i mean, "notebook"
Jul. 30th, 2005 10:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jfbI'm thinking about buying a laptop. Actually I've been thinking about it for a couple of years, but now I'm thinking about a specific laptop. There are four things I'd like to use it for: portable recording, working remotely, net access on road trips, and possibly live performance. Everyone says if you're going to use a PC for music, don't do anything else with it, but oh well.
Here are the specs for the laptop I'm leaning toward. If anyone has any advice, you know, give it.
The plan is to have Central Computer build me a computer based on the ASUS Z71V barebones system. It's got the latest version of the Centrino platform, whatever that means, and a 15.4" 1680x1050 widescreen display. Widescreen seems like a good idea for recording, and also because, I forgot to mention, the fifth purpose, watching DVDs. It also has a built-in card reader that reads every format I don't need; whatever.
It supposedly weighs 6.5 lbs., although that must depend on what's in it. ASUS claims 6-hour battery life; reviews suggest it's lower, but still pretty good. Notably, the Z71V supposed to be very quiet--the main fan, according to one reviewer, is audible only if you hold your head up to the back of the machine, and the other one spins up only if the machine gets hot. Which I suppose it might during recording, if I'm doing a lot with plug-ins. The hard drive I'm looking at is also supposed to be very quiet; the main noise source is apparently the DVD, which I won't use while I'm recording.
On top of that:
I haven't settled on an audio interface yet; for now I may just use the Tascam US-224 I have lying around. I'll be using external drives, which I already have, for recording and stuff. I'd like to get Ableton Live, because man, the demo was fun, but after the laptop I probably won't be able to spend any money on anything for a while.
Here are the specs for the laptop I'm leaning toward. If anyone has any advice, you know, give it.
The plan is to have Central Computer build me a computer based on the ASUS Z71V barebones system. It's got the latest version of the Centrino platform, whatever that means, and a 15.4" 1680x1050 widescreen display. Widescreen seems like a good idea for recording, and also because, I forgot to mention, the fifth purpose, watching DVDs. It also has a built-in card reader that reads every format I don't need; whatever.
It supposedly weighs 6.5 lbs., although that must depend on what's in it. ASUS claims 6-hour battery life; reviews suggest it's lower, but still pretty good. Notably, the Z71V supposed to be very quiet--the main fan, according to one reviewer, is audible only if you hold your head up to the back of the machine, and the other one spins up only if the machine gets hot. Which I suppose it might during recording, if I'm doing a lot with plug-ins. The hard drive I'm looking at is also supposed to be very quiet; the main noise source is apparently the DVD, which I won't use while I'm recording.
On top of that:
- 1G RAM, single module so there's room for expansion.
- Pentium-M, 2GHz or possibly 1.86.
- ASUS DVD+-RW drive.
- XP Pro.
- Intel 2915 a/b/g wifi.
- Hitachi Travelstar HD, 60G, 7200rpm.
I haven't settled on an audio interface yet; for now I may just use the Tascam US-224 I have lying around. I'll be using external drives, which I already have, for recording and stuff. I'd like to get Ableton Live, because man, the demo was fun, but after the laptop I probably won't be able to spend any money on anything for a while.
