Laptop for a student wanting to occasionally edit music

Stheno · 30-11-2015 12:37AM #1

Hi everyone.

My OHs daughter is looking for a new laptop to allow her to edit music occasionally as she works part time as a sound engineer.

She's currently using a Packard Bell netbook with 1GB ram, and we are trying to figure out what sort of spec she needs to see if we can get one within budget for her for xmas.

I've no real idea what she needs, I've an ipad2 mini that I was considering giving to her as a gift, or we can buy her a laptop once we've an idea of spec.

Our budget is low, about 400e, I'm wondering how much ram etc she might need?

Any advice would be appreciated.

mordeith · 30-11-2015 02:14PM

Depends on what software she will be running and what audio processing being done. But unless it's large multitrack files then 4GB will be plenty.

Alanstrainor · 30-11-2015 04:26PM

mordeith wrote: »

Depends on what software she will be running and what audio processing being done. But unless it's large multitrack files then 4GB will be plenty.

More RAM is always better, and I'd look for 8GB these days, but tbh, 4GB should be fine, and seeing that you're on a budget this is an okay compromise.

I'd look for a 13.3" laptop, less toy like than the current netbook she has. In an ideal world you would be best with a Core i3 or greater, 4GB RAM + and a hard drive that will probably be 500GB or more.

Stheno · 12-12-2015 09:31PM

Alanstrainor wrote: »

More RAM is always better, and I'd look for 8GB these days, but tbh, 4GB should be fine, and seeing that you're on a budget this is an okay compromise.

I'd look for a 13.3" laptop, less toy like than the current netbook she has. In an ideal world you would be best with a Core i3 or greater, 4GB RAM + and a hard drive that will probably be 500GB or more.

Thanks, I can't seem to find an i3 for that budget, I've come up with the following list, and am wondering is anyone has any opinions on which would be best?

http://www.dell.com/ie/p/inspiron-15-3552-laptop/pd?oc=cn55204&model_id=inspiron-15-3552-laptop
http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/toshiba-satellite-l50c1gx-156-laptop-white/329020/396.0.0
http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/lenovo-g50-156-laptop-red/327739/396.0.00
http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/lenovo-yoga-300-116-2-in-1-white/327933/396.0.0

Personally I like the Lenova Yoga and the Toshiba, the Dell is attractive due to the price

Thanks in advance for any advice

AngryDiMaria · 12-12-2015 09:46PM

Stheno wrote: »

Thanks, I can't seem to find an i3 for that budget, I've come up with the following list, and am wondering is anyone has any opinions on which would be best?

http://www.dell.com/ie/p/inspiron-15-3552-laptop/pd?oc=cn55204&model_id=inspiron-15-3552-laptop
http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/toshiba-satellite-l50c1gx-156-laptop-white/329020/396.0.0
http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/lenovo-g50-156-laptop-red/327739/396.0.00
http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/lenovo-yoga-300-116-2-in-1-white/327933/396.0.0

Personally I like the Lenova Yoga and the Toshiba, the Dell is attractive due to the price

Thanks in advance for any advice

They all have terrible processors.

http://www.pcworld.ie/Mobile/Product/acer-aspire-f5571-156-laptop-red/328998/396.0.0

This one is good for the price, it has a 5th Gen Core i3 processor and 4gb of RAM.

Stheno · 12-12-2015 09:50PM

AngryDiMaria wrote: »

They all have terrible processors.

http://www.pcworld.ie/Mobile/Product/acer-aspire-f5571-156-laptop-red/328998/396.0.0

This one is good for the price, it has a 5th Gen Core i3 processor and 4gb of RAM.

DUH, I looked at that one earlier and took a photo of the tag!

Will check with OH if he's happy to spend that much

Stheno · 18-12-2015 11:28PM

Is the laptop linked below a better option than the acer?
8GB memory with i3?

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/4248648/Trail/searchtext%3ETOSHIBA+LAPTOP.htm

Sorry for being a pain, just trying to get the best we can

And thanks to all who have offered advice.

Dravokivich · 18-12-2015 11:33PM

That'll do a job. the only thing really to look out for is the RPM on the HDD as I mentioned in your other thread when you were enquiring about iPad/Tablet.

But that can be a future upgrade to do at another time.

Stheno · 19-12-2015 12:20AM

AngryDiMaria wrote: »

They all have terrible processors.

http://www.pcworld.ie/Mobile/Product/acer-aspire-f5571-156-laptop-red/328998/396.0.0

This one is good for the price, it has a 5th Gen Core i3 processor and 4gb of RAM.

Stheno wrote: »

Is the laptop linked below a better option than the acer?
8GB memory with i3?

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/4248648/Trail/searchtext%3ETOSHIBA+LAPTOP.htm

Sorry for being a pain, just trying to get the best we can

And thanks to all who have offered advice.

Am i better off with the toshiba?

AngryDiMaria · 21-12-2015 08:02PM

Stheno wrote: »

Am i better off with the toshiba?

Sorry for the late reply.

The toshiba has twice the RAM, twice the HDD capacity but it has a 4th gen i3 while the acer has a 5th gen. You wouldnt really notice the difference so yeah I would go with the toshiba if you prefer.

Stheno · 28-12-2015 09:15PM

We ended up going with the acer, and it was given as a gift on Xmas day.

Now today it won't power up at all

mordeith · 29-12-2015 12:45AM

Stheno wrote: »

We ended up going with the acer, and it was given as a gift on Xmas day.

Now today it won't power up at all

I presume if won't power up with or without the charger plugged in?

I'd be inclined to take it back if it's giving trouble at this early stage.

Stheno · 29-12-2015 12:46AM

mordeith wrote: »

I presume if won't power up with or without the charger plugged in?

I'd be inclined to take it back if it's giving trouble at this early stage.

Yeah won't charge up either way, tried multiple different working power points as well.

Taking it back tomorrow

allthedoyles · 29-12-2015 12:53AM

The A-B-C when buying a laptop ..........anything but Celeron

Stheno · 29-12-2015 12:53AM

allthedoyles wrote: »

The A-B-C when buying a laptop ..........anything but Celeron

It's an i3?

allthedoyles · 29-12-2015 01:16AM

On older machines there was a reset by taking out battery and unplugging and holding the power button for at least a minute .

Not sure if this works on i3's though

AngryDiMaria · 29-12-2015 01:17AM

Stheno wrote: »

Yeah won't charge up either way, tried multiple different working power points as well.

Taking it back tomorrow

Hope you get sorted

Stheno · 29-12-2015 01:18AM

allthedoyles wrote: »

On older machines there was a reset by taking out battery and unplugging and holding the power button for at least a minute .

Not sure if this works on i3's though

tried that too without taking out the battery as its enclosed

Laptop for a student wanting to occasionally edit music

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