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Hi, I just wanted to ask which laptop is good for recording.
I need a new computer, and since I started college I figured a notebook would be more convinient than a desktop, and since I'm getting one i would like to know which one is decent for recording.
Nothing too great. Its mostly going to be just me recording all the different tracks, using an MBox in between the instrument and the laptop. I'm also going to be using a midi keyboard. I need something thats going to handle all that and last .
my budget is only 1000, but I'm willing to go up a bit more if its really worth it. Which brands are good?
thank you very much

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anonymous Wed, 09/07/2005 - 09:16

I can't recommend a specific brand, but if you're planning on getting an mbox, you need to be very careful of which chipset your laptop uses.

Sometimes this is not easy to figure out without doing some research.

The last time I checked the mbox works with:
Intel 925XE
Intel 915PL
Intel 915GL/915GV
Intel 875P
Intel 865PE
Intel 850/850E
Intel 845/845E/845PE
VIA K8T800
VIA K8T800 PRO
NVIDIA nForce3

The big one to watch is the "single letter" Intel 915's, like the 915G.
They have a problem with the USB root hub not being able to work correctly with the mbox.

Always check here:
http://www.digidesign.com/compato/
before you buy.

rikicapo Wed, 09/07/2005 - 18:40

thx for the input, i appreciate it
but i need some more specific info...would you guys recommend me some good (they dont have to be great, just decent) laptops suitable for recording. Thanks
(BTW, im just considering the Mbox but i might get another usb/midi interface, if you guys know good ones for not so much money go ahead and list them , thanks)

thanks a lot
RicK

anonymous Thu, 09/08/2005 - 02:46

I heard that Toshiba makes some of the best laptops, but I am not sure since I have an older Toshiba Celeron 800MHz with 384MB - 100MHz speed and it's slow like hell.

I really never seen a laptop tell you the truth that is any good such as a desktop. You should spend in my opinion on a good laptop and ones I have seen that are good cost $2,500+ in Canadian dollars.

If you really do need a laptop for a good price I suggest Alienware
http://
price is $1,089 USD and can be configured

or look at their other laptops
http://

anonymous Mon, 09/19/2005 - 15:21

the new 12" iBooks are 1200 CDN, I have never used an ibook but they are the same speed as my powerbook, which runs logic just fine, during tracking I always take in 8 tracks simultaneously, add a few more afterwords, use plugins liberally, and it does fine, though I would get a ram upgrade.
Apple has no problems with interfaces as far as i know. They have very good compatibility and you wouldnt likely need to install any drivers either. With any laptop (indeed any DAW) I would get an external firewire drive (firewire is still better then USB 2.0 for recording, whatever you hear) with at least a 7200rpm speed to keep up with your recording.
hope this is some use