Hi, fellows, just wonder if you have noticed most new laptop models have dropped firewire port and express card slot, so when I want to upgrade my laptop, I have this problem that how to connect my focusrite pro24 vrm. I am currently using a thinkpad R500( core 2 duo p8400 2.40G, 4G ram ddr3, 160G 5400rpm,windows xp), I almost have decided to buy another laptop from lenovo(i7 2630QM,4G ddr3, 640G 5400rpm, windows 7 home basis 32), the problem is it does not have a 1394 port but have a express card slot, which I should use a firewire card to connect to my focusrite.Another option I have is a asus desktop option, which is small enough I can put in my backpack cause I need to move around sometimes, which specifics is pentium E5400 dual core, 2.7G 2m cache, 2G ddr2( which I will upgrade to 6 to 8 G later), 1TB 7200rpm, have fireport. The reason for me to reconsider is not about the cost, but I think( also someone told me), a desktop is more stable than laptop, and when they are at the same level, the desktop no doubt will outperform laptop one even sometimes when laptop seem more powerful. Also I doubt about the express card connection which didn't work on my current thinkpad one. I know the i7 one will be much more powerful than the desktop one( I can not upgrade cpu on that one, which is the top one on that line in a small case I can carry on), I just wonder if it will do if I just go for that desktop one? I am using cubase 5 and sonar x1, and software from NI, eastwest, and will get into some mixing software in the future like waves, also need to use some native reverb plugins as well, which make me think maybe the i7 one is the obvious choice, still need your opnion on this one, thank you very much!

Hi Suni,

I am far from qualified to answer your computer questions but can I, with the greatest respect, make a point?


It helps people enormously to understand your posts if you break them down into paragraphs.

The Top Men will I am sure be with you shortly.

Dave.

I have just swapped my PC laptop for a MacBook Pro.

Comes complete with Firewire 800 and also the new Thunderbolt port.

As my software is Windows only, I will be running Windows7 under BootCamp.

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John - Sound-Link ProAudio
President - Federation Internationale des Chasseurs de Sons

sorry about the layout, but it is not allowed me to change it now, I need your opinion pretty much now, please, cause I will go to grab it today or tom, thanks!

Hi, I can't go for the mac cause it is twice the price of the i7 one I choose at the moment.

Save up for a Mac

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I am the Walrus.

It may help if you specify a budget, This thing about a mac you may be able to get a good second hand mac for the same budget. If I had the choice between a core2duo mini mac and a humungous i7 PC I would go for the mac every time, you see 15" C2D MBP's for as little £500 sometimes

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Strictly an amateur with some nice toys,

Next time!

Hi suni!

Desktops are indeed less problematic than laptops, especially nowadays when it’s difficult to find ANY laptop model that will allow low latency audio with glitching.

I would personally ALWAYS go for the desktop solution, but then I don’t travel a lot with a backpak like you


Martin

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YewTreeMagic

Quote suni:

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I almost have decided to buy another laptop from lenovo(i7 2630QM,4G ddr3, 640G 5400rpm, windows 7 home basis 32), the problem is it does not have a 1394 port but have a express card slot, which I should use a firewire card to connect to my focusrite.Another option I have is a asus desktop option, which is small enough I can put in my backpack cause I need to move around sometimes, which specifics is pentium E5400 dual core, 2.7G 2m cache, 2G ddr2( which I will upgrade to 6 to 8 G later), 1TB 7200rpm, have fireport. The reason for me to reconsider is not about the cost, but I think( also someone told me), a desktop is more stable than laptop, and when they are at the same level, the desktop no doubt will outperform laptop one even sometimes when laptop seem more powerful. still need your opnion on this one, thank you very much!

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IMHO, since you are always on the move, go for the laptop. however, you will not have the 1394 port that you want but then again make use of the cardslot express available separately. But for the desktop, i will go for it also since its stable and has all the ports that you need. But still it will be up for your preferences. Go for the Lenovo to make things easy for you.




Edited by FMiller732 (09/06/11 09:13 AM)

Quote John Willett:

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I have just swapped my PC laptop for a MacBook Pro.

Comes complete with Firewire 800 and also the new Thunderbolt port.

As my software is Windows only, I will be running Windows7 under BootCamp.

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Is BootCamp much fine to use than Parallel? I'm having problem using Parallel.. I'm thinking to switch using bootcamp.

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mold inspection

Quote jwatts:

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Is BootCamp much fine to use than Parallel? I'm having problem using Parallel.. I'm thinking to switch using bootcamp.

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Maybe you know this already, but, Parallels and Bootcamp are totally different things.

Parallels is a piece of software that runs on OSX, which allows you to run a "virtual machine" - so you get a Windows OS within a window inside OSX.

Bootcamp allows you to boot the computer directly using the Windows OS, OSX is not running at the same time (It is not running a virtual machine inside OSX).

You will get better performance out of Windows if using bootcamp as opposed to using a virtual machine.

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www.Lozjackson.com

Call me old I guess, but I wouldn't trade my new Dell in for anything.

I used Acer for about 4 years now ( two PC & two laptop ) i really can't fault them....

To be fair i think most PC's / latop must be the same inside surely :? An i3 processor is an i3 processor at the end of the day (am prob very wrong here but thats the way i see it)

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PA Hire Surrey
Lighting Hire Surrey

Quote TSH-Tim:

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I used Acer for about 4 years now ( two PC & two laptop ) i really can't fault them....

To be fair i think most PC's / latop must be the same inside surely :? An i3 processor is an i3 processor at the end of the day (am prob very wrong here but thats the way i see it)

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No. Or yes, you are wrong! The classic problem area is of course the Firewire chipset. If it is not Texas Instruments you can have trouble, but the general "control" chipset, NVIDIA, for example can give problems with certain equipment. Then, for laptops in particular, how such things as power control are implimented can be limiting.

That is the limit of what I have learned. The "proper" computer men will have more horror stories no doubt!

Dave.

Suni, I was on a HP Notebook for some time until I finally converted to Macbook Pro. While it did take a couple of months to get used to it (and I almost wanted to trash it) when i finally got it down, Macbook Pro is by far superior machine. PC's are still good and if you can afford both then great. If not, I would reco MacbookPro. And if you go that route, do yourself a favor and just get a new one from Apple.

mac all the way. check out the 2nd hand ads, ebay etc. I picked up my 2yo MBP for £480 bargain because the lid didn't clip shut. Still use my vaio for surfing, accounting etc and keep the mac purely for audio

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http://www.phoneboxproductions.com