Rock, Solid, Stable workstation for Performing / Touring

[cmcpress]

So i've been a PC laptop user for Umpteen years and i've used laptops DJing but i always get that nervous feeling before i play that something's gonna happen like a crash or someone knocking something over the laptop. I've got a tour coming up in the far east and i need something reliable.

I'm in the market for something strong, reliable, wellbuilt, stable and able to run quite a few tracks and effects for live use. Something with enough aftercare that if something does go wrong when you're in the wilds of bangkok that a replacement can be found and the company won't charge to fix it (unless it's obvious damage you've caused).

Does such a beast exist?

Not looking to start a PC vs Mac flamewar but i'm interested to know your experiences for purely live use...

[Anand]

CHeck DBeat from Open Labs, its rock solid, no set up time , reliable, well built .......

http://www.thesoundchannel.com.sg is the distributor Asia

[Ben_Binary]

CHeck DBeat from Open Labs, its rock solid, no set up time , reliable, well built .......

http://www.thesoundchannel.com.sg is the distributor Asia

Maybe some guidelines on price?

Get a Mac > Dual Boot.
Get a PC > Dual Boot.

I love the IBM (Lenovo) laptops with their removable dvd/hdd bay.
My T40 ran like a dream with Live and Serato on only a P4 1.5ghz processor.
Travelled around the globe for two years and it lasted me so long and was so robust.
+ 2 HD's !

[Thomss]

Didn't openlabs go bust recently?

[cmcpress]

Cheers - price wise - i'm willing to go up to a top end Macbook pro if need be.

Dbeat looks nice but i already have a controller and soundcard and i'd rather just stick to the minimum equipment for going through customs etc.

Interested in the Lenovo if it's got removable HD bays....

[Anand]

Didn't openlabs go bust recently?

yes they did, but have been revived with some VC funds.

[Akshara]

Cheers - price wise - i'm willing to go up to a top end Macbook pro if need be.

The current gen 17" MBP, which offers the expresscard slot for either eSata or Firewire 400 expansion, could be paired up with an OWC Data Doubler to replace the internal optical drive with a second hard drive. It would be fairly easy to do with the right tools and the instructions from ifixit.com.

[dburns]

Have a look at ADK.

http://www.adkproaudio.com/

[john gordon]

Didn't openlabs go bust recently?

hope so.ripoff artists

[oblique strategies]

Stand alone multi-track units exist. Here are a few of the smaller ones:
http://www.tascam.com/products/dp-008.html
http://www.tascam.com/products/dp-004.html
http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/r16/

More elaborate units exist as well.