Laptop for digital djing - recommendations wanted

Mr Woods

Hi All,


I'm looking for a new laptop specifically and only for digital djing, won't be using it for any other purpose. Would like something preferably with 3/4gb ram, with a high spec processor, budget ~ €1000 , bargains only !!

Thanks in advance

Mr Woods

eamonhonda

what program will you be using for your digital djing? You need to check the requirements of this program and make sur you pick something that exceeds these requirements. Plenty of ram is definitely a good idea your probably safe to get 4gbs and that will be plenty. I would not worry about harddrive space because ideally you should probably store your music on an external harddrive anyway. For digital djing I know i would be looking for a somewhat decent screen size at least 15 inch or maybe 17 inch. Processor wise you should be looking at the Intel Core 2 Duo its one of the best processors. Brand name is totally your own choice if it has everything brand name is irrelevent. Look around and you should be able to get a laptop with all these specs easily for your budget of 1000 and probably money left over to get yourself an external hd.

Mr Woods

Hi eamonhonda,

Thanks for the reply, I'd be looking at using traktor or VDJ with m audio xponent and an external HD so as you said HD size isn't an issue. Any 15" / 17" with 4GB ram and a decent dual core processor > 2.0 ghz have all been above the €1000 mark, was hoping someone may have spotted a bargain on their travels

Mr Woods

Was looking at one of these :

BASE Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T9300 (2.5 GHz, 6 MB L2 Cache, 800 MHz FSB) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1 - English edit
MICROSOFT SOFTWARE Microsoft® Works 9.0 - English edit

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LCD 15.4" Widescreen WXGA (1280 x 800) Display with Anti-Glare Coating edit
BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION No Biometric Fingerprint Reader edit
INTEGRATED WEBCAM Glossy Black with 1.3 MP Camera edit
MEMORY 4096MB (2x2048) 667MHz DDR2 Dual Channel edit
HARD DRIVE 250GB (5400rpm) SATA Hard Drive edit
GRAPHICS CARD 256 MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8400M GS (64 bit) Graphic Card edit
OPTICAL DRIVE Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Slot Load Drive including Software edit
PRIMARY BATTERY Primary 6-cell 56 WHr Lithium Ion battery edit
CARRY CASES No Carrying Case edit
Services & Software
SUPPORT SERVICES 1Yr Basic Warranty - Next Business Day Onsite - No Upgrade Selected edit

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MOBILITY Declined CompleteCare edit
SECURITY SOFTWARE No Security/Anti-Virus Protection edit

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Accessories
BLUETOOTH Dell™ Wireless 360 Bluetooth® Module edit
WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY Dell™ Wireless 1505 Wireless-N MiniPCI Card edit
POWER SUPPLY 90W Power Adapter (3 Wire) edit
Also included with your system
Gedis Bundle Reference N0515113
Order Information Vostro Laptop 1510 Order - Ireland
Shipping Documents English - Documentation Vostro Laptop
Dell System Media Kit V1510 Resource DVD (Diagnostic & Drivers)
Cables 1 Meter Power Cord (3 Wire) - UK
Keyboard Internal Keyboard - English (QWERTY)
Standard Warranty 1Yr Basic Warranty - Next Business Day
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OR

Product Description Sony VAIO VGN-BZ12XN - Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26 GHz - 15.4" TFT
Dimensions (WxDxH) 36.2 cm x 26.7 cm x 3.8 cm
Weight 2.6 kg
Localisation English / United Kingdom
Platform Technology Intel Centrino 2 with vPro Technology
System Type Notebook
Built-in Devices Stereo speakers, wireless LAN aerial, Bluetooth aerial
Embedded Security Trusted Platform Module (TPM 1.2) Security Chip , fingerprint reader
Processor Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 / 2.26 GHz ( Dual-Core )
Cache Memory 3 MB - L2 Cache
RAM 3 GB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - 800 MHz ( 1 x 1 GB + 1 x 2 GB )
Card Reader Yes
Hard Drive 250 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm
Optical Storage DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM - integrated
Display 15.4" TFT 1440 x 900 ( WXGA+ )
Graphics Controller Intel GMA 4500MHD
Memory Allocation Technology Dynamic Video Memory Technology 5.0
Audio Output Sound card
Telecom Fax / modem
Networking Network adapter - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n (draft), Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
Notebook Camera Integrated - 1.3 Megapixel
Input Device Keyboard, touchpad
Battery Lithium Ion
Run Time (Up To) 3.3 hour(s)
Operating System Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Manufacturer Warranty 2 years warranty

On paper the dell seems to have the upper-hand (I'm open to correction ),Is the lower spec processor and RAM with the Vaio a trade off for reliability or is it just the name your paying for ??? (Both machines are ~ €900)

Alternatively, would it be better to downgrade Dell machine to Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4 GHz, 3 MB L2 Cache, 800 MHz FSB) and 3GB RAM i.e similar spec to Vaio and save myself €160 ?