My latest victim: my SONY VAIO bought it. It was upgraded (against the 'advice' from SONY), to W7 ultimate, and today... is 'broken' (blue screens galore!).
Anyhow, the only reason to get a music laptop (OK, not a dedicated one, but it's not the point) it's because of it's portability.
The question begs:
can anyone suggests a boxed (as they used to be called mini-towers I believe) PC, as portable as possible, but with decent processing capabilities and room for RAM (I always wanted to write that..).
Seriously... the only other hardware requirement would be a PCI card slot for my ancient Audiophile card (that works as key for PT...)..
The computer would be able to run Cubase 6 and Reason at the same time, and some potential for expansion, but small, we are talking as bijou as it is practical.
Thanks for you feedback folks!

--------------------
www.bugiolacchi.com
Songwriter/guitarist

Hi,

I am not sure if the blue screen happened on your computer only because it is a laptop

Anyway when it comes to smallest desktops you could try:

Shuttle mini-computers (http://eu.shuttle.com/) - I still have mine (Pentium 4)
Cappucino PCs (http://www.cappuccinopc.com/), some of which are fanless hence completely silent
Apple Mac Mini (possibly on Windows 7)

Some of these computers are very similar to repacked laptops actually.
And about portability, you will still have to bring a screen, keyboard, mouse and computer PSU. There are some small touchscreens that may be adapted to mobile audio.

Regards
-j

ive got a rack mount pc in a rack bag

--------------------
www.humandrums.com
online session drumming at realistic prices

Quote humandrums:

---

ive got a rack mount pc in a rack bag

---

Please do tell more about the shoulder bag option...

So far the best product I've seen is one of those Mini Macs, quite a bit of power in a small package (just like me ), but, after working for years with Macs, I find hem 'patronising' and difficult to 'dig in' properly. And they crashed quite a lot...

Anyhow, since I am heavily PC based, I was wondering if my Cubase 6, Reason and Autotune would work on it (Lion OS) and (obviously) it would be straight forward to get (for free) the equivalent versions from the suppliers, i.e. I know it might sound naive, put the 'dongled' Cubase 6 can be downloaded as a Mac version FOC?

Cheers guys

--------------------
www.bugiolacchi.com
Songwriter/guitarist

Quote bugiolacchi:

---

Quote humandrums:

---

ive got a rack mount pc in a rack bag

---

Please do tell more about the shoulder bag option...

So far the best product I've seen is one of those Mini Macs, quite a bit of power in a small package (just like me ), but, after working for years with Macs, I find hem 'patronising' and difficult to 'dig in' properly. And they crashed quite a lot...

---

They tend to work pretty well, and you don't actually need to 'dig in', you can just get on with things ...

Quote:

---

Anyhow, since I am heavily PC based, I was wondering if my Cubase 6, Reason and Autotune would work on it (Lion OS) and (obviously) it would be straight forward to get (for free) the equivalent versions from the suppliers, i.e. I know it might sound naive, put the 'dongled' Cubase 6 can be downloaded as a Mac version FOC?

Cheers guys

---

Cubase 6 is cross platform - you should have both versions on the disk.

Quote bugiolacchi:

---

So far the best product I've seen is one of those Mini Macs, quite a bit of power in a small package (just like me ), but, after working for years with Macs, I find hem 'patronising' and difficult to 'dig in' properly. And they crashed quite a lot...

---

I never had a Mac Mini at home, but I used them a lot for audio in my previous job. I cannot remember any crash, and I was using them on both Windows and OSX.

The Cappucino PCs are cheaper and more configurable, but I have no experience of them. I was about to buy one some time ago, but finally got a big regular desktop instead, keeping my old laptop for portable audio use (I consider laptops as portable devices, not high-performance ones, if they are reliable at low latency it's already very good).

The Shuttle computers are bigger, but also closer to actual desktops. The Mac Mini and the Cappucino PCs use many laptop parts actually.

Quote:

---

Anyhow, since I am heavily PC based, I was wondering if my Cubase 6, Reason and Autotune would work on it (Lion OS) and (obviously) it would be straight forward to get (for free) the equivalent versions from the suppliers, i.e. I know it might sound naive, put the 'dongled' Cubase 6 can be downloaded as a Mac version FOC?

---

I do not have any experience of these softwares, but if you get an Apple computer you can install both Windows and OSX (and even Linux) at the same time. It can often be very useful.

Best,
-j

OK and thanks. For the record: my SONY VAIO died because the nvidia card built in 'burns' out after a few years if stressed by quality (HD) video. Sony are aware of this and replace the chip freely, but not for my model. Further, my less than 4 years old model had its battery knackered within 18 months from purchase and the 'helpful' Sony 'executive' offered me a 'deal' of £220 to replace it instead of £250!! (I know, you can buy an equivalent on on Amazon for £60).

So, that's the goodbye laptops.. now I have a cute Toshiba netbook that does what it says on the tin (actually, more or less. It is advertised as ideal for Skype, but when you launch it, Skype says: "computer too slow"! Bugger!). I digress...

What I wrote about the Mac crashing, was referring to the tower Macs we had at work to do some low-key (teaching) graphic design and video, and they crashed often enough in video mode. Moreover, we couldn't figure out why so much of the hard disk was used when only a few files where 'recorded'. Besides, the same Photoshop Elements, loaded on similarly specs, albeit much much cheaper PCs, run faster (rendering, editing, etc.) on the PC World wonder-box...

Anyhow, and again, here I thank for the suggestions but the minitowers look still rather bulky and possibly a little expensive for what they are and the Cappuccino ones appear not to be too handy for even moderate music production needs.

The mini macs look as the only serious preposition for my quest for power and portability, but I am slightly worried about two things: if something goes wrong with it I can't just dig the video card out and buy a £50 on the net and put it in myself (for instance, can I?), and the conversion of my software(s) to the Mac format.. Again, is my Reason convertable to Mac with the same serial number? What about Autotune? And all those excellent freeware plugins I have collected in the last few years, will they be compatible still?

Sorry about the ignorance transpiring from some of my statements, but, hey, what can I do but learn?

--------------------
www.bugiolacchi.com
Songwriter/guitarist

Quote bugiolacchi:

---

The mini macs look as the only serious preposition for my quest for power and portability, but I am slightly worried about two things: if something goes wrong with it I can't just dig the video card out and buy a £50 on the net and put it in myself (for instance, can I?), and the conversion of my software(s) to the Mac format.. Again, is my Reason convertable to Mac with the same serial number? What about Autotune? And all those excellent freeware plugins I have collected in the last few years, will they be compatible still?

Sorry about the ignorance transpiring from some of my statements, but, hey, what can I do but learn?

---

No you can't upgrade the graphics. You don't get that kind of performance in such a small space without jamming everything in very carefully, so there is no room for expansion. The graphics run off a laptop chip, but they use AMD chips which don't suffer the burnout problems some nvidia chips do.

The Nvidia chip problem only affected certain chips from the 8/9 series that were about 3 - 5 years ago. I'm very suprised that Sony are acknowledging this fact but telling you that your model isn't covered... either you have a faulty chip in the unit, or you don't. I'm shocked if you have one that is known to be faulty and they are trying to tell you it is, but it isn't covered by the recall.

--------------------
ScanProAudio & 3XS Audio Systems
ScanProAudio Blog

Yep, this is the list of the faulty models VAIO , mine is a VGN-NR21x, so, it's not covered. It died when playing high-res videos, first crashed (black screen and no chance of rebooting), then OK, then crashed again, and now, when starting, the BIOS screen is full of lines and... the blue screen comes on.
In safe mode my W7 Ultimate works "perfectly", even at relatively high-res screen (I suppose 256 colours though), but, again on booting up again... What a pain! Further, as I pointed out before, the battery run flat after 18 months and the DVD writer... doesn't write any longer (for a long time I might add..). The case built quality of my VAIO is excellent though, it feels professional and fingerprints free (clever finish), but the 'bits' inside... Never mind.
Looking more and more into MacMini... best prices/specs where? Standard Mac Shops? Or maybe a 'Scan' one ?
Cheers guy for taking the time here..

--------------------
www.bugiolacchi.com
Songwriter/guitarist

Could you check the product code on the back and confirm which model is it exactly. I tried searching for VGN-NR21x but I get no results in Google and the lower case "x" in the model description tells me that it's refering to the range of units inside of the VGN-NR21 family but isn't specifying which one.

I can find:

VGN-NR21J
VGN-NR21S
VGN-NR21Z
VGN-NR21T

I'm intrigued now in regards to the exact chip inside.

--------------------
ScanProAudio & 3XS Audio Systems
ScanProAudio Blog

Thanks for your interest! It is the VGN-NR21S (or referred with a final 'x' by the Sony people)...
Sorry I can't help more on the details of the failed beast, since it's at home in my wardrobe, being punished for being naughty! ... . It will come out if it learns to behave properly!

--------------------
www.bugiolacchi.com
Songwriter/guitarist

It was just that I was interested in how they can justify not fixing it when it's a known fault. I did recall all sorts of class action suites be persued against them over it, but I've not seen any news reports on how they ended up.

The model you have does indeed have a Nvidia 8400GT (some of the other models have Intel cards, and that would explain why it wouldn't be covered) and is indeed from the suspect silicon.

If you haven't seen it already the is a thread here : http://www.sony.co.uk/discussions/message/650567 discussing the cost of getting it fixed out of warranty, and if the unit still does what you require it too, it might just be worth getting fixed if they give you a new warranty like a few people claim on that thread...

Or you might just want a new toy

--------------------
ScanProAudio & 3XS Audio Systems
ScanProAudio Blog

This is very useful, thanks! Yes, a mixed bag, some say they will repair it some won't. Either way, I feel obliged to warn my fellow laptop users to Sony's attitude to their products:
I said this before and above:

First the battery died (a few minutes of power left) only after 18 months. They response: buy the replacement for something like £220 (1/3 of the cost of the whole unit!).

Second the DVD writer stopped.. writing, even music CD. This within a year or so.

Third, it was time to upgrade to W7 and they told me to do so at my own risk and be totally unsupported. No specific drivers available. Kind of worked anyhow, except for 'special' keys.

Fourth, the known video card saga. See above.

I spoke to colleagues and friends about this (obviously we have nothing better to talk about..) and all agreed that nobody expect a laptop to last, in the same working 'order' and specs as when bought, for more than 3-4 years at best. The battery will go almost certainly, the screen develop some problems, and upgrading the memory expensive, new operating systems not fully compatible, etc. A desktop, on the other hand... but it's difficult to shift around...

..And with this I loop back to my original query...

Cheers..


--------------------
www.bugiolacchi.com
Songwriter/guitarist

I put together a Shuttle PC plus a small 11" LCD monitor (from a till!) for the purpose of gigging.

Pain in the arse carrying all that and associated cables about. Got a laptop in the end, Shuttle PC is now a media centre PC.

--------------------
http://www.jeremycorbett.co.uk

I am replying to myself (not an unusual activity for me... ), but this is what I found on the webster: Smallputer .
Any feedback or personal experiences?

--------------------
www.bugiolacchi.com
Songwriter/guitarist

I don't know this particular one but be careful about actual clock speed.

A while ago I got caught out with a Mini-ITX combo that quoted a 1GHz processor but it was actually only run at 500MHz. These days graphics is a feature of the chipset so pretty divorced from CPU speed, whereas for a DAW it's hard number crunching you want of course.

--------------------
It wasn't me!
(Well, actually, it probably was)

Quote bugiolacchi:

---

I am replying to myself (not an unusual activity for me... ), but this is what I found on the webster: Smallputer .
Any feedback or personal experiences?

---

Not that uncommon, and it's fairly easy to build yourself a rig based around a matx solution like that.

One firm has got another even smaller custom form factor in the pipeline at the moment where you can run something like a 2600 in the form factor of an old vhs cassette box. We had a play about with a prototype a few months back and were suitably impressed with it and for a gig box it would be exceptional. I've already looked into flightcasing something like this in the past so no entirely out of the question, assuming I can aquire some tft panels from china that I could mount into a case lid to make it an all in one. It's something I've wanted to do for quite a while, but failed to get it working based around a matx design. Once we have the crazy x-mas season out of the way it could well be on the cards if I can aquire some of the boards in question to play with.

--------------------
ScanProAudio & 3XS Audio Systems
ScanProAudio Blog

We use Kontron mini ITX boards for robotics - there are plenty of manufacturers making these boards but it is interesting to see that there are now usable cases for them available cheaply.

I'm just starting work on a Pico-ITX based system using an Atom processor - I might try installing Reaper on there just for fun to see how well it works.

James.

--------------------
JRP Music - Audio Mastering and Restoration.
http://www.jrpmusic.net

So kind of Sony to offer you a discount !

The Mac mini would seem the best solution ( other than a laptop )
The small PCs seem to be based around Atom CPUs ( there must be a an i-series somewhere ??? )
You can get i5 & i7 cpu Mac Minis.
If you buy a new one, get Apple care and have 3 years worry-free computing.
But to be honest, the only Mac Mini that was crap ( ie faulty ) was the first Intel units, the dual cores.
These were uniformly crap across the Apple range, so the Macbooks and the Macbook pros were all very iffy.
not to mention lacking in power...

As already mentioned, the Mac can run any OS.
You can run Windows AND Mac OS at the same time. ( I do regularly as I prefer Mac OS, but want to run Sound Forge - which is BRILL )
Everything that you have is already compatible & its simple to set up.