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anonymous 17 January 2008

I'm about to buy a laptop to run Cubase and later on Mbox 2 on, and I'm down to two options. The problem is that I don't know much about computers so you could give me your advice as to which one is better of these two it would be great:

1. Fujitsu Siemens Amilo 2548, 2,2 GHz AMD Turion64 X2 TL-64
2048MB DDR2 (2x1024MB)
250GB 5400Rpm

or

2. Fujitsu Siemens AMILO Pi 2530
Processor 1,8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7100
2048MB DDR2 (2x1024MB)
160GB 5400Rpm

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Comments

fourone3 Thu, 01/17/2008 - 07:25

I don't know about Cubase, but Digidesign is particular when it comes to PCs and their components. If you think you're going to go that route later down the road, make sure you research it on Digidesign's website (under Support).

But if you're going to start off with Cubase, instead of switching to Pro Tools, why not upgrade your Cubase? You might end up saving money.

anonymous Thu, 01/17/2008 - 11:27

I'm not sure about the two models you have suggested but I personally wouldn't recommend a Fujitsu Siemens laptop.

I have an Intel based Amilo Pro V2040 and from day one I had bother. It may have been a hardware issue but the keyboard on it doesn't function properly, missing out random keys when you press them. Also the keys are pretty fragile.

I no longer use this so maybe the newer one's are ok.

I recently purchased an Acer Travelmate 5520 laptop with an AMD Turion 64 x2 CPU, 2048MB RAM and it runs very smoothly with now problems, even with vista installed! Have a look at this laptop and see if it would do you.

Hope this helps.

pr0gr4m Thu, 01/17/2008 - 11:39

Of the two I would recommend the second one. The Core 2 Duos smoke equivalent AMD processors and even though the GHz are different, I would guess that the Intel would still have the edge.

But as mentioned above, if you ARE going to go to a PT system, you need to run the specs by digidesign first.

ouzo77 Sun, 01/20/2008 - 02:44

ADK audio wrote: I just found out also that the macs tend to crash a lot so making music on them can be a bit of a nightmare, so I'm back to an Intel core duo 2,0 ghz. That should do the trick easily too, I'm not very demanding when it comes to how many tracks I use at the same time etc.

i don't know where you heard that, but i have a macbook pro with 2,2 ghz and it never crashed. after 4 month of daily use with many different programs installed it works perfectly. i couldn't say that about my windows-based pcs i had before. i can work with my recording software and still receive emails or browse the web simultaniously without any problems.

my m-audio firewire 410 works fine as well. no problems with firewire.

i'm not saying, go and buy a macbook. but if you want to there's no reason you shouldn't.
vista sucks anyway...

Guest Sun, 01/20/2008 - 11:49

HMMMM,
let's see Spec wise they are now identical.
the only difference is the OS.

Leopard dont work with anything audio right now
Xp does

MacBook Pro no longer has TI chipset so it has issues with alot of interfaces

you CAN buy TI based laptops for windows.
not for Appple OS.

however they are both tools, both work and to debate it is foolishness.
especially when they are now the exact same hardware

Scott
ADK

gdoubleyou Mon, 01/21/2008 - 10:53

So far the only reports I have seen with the chipset issue have been presonus and RME interfaces.

The work around is to put a firewire hub in the chain.

MOTU units are sensitive to non TI chipsets, but my 828 has no problems on my new Macbooks so far. (just had it for a week, haven't totally checked it out.)

8)

anonymous Mon, 01/21/2008 - 17:49

ouzo77 wrote: [quote=ADK audio]I just found out also that the macs tend to crash a lot so making music on them can be a bit of a nightmare, so I'm back to an Intel core duo 2,0 ghz. That should do the trick easily too, I'm not very demanding when it comes to how many tracks I use at the same time etc.

i don't know where you heard that, but i have a macbook pro with 2,2 ghz and it never crashed. after 4 month of daily use with many different programs installed it works perfectly. ...

yeah, but I'm talking about the cheaper macs that are just called Macbook, I think they tend to crash a lot. Yours is about double price of what they are so it's probably on a whole other level quality wise I would guess and therefore you don't have that problem.

ouzo77 Mon, 01/21/2008 - 23:07

Matz wrote: yeah, but I'm talking about the cheaper macs that are just called Macbook, I think they tend to crash a lot. Yours is about double price of what they are so it's probably on a whole other level quality wise I would guess and therefore you don't have that problem.

the software is the same, as well as most parts except the monitor, the keyboard... i think they have the same kind of processors, only a bit smaller performance-wise. so they should work as good as the macbook pro.

if i'm wrong, please correct me.

freesignal Tue, 01/22/2008 - 02:43

ADK audio wrote: HI,
well that USED to be the answer however they DO NOT have TI chipset firewire anymore.

so alot of interfaces WONT work...

you NEED a Texas Instruments Native firewire chipset laptop for audio.

Scott
ADK

I don't know if I buy this or not, specifically that last line, but at the risk of sounding stupid, how do I tell if I have a TI Chipset in my Macbook/iMac? I checked the system profiler and couldn't find anything.

Anyway, I have a iMac that is 1.5 years old and a MacBook that is 1 year old. I've had ONE (1) problem with either of them. Last month I dropped my MacBook off my desk and the hard drive got jacked up. I ordered a $60 replacement from Newegg, installed it, and it's been running better than ever. Neither systems have spontaneously crashed. I have not switched to Leopard yet so I have no frame of reference there but I have been using a PreSonus Firepod since I first bought my iMac and have used it with both systems with no problems. If Scott is really right on that chipset deal, then I would research that a little further to see what my options would be. Other than that, my suggestion is:

1-Base model MacBook

Use Garageband, Audacity or Cubase and rock out. You'll be fine.

And both PCs and Macs do have basically the exact same hardware, but implementation is EVERYTHING and Apple has done that very, VERY well.

Good Luck on Your Quest!
-Patrick

gdoubleyou Tue, 01/22/2008 - 15:26

Matz wrote: [quote=ouzo77][quote=ADK audio]I just found out also that the macs tend to crash a lot so making music on them can be a bit of a nightmare, so I'm back to an Intel core duo 2,0 ghz. That should do the trick easily too, I'm not very demanding when it comes to how many tracks I use at the same time etc.

i don't know where you heard that, but i have a macbook pro with 2,2 ghz and it never crashed. after 4 month of daily use with many different programs installed it works perfectly. ...

yeah, but I'm talking about the cheaper macs that are just called Macbook, I think they tend to crash a lot. Yours is about double price of what they are so it's probably on a whole other level quality wise I would guess and therefore you don't have that problem.

My Macbook has NEVER crashed, idividual apps yes, but the OS, no.

It's all really about the software, the apps I prefer are Mac only,Logic studio, Final Cut Pro Suite.

I own both platforms.

8)

anonymous Tue, 01/22/2008 - 18:15

Ok I think my confidence in Macs is back now. It didn't make sense to me anyway that they would crash all the time, cause it's supposed to be quality stuff.

But getting back to the PC stuff for just a bit. The reason people hate Vista with such a passion when it comes to audio is that solely because it takes up too much ram (and how much is that by the way)? Or is it because few programs and plug ins are compatible with it or what's the deal?

gdoubleyou Wed, 01/30/2008 - 12:50

After a little research it appears that the problems are only on machines with FW800, and a small subset of audio interfaces.

The work around is to place another firewire device between the computer and the audio interface. i.e. a firewire hard drive, or a firewire hub.

Something to be aware of but not a show stopper.

So it's actually the higher priced Macs that are having the glitch.

8)

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