine on a Pentium 4.
I've never run BIAB so I don't know from experience.
I imagine a P4 could be found in the 300.00 range with windows 2000.
You would have money left over to get a second computer that does have current specs.
May not save you money, but could get you more for your money and accomplish your goal.
Also some great deals on G3 Mac Powerbooks if you wanted to go that way. I've got one. It's several years old but still one of my favorite machines today.
Just another opinion.
Please feel free to contact me if you wish.
Good luck!
_________________
Joe in LA
"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak & the strong; because, someday in life you will have been all of these". |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 9 Oct 2007 2:56 am
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If you are buying new, there is no real good reason to buy "old technology" hardware and software. The "old technology" may be fine for certain applications, but most of the current software is being written for the current Operating Systems (e.g. Vista and XP) and for current hardware. The hardware is another issue, as XP and Vista have specific hardware requirements, that the older OS's do not have, most hardware vendors are making their new hardware only compatible with XP and Vista.
For Vista, 1GB is really inadequate and 2GB is a "real world" minimum. Older hardware will not support 2GB of memory.
Older Operating systems are another issue. Many are no longer supported by Microsoft and even noted as having inadequate Internet security as they were developed before the Internet really "bloomed". |
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Sonny Jenkins
From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
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Posted 13 Oct 2007 8:41 am
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| ,,,speaking of Circuit City,,,I was in there yesterday and noticed a Toshiba laptop (I've had 6 of them,,,heavy work use on them,,never a problem) not sure what size hard drive etc,,,but I'm sure very competative,,,for $549 after $150 rebate. Normally if I can get one for under a grand I'm happy,,,soooo,,I'll probably get one of these for back up. |
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Joe Harwell
From:
"I've never been bad." ........ Many, LA
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Posted 15 Oct 2007 4:42 pm Toshiba at Circuit City 500.00
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Sonny-
They've got that Toshiba for 500.00 shipped now.
Probably have to pay taxes.
Has a dual core Pentium a gig of memory.
Most in this price range have AMD's.
I reckon most people spend around 1500.00 for a desktop.
A person could pick up the Toshiba to cart around
and still buy a decent desk top for a stationary unit.
My experience with Toshiba was a tough unit.
_________________
Joe in LA
"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak & the strong; because, someday in life you will have been all of these". |
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