First Time User - What laptop to buy?

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Okom
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Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2018 6:28 pm

First Time User - What laptop to buy?

Post by Okom » Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:30 am

Hi,

Looking to get a new laptop and start working on Live 10. Bedroom musician, with a few plug ins, keyboard, guitar, trigger pad. Budget of around £1500. I'm not picky on brand/type. I'm not techy when it comes to computing so any suggestions welcome.

Thanks!

miyaru
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Location: The Netherlands

Re: First Time User - What laptop to buy?

Post by miyaru » Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:40 am

Hello, I would say the next specs would do:

* i7 Intel
* 16 Gb Ram
* SSD for OS, and SSD for Data
* Enough USB ports for pheriphials

* An audio interface for serious recording/playback - enhances the stability - would set you back another $150,= or more
Greetings from Miyaru.
Prodaw i7-7700, 16Gb Ram, Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd gen, ESI M4U eX, Reason 12, Live Suit 10, Push2, Presonus Eris E8 and Monitor Station V2, Lexicon MPX1,
Korg N1, Yamaha RM1x :mrgreen:

Martin Gifford
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Re: First Time User - What laptop to buy?

Post by Martin Gifford » Fri Feb 02, 2018 11:10 am

Laptops with i7 processors often have CPU throttling, which makes them not that much better than i5. Some gaming laptops and others are exceptions.

The new intel i5 are quad core now, so that should see a big improvement over the old i5/i7.

miyaru
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Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2017 12:08 pm
Location: The Netherlands

Re: First Time User - What laptop to buy?

Post by miyaru » Fri Feb 02, 2018 11:18 am

Yeah Martin you are right about throttling. On some laptops it can be disabled though, but not all indeed! Maybe a fast i5 is the way to go, although as far as I know i5 CPU's don't have 8 threads......
Greetings from Miyaru.
Prodaw i7-7700, 16Gb Ram, Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd gen, ESI M4U eX, Reason 12, Live Suit 10, Push2, Presonus Eris E8 and Monitor Station V2, Lexicon MPX1,
Korg N1, Yamaha RM1x :mrgreen:

Okom
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Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2018 6:28 pm

Re: First Time User - What laptop to buy?

Post by Okom » Fri Feb 02, 2018 3:23 pm

Thanks for the tips all.

Is there specific models you could suggest? Also seems that not everyone uses a Mac book, which I thought was the standard.

miyaru
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Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2017 12:08 pm
Location: The Netherlands

Re: First Time User - What laptop to buy?

Post by miyaru » Fri Feb 02, 2018 3:33 pm

I don't know if you can buy a Macbook Pro for $ 1500,= In fact I do know - you can't buy a new one for that amount of money. I doubt a Macbook Air is good enough for the task. I'm not into Mac's so better wait until a Mac guy/girl chimes in if you want a Mac......
Greetings from Miyaru.
Prodaw i7-7700, 16Gb Ram, Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd gen, ESI M4U eX, Reason 12, Live Suit 10, Push2, Presonus Eris E8 and Monitor Station V2, Lexicon MPX1,
Korg N1, Yamaha RM1x :mrgreen:

wascal
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Re: First Time User - What laptop to buy?

Post by wascal » Fri Feb 02, 2018 4:50 pm

I'm still using a Macbook Pro mid-2012 (i7, 2.6ghz quad core) and it will take absolutely anything I throw at it music-wise - multiple instances of Diva, recording on loads of channels, running High Sierra, loads of apps at the same time etc. You can pick one up 2nd hand nowadays for about £600.

Then its just a case of:
Sticking 16gb in it (2x8gb sticks = approx £65)
Swap out the HDD with an SSD (Samsung EVO 250gb = £80)
Remove the CD Drive + put the old HDD in as a 2nd drive (£20 + a few quid for screwdrivers)
Put the now removed CD drive in an external enclosure (£20 again)
Get an HDMI adaptor to use a 2nd monitor (£20)

So that approx £800 and you've got yourself basically a world beater. I haven't seen any benefit in upgrading for about 5 years and I used to be a fiend for running out of processing power. Then blow the remaining £700 on plugins and a decent soundcard or monitors ;)
TTKK / NOODLES / iANDALE! / TIGERBEAT6 / HOT & HEAVY etc
http://www.soundcloud.com/wascal

102455
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Re: First Time User - What laptop to buy?

Post by 102455 » Fri Feb 02, 2018 6:55 pm

Okom, does it really have to be a laptop? £1500 could get you a great desktop/tower, which will offer you far better opportunities for future upgrades.

I've just gone 64 bit (due to Live & Cubase now being 64 bit only) with a new PC from an audio specialist that's custom built and stress tested by them before shipping.

It was a little more than £1500 but I chose to beef up certain things.

miyaru
Posts: 1267
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2017 12:08 pm
Location: The Netherlands

Re: First Time User - What laptop to buy?

Post by miyaru » Fri Feb 02, 2018 7:49 pm

I did exaclty the same as 102455, and bought a specialist PC in an 19" server case. I bought it in the Netherlands, see: https://www.soundsupplies.nl/PRODAW/PRODAW-max-19-inch

These are build and tuned to make music, and are bang for the buck!!!
Greetings from Miyaru.
Prodaw i7-7700, 16Gb Ram, Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd gen, ESI M4U eX, Reason 12, Live Suit 10, Push2, Presonus Eris E8 and Monitor Station V2, Lexicon MPX1,
Korg N1, Yamaha RM1x :mrgreen:

ian_halsall
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Re: First Time User - What laptop to buy?

Post by ian_halsall » Fri Feb 02, 2018 11:28 pm

if you're a bedroom musician (like me) save your money and get a desktop - twice as powerful, half the cost and twice the screen

and it looks so cool on the tube...

Okom
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Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2018 6:28 pm

Re: First Time User - What laptop to buy?

Post by Okom » Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:19 pm

It's for day to day stuff as well, so the laptop is needed unfortunately. I had thought a built desktop would be more powerful and cheaper, and also easier to upgrade as time passes. And it's not just for me, so a laptop is more practical for our joint needs.

ian_halsall
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Re: First Time User - What laptop to buy?

Post by ian_halsall » Sat Feb 03, 2018 10:30 pm

any laptop will run live - just make sure it has a few usb ports on it for your audio interfaces and you're done

get a nice screen though:-)

102455
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Re: First Time User - What laptop to buy?

Post by 102455 » Sun Feb 04, 2018 3:03 pm

The ASUS ROG gaming laptop range is popular with DJs - especially those who play video. I'd say one of those would be a safe bet.

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