Laptops ?

[NAS]

Im just about to order a Nu lappie for me DAW ,I seem to remember ModuLR posting here somewhere at KVR that he has a Centrino and its cool for T ,Im looking at a Centrino 1.5 at the mo anyone else got any insights ?

[Motion]

HI NAS...as usual so much choice right now and great prices...the IBM thinkpad T40/41 range is a great machine,really high quality build and if mobility and battery life are important it'll push 8-9 hours from an extended battery...you can also swap out the DVD/Cdr for a 2nd hard disk..think light,nipple mouse,(don't you just love that word,but not to everybodys taste(no pun intended)1 inch thick...a couple of years old now but still a great machine.

Can be had for 7-800 English sheets on used market...I believe NASA use them in the shuttles!Long warranties(3 years)and you can get a full service manual from their site and strip it to pieces if need be and replace parts if necessary yourself.It can't take anymore than 512 meg though...newer models up to 2 gig RAM if I recall so if big memory important check out.They work pretty flawlesly as a DAW.

Most new laptops can handle a gig plus now anyway.

They even do a Laptop range that has a full blown desktop P4 2.4-3ghz in it...seriously engineered to cope with the extra heat...and apparently work a treat.

Lots of issues with some other manufacturers machines regards,glitches,clicks and dropouts with fans kicking in or incompatibilty with the pcmcia controllers...can't remember right now but there are certain makes of controller to avoid.

There is also 2nd generation Centrino out now(Dothan)starts at 1800 and a massive 2 meg cache...I think they are still 400 Frontside bus.Gutsy!

3ghz p4 mobiles with 800 frontside bus and hyperthreading also available...probably just eclipses the Dothan because of the FSB...I think anyway.

The Toshibas are also very good as Daws...I have an older P4 satellite 1700,100 FSB and works flawlessly and near silent.Check out the fan noise...some laptops can be very irritating.

I have heard mixed opinions that Sony and Dells go from problem free as DAWs to being unusable.

Or for complete piece of mind the house specials from..Red Sub,Millenium,Phil Rees,IntaAudio or Carillon in the UK.Sorry don't know where you are based?

Peronally I like the Centrino....the days of cooked testicles from those lappy roasters if you travel are becoming redundant...no denormals either...use them in bed(seriously),beers and smokes at the ready just to annoy your partner....sorry luv not tonight I'm busy working

Definately get a guarantee they will take it back if you buy from street if you find it's incompatible.

For your consideration...2nd monitor support,firewire and USB2 support(pretty standard these days but not always!)

All the best and enjoy your new machine whatever you choose.

PS check out the TFT Pixels if your buying new...certain manufacturers allow a certain amount of duff pixels as accepted flaws and this varies...can be extremely annoying to some people...best bet make sure there is none when you get it!

[Mr. Tingle]

I can 2nd that recommendation for the T40/41 thinkpad range.

I've a T41 1.6 centrino brought from ebay for £930 upgraded to 784 RAM. Works flawlessly with Tracktion.

[ModuLR]

I'd vote for a Centrino as well! I've got a 1.7Mhz Sony-Z1 with 1gig of ram. I abuse this thing daily.. and it's great.. I couldn't be happier. It handles plugins wonderfully.. and the batt life in the centrinos is like no other. I've used it so much, the left button next to the touch pad is changing colors from my sandpaper index finger.

[Motion]

Did I go up my own bum for a while and forget to mention they work flawlessly with T(especially the Centrino T40)...and that Sony Z1...beautiful looking machine..I had my hands on one around a year ago..outstanding build quality and drool factor...I wanted to buy one of these(so nice to hear they work great with audio)but became fearful of the bailiffs if I used the plastic demon