Ableton Forum

What are some recommended laptop PC's for live performance running Windows XP that are known to work well with Ableton Live?

Have any other advice for getting a laptop?

mac or PC, doesn't really matter, btw.

2.0+ GHz

dual core <--- definitely

2 Gb RAM

7200+ rpm drive preferable

lots of USB ports (macs tend to be firewire, PCs tend to be USB, the advantage of either is small and oft argued)

no shared video RAM

I scored one with two drives built in (data and apps, very cool, HP dv8000 series)

adambomb337 wrote:What are some recommended laptop PC's for live performance running Windows XP that are known to work well with Ableton Live?

Have any other advice for getting a laptop?

Dell Vostro 14" or 15" with the fastest processor you can afford and an 80 gig hard drive / 1 gig of ram and an onboard memory video card (no shared memory) to start off with. Also choose Win XP Pro SP2 and the best screen you can get I think it is XGA+ currently.

Pros:
* Unbelievably Freaking Fast
* Beautiful display
* Ultra portable
* All black case
* Plenty of functionality but little to no overhead or trivial hardware like fingerprint reader etc...
* Comes with WinXP Pro SP 2
* Fits in most 15" laptop backpacks
* Firewire port
* Expresscard Slot (which Macbook does not)
* Awesome restoration disk that loads OS and all drivers back onto computer after you put in the new HD
* Built in Bluetooth
* Built in "N" wireless card
* Massive storage after HD upgrade

Cons:
* Be sure to pick the appropriate type of Ram and Hard Drive
* Small Display (which I personally like, but not for those with poor vision)
* Little on the heavy side for a 14"
* Built in sound sucks, speakers crackle straight from the factory

I got mine out the door with a 2.5GHz Dual Core for less than 1k. Bought a 320 GB SATA hard drive, and 4 gigs of ram from a 3rd party for under 200 bucks so for $1200 bucks I got what would have cost me almost $3,200 in a MBP - I know cause I have a 15" MBP sitting right here too that I bought at the end of last year and have hated ever since.

This system blows away anything I have used before and the onboard sound is the only concern. As soon as I get my RME in and deactivate the onboard sound, that should all go away though.

Just my $.02 good luck!

No Less than 2GB of RAM...

if you can squeeze 2 Hard Drives inside the laptop that's also good...

latest Processor...

avoid FW interface if you can...
Cardbus audio interface (like RME and E-MU) is recommended...


Other then that it's just cosmetics....

Tone Deft wrote: lots of USB ports (macs tend to be firewire, PCs tend to be USB, the advantage of either is small and oft argued)

this is true if you are talking about firewire 400, however firewire 800 is a lot faster... also good to remember that if you mix fw 400 and 800 devices on the same fw bus, the 800 devices will get slowed down to 400 speed... i currently have that problem on my MacBook Pro with an Ultralite (most audio interfaces are fw 400) and external HD...

when i've got the extra cash i'm gonna get an eSATA ExpressCard/34 interface for my MBP so my external drives can run off that instead... a fw 800 EC/34 interface is also an option...

thanks for all the advice so far.

I actually have a Dell Inspiron 5100 right now and it seems to have some kind of grouding issue with my M-audio MobilePre USB. I get a lot of static and noise.

How can I prevent this when getting a new laptop?

adambomb337 wrote:thanks for all the advice so far.

I actually have a Dell Inspiron 5100 right now and it seems to have some kind of grouding issue with my M-audio MobilePre USB. I get a lot of static and noise.

How can I prevent this when getting a new laptop?

Ditch the m-audio. That solves most problems.

adambomb337 wrote:thanks for all the advice so far.

I actually have a Dell Inspiron 5100 right now and it seems to have some kind of grouding issue with my M-audio MobilePre USB. I get a lot of static and noise.

How can I prevent this when getting a new laptop?

cut the earth off your laptop power supply.

martin808 wrote:

adambomb337 wrote:thanks for all the advice so far.

I actually have a Dell Inspiron 5100 right now and it seems to have some kind of grouding issue with my M-audio MobilePre USB. I get a lot of static and noise.

How can I prevent this when getting a new laptop?

cut the earth off your laptop power supply.

?? but won't that cause him to drift aimlessly in outer space and eventually fall into the sun ??

nah, it'll just make the "static and noise" go away

Purchase from these guys:

www.adkproaudio.com


You will never look back.