Music Production Laptop

flyswatter

Where would be the best place to buy a laptop optimized for music production? I've had a look around and am after pricing a Dell Inspiron 15 with the following specs:

• Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4ghz (x2) , 3mb Cache
• 4gb RAM
• 500gb HD

Would that spec be suitable for music production or should I look elsewhere?

That should be able to handle most of what you might throw at it..Id recommend optimising it yourself..fresh install of xp..just the drivers and software you need..and then tweak to taste using one of the many guides available online..

Seziertisch

Make sure the chipset is up to scratch if you are using a firewire/USB interface. The Texas Instruments set is recommended by most manufacturers.

Otherwise you could try Red Submarine in the UK. My computer is one of theirs and it has functioned without any problems since I got it. It cost a wee bit more, but ultimately not having to deal with tech issues was worth that much to me. They also offer good customer support.

jimi_t

Make sure the computer has FIREWIRE for the love of god. The size of the HD over 150gb isn't as important as the RPM of the drive as most of the samples etc.. you'll be using will be on an external harddrive.

DO NOT BUY RAM FROM THE DELL SITE. BUY IT OFF KOMPLETT OR SIMILAR AND INSTALL IT YOURSELF.

Processor is obviously fine, you could do a lot with a lot less. Tbh, if you're blowing more than 1.4k on a laptop solely for music, I'd go with a macbook. DELL may be the cheapest but they're generally complete crap.

Helix

do you need a laptop? lots of people seem to buy laptops for production when they dont actually need portability, and therefore end up paying twice the price for half the specs

Dravokivich

I'd be weary of getting a dell...

I've tried using them before for audio while saving to get my own Laptop and indeed in college. Always got the humming sound from the PSU into any recordings I was doing. Something I thought you should be aware of before going for it...

Got myself and Advent laptop a few years ago and never had issue's with noise leaking into my audio.

.. the thing with Dell is that it always "seems" like a bargin.

-Drav!

hubiedubie

+1 for the macbook

pffft...dont listen to them...ive a dell inspiron running protools rock solid...Nay problems with it..They'll be telling you to buy nike and tommy hilfiger next..

Dravokivich

Deleted User wrote: »

pffft...dont listen to them...ive a dell inspiron running protools rock solid...Nay problems with it..They'll be telling you to buy nike and tommy hilfiger next..

My HiTech runners and dunnes stores brand jeans aint doing too bad....

flyswatter

Won't be getting a macbook I'm afraid as I'm planning on running FL Studio on the laptop which does not support Macs (unless you're running Bootcamp, which I won't be.)