I have an Acer 1691 and it's very very quiet, check it out

Try Google and type in "super quiet laptops".

Also you may want to get a faster external HD since laptops have slow HD's in the first place, and to replace the internal drive with one that is faster would be fairly on the expensive side.

Off topic, but...

What is the best method for external HDD's? I am guessing USB would be much too slow. Is firewire the better method here? I don't want to use the PCMCIA slot because I plan want to have a docking station at home for mixing/mastering (dual monitor support through the docking station) so I would need to have the HDD connected while docked.

xian wrote: Off topic, but...

What is the best method for external HDD's? I am guessing USB would be much too slow. Is firewire the better method here?

Firewire 400 is basically the same as USB 2.0, Firewire 800 is faster.

I don't want to use the PCMCIA slot because I plan want to have a docking station at home for mixing/mastering (dual monitor support through the docking station) so I would need to have the HDD connected while docked.

What about a soundcard? You can get a PCM soundcard, like the Echo Indigo for about $150 and the card is very good from what I hear.

I agree with the dual screen setup but I would question that on a laptop. I would rather get a good soundcard before I worry about using 2 screens.

Mr-Nice wrote: What about a soundcard? You can get a PCM soundcard, like the Echo Indigo for about $150 and the card is very good from what I hear.

I agree with the dual screen setup but I would question that on a laptop. I would rather get a good soundcard before I worry about using 2 screens.

Well, with a docking station, you can add apparently (second hand info, I haven't checked into it yet) add soundcards to them (as well as video cards), and they connect though the PCMCIA slot. I guess I'm not too concerned with the soundcard because I'm planning on running the M-Audio Firewire 1814 with my laptop. What I'm after, I guess, is to be able to be mobile for recording (firewire 1814 and external hdd) and dock for mixing. I guess I'll need a laptop with two firewire ports... is it just firewire 400 and 800, or are there faster ones too?

Adore wrote: I have an Acer 1691 and it's very very quiet, check it out

Dude, I'll second that. I never would have guessed it but my new Acer 1690 is absolutely silent. Weirdness.

xian wrote:

Well, with a docking station, you can add apparently (second hand info, I haven't checked into it yet) add soundcards to them (as well as video cards), and they connect though the PCMCIA slot. I

I didnt know that was feasible... Then that would be the wiser choice in this case.

Correct me if I am wrong (because I actually really don't know!) but I was under the impression that when using a Firewire device, you don't really have to worry about your soundcard, that the Firewire device acts as a soundcard.

Anyone?

i just got a HP pavillion, with the centrino, 1.7 chip, 1 gig or ram, and its got a fifteen inch, widescreen monitor, which is great for your sequencer. whatever laptop you get, make sure, it has a widescreen, you will like that.

this one, has lots of usb 2.0 and 2 firewire 1394s ready to go. I plugged my motu right into it, and i was up and running. it was great, in fact, it runs better then my big studio system, and now this has become my first choice, and i do take it to another studio, for drum tracking, and its great.

thats my 2 cents

xian wrote: Correct me if I am wrong (because I actually really don't know!) but I was under the impression that when using a Firewire device, you don't really have to worry about your soundcard, that the Firewire device acts as a soundcard.

Anyone?

Your question confused me but here is my reply.... A sound card is a sound card period. The manufacturer decides what protocol to use when designing one. The protocol could be Firewire, USB, S/PDIF, Optical, or Analog

You could have a camcorder that uses the firewire protocol so does that mean its a sound card?

Mr-Nice wrote: Your question confused me but here is my reply.... A sound card is a sound card period. The manufacturer decides what protocol to use when designing one. The protocol could be Firewire, USB, S/PDIF, Optical, or Analog

You could have a camcorder that uses the firewire protocol so does that mean its a sound card?

Haha, sorry, I should clarify. When using a device such as a Digi 002r or an M-Audio Firewire 1814 does it really matter how good your soundcard is? I was told by an engineer guy at a local music store that it doesn't matter.

xian wrote:

Haha, sorry, I should clarify. When using a device such as a Digi 002r or an M-Audio Firewire 1814 does it really matter how good your soundcard is? I was told by an engineer guy at a local music store that it doesn't matter.

From what I understand the "Digi002r" and "M-audio firewire 1814" are soundcards (also called an audio interface) that use the "firewire" protocol. If a device has ins/outs and connects to a computer to put audio signals in/out of the computer then its a soundcard.

Ok, I'm beginning to grasp this concept! Haha, thanks guys.

the mac laptops are really quiet- I have an ibook and have no complaints about noise

Maybe it's to my disadvantage, but I just cannot bring myself to "go Mac". I don't know what it is, but it just rubs me the wrong way. Plus I don't know who to believe, every PC user loves PC and swears by PC and every Mac user loves Mac and swears by Mac. I've read so many pros/cons about both systems, it leads me to believe that they are exactly the same - just different.

What DISTINCT advantage would I have with going with a Mac laptop over a PC Laptop (keep in mind, you can get quiet PC laptops too). Let's not discuss intangible experiences here (like how the screen looks, how the windows fade out nicely or that the buttons look cooler on a Mac) because that can be chaulked up to personal preference. I need some numbers here. Is the Mac equivalent of a PC actaully faster, use less processor, or crash less? If so, how much more does it cost than PC? If it's more, then could i not just spend the extra on a better PC laptop?

I don't do pc's so I can't really compare for you- all I can tell you its that I have a G5 dual 2.0 GHZ desktop running Digital performer in my studio and an ibook 1.2 GHZalso running DP for remote recording. The ibook is really quiet and it gives me enough power to record 16 simultaneous tracks (It might do more but I only do 16 at a time), so I can go out and record a band, a concert etc. Then I bring the tracks into the studio for mixdown in the G5. I bought the ibook a few monts ago and I paid under $1000 new at the apple store online. I don't really want to get into comparisons as to what's best, pc or mac. What works for you works for you and what doesn't doesn't. This set up works for me but if you don't want to get a mac am sure there are pc set ups out there that are just as fine. Someone else will have to tell you about it, though, as I don't know pc's at all. 8) good luck with your quest! :D

Fair enough :) Thanks for the info man.

thanks for all of your replies. I will have a close look at the HP and Acer laptops. I'm also considering getting an ibook (because they are so well built and quiet) running linux.

-Brodie