Crashing PC on stage

[Mr Man]

not really a solution to your computer problem, but a small cd player live and cue'd on a seperate channel could back you up.

[3dot...]

from experience the one thing i learned about pcs and music production

NEVER connect the pc to the internet

it all goes downhill from there

superstition...or lack of knowledge will make u say such tings...

you SHOULD know what processes/services are running on yr machine...

and try to keep things as minimal as you can...

if its a machine that is used for gigging...

then use 'norton ghost' (or other bkup sw) to bring it to the same known stable configuration...before each show...

the os stability is in a direct connection with your actions...

no boogeyman in the wires....

[andydes]

Ten quid says the next person to reply says mac.

ten quid?

Sorry- pounds.

I keep looking at these threads to see if I can get an information on what makes of PC laptop are generally regarded as stable. Never seem to get very far. Maybe I'll go for a macbook myself, but I'd at least like to know my options.

ABout the only useful tip on this that keeps coming up is to make sure the laptop has texas intruments firewire chipset as lots of other brands can cause problems. Of course this is never listed in the specs.

[jesQuick]

Ten quid says the next person to reply says mac.

ten quid?

Sorry- pounds.

I keep looking at these threads to see if I can get an information on what makes of PC laptop are generally regarded as stable. Never seem to get very far. Maybe I'll go for a macbook myself, but I'd at least like to know my options.

ABout the only useful tip on this that keeps coming up is to make sure the laptop has texas intruments firewire chipset as lots of other brands can cause problems. Of course this is never listed in the specs.

What about what Picth Black says... All makes sense to me, although many of the things are out of your control...

Best

-j

[raw]

Hi, after a lot of laptop, dell, macbook pro, macbook, asus.. I have took an ibm/levono T61, 14.1" (1440x900) core2duo 2ghz, 2go ddr2, and 2 sata internal harddrives (in ultrabay) (Approximately 1500€), with a lite config of xp pro sp2.. At this time, no problem, excellent laptop !

[substance_g]

Toughbook?

[hambone1]

I also NEVER mess around with new things on my gigging Mac. No software upgrades, no new plug-ins, no new anything. It works fine as it is. I rely on it.

It's worked perfectly well for over two years now.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

[eduardoborsuci]

i agree. the best thing is to have one OS just for live playing without any additional software or bullshit, no internet connection, disabling unused adapters helps A LOT in some cases (bluetooth, infrared, wireless). there is an utility for XP that can test your OS stability regarding sound setup (latency, possible dropouts) but i can't remember the name...

[Sales Dude McBoob]

I'm kind of obsessed with tablet PCs. The design seems perfect for live use:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6834220082

I have no idea what model or manufacturer to recommend... sorry.

Getting a mac is a marketing lie in my oppinion

There's a little more to it than that. Apple's marketing is incessant and can be really annoying ~ just like anything shoved down your throat. Those of us that choose to use Mac's do so because we rely on them and we trust them. I switched 4 years ago and I've been very happy.

But those tablet PCs make me drool.

Best of luck to you.

[Laura_Live]

Thanks for all the replies..

Will all PC applications, I mean also the "try out" ones (...), work with Bootcamp? Is it just the same as having a pc?

[rikhyray]

Pitch Black summed it up. You didnt mention your sound card, interrupted FW or USB connection could cause it and perhaps your a bit outdated computer does not match your demands VST/FXwise. Last not least bloody fog machine can kill any Mac or PC . I never had problems with Live except once due to f...g M audio (my stupidity to go on stage with Ozonic)
With video it happened few times, always same reason -temperature. Securing airflow fixesthat.
Higher end Vaio and MBP are the best you can get, but after examining new Thinkpad yesterday I am considering getting one. Definitely the toughest bulid except Panasonic ( which have too lame CPUs) and the 2 nd HD option instead of DVD I use few times a year make IBM serious contender. Asus notebooks are not pretty but almost as good as MBP or Sony. Actually I am almost sure that IBM are the best for stage (ab)use for Live I would say no.1 choice- MBP and Vaios are sleek but more fragile. I am not sure yet about the graphics, which in my case play important role. Wouldnt mind myself to hear from IBM users.

[Machinate]

Thanks for all the replies..

Will all PC applications, I mean also the "try out" ones (...), work with Bootcamp? Is it just the same as having a pc?

ah well you didn't mention you were running cracked software on your computer.

That sums it up for me. Your computer could have been a zombie without you knowing it, really.

[Timur]

For some reason or the other Macbooks have been used in live music situations thousandfold, you seldom read about PCs being used. That means there is a huge base of successful users for this kind of application. I could imagine that something like a Lenovo Thinkpad T61 should also do the trick, it's performing, build to last and the magnesium chassis can dissipate heat not that much worse than alluminium, both are better than plastics.

[hambone1]

Anyone not using legitimate software deserves any grief they may come across, and I for one don't have the time of day to help 'em out.

[Cache]

hell yeah, if you're playing in front of 2500 people, then go buy the software!!!!