laptops: power vs portability

[Adam Singer]

im investing in a new laptop...

saw a nice nice sony which is ultra portable (13.3inch screen)for a good price (check out the spects):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834117150

1gb ram, 100gb, 1.8ghz dual-core processor, only 4.1lbs!

now, i also checked out an alienware system that is sexy as hell and packs incredible performance (albiet more $) - but is not nearly as portable (17" screen, over 8lbs):
http://www.alienware.com/Intro_Pages...view.aspx?cs=1

ive never owned a laptop before, so maybe some of you can help sway me: i do demand high performance in my device, but i dont want it so bulky it cant be portable (and 8 lbs is obviously going to be less so than 4 - but how much less?)

also is a 13.3 inch screen going to be too small versus a 17", or should i get a 15.4 inch? the larger the screen, the less portability...

primary functions include web design/coding, audio production, and graphic design on the go... maybe you can suggest something else altogether (NOT a mac)

thx ;D

[swirlundergrounder]

Originally Posted by adamsinger

maybe you can suggest something else altogether (NOT a mac)

thx ;D

If you don't want to get a mac then get an macbook pro... :P

[pod]

Well, I leave hardcore computing for fixed workstations.

For mobility, I analyze what exactly I'll be doing on the road. Am I doing tasks that require hardcore processing power? For me, not really, at the most I'm storing photos and doing internet-related tasks, and maybe some light Photoshop work.

You really have to look at what you need to be doing on the road.

Oh, and check out the Toughbooks. http://www.toughbook.com/

[Electric Eel]

I actually own a vaio very similar to that one and I love it.

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...Dept=computers

Before I got this one I had one that was alot bulkier and weighed alot more. If you plan on carrying it around alot I would advise you not to get the bigger one. You are going to hate dragging it along. Looking at the specs, the only difference i see right away in mine is it has a slightly larger screen (14.1) and weighs 5.3 lbs which to me is still light. I have one of those big mama purses and just yesterday i put my laptop in it and carried it around with out a problem, any heavier might have killed me. The screen I have is definitely big enough.

hope this helps!

[Adam Singer]

Originally Posted by pod

Well, I leave hardcore computing for fixed workstations.

For mobility, I analyze what exactly I'll be doing on the road. Am I doing tasks that require hardcore processing power?

that's a very good point - and i have 3 workstations at home (2 with cutting edge power)...so perhaps for the road, the more portable - the better

im going to be using it to 'jot down ideas' on the fly, at the beach, the coffee shop, etc (in live) which can always be transferred to a work station if they get more complex...

and terry, i dont do macs!

[LeVeL]

Originally Posted by pod

Well, I leave hardcore computing for fixed workstations.

For mobility, I analyze what exactly I'll be doing on the road. Am I doing tasks that require hardcore processing power? For me, not really, at the most I'm storing photos and doing internet-related tasks, and maybe some light Photoshop work.

You really have to look at what you need to be doing on the road.

Oh, and check out the Toughbooks. http://www.toughbook.com/

Thats exactly what I tell everyone that ask's me about laptop advice, why do you need a Duo Porcessor if all you going to do is surf the net, burn DVD's and CD's and remotely login to your job from road.

I would understand if you were doing something else but if your considering buying a Laptop and have that in mind then get a Pentium M with 1GB or 2 GB or Memory and 120 GB of Diskspace and your able to find them under $1,000 to $1,4000 range.

[Adam Singer]

Originally Posted by LeVeL'

[quote author=pod link=board=6;threadid=28284;start=0#msg327701 date=1148062139]
Well, I leave hardcore computing for fixed workstations.

For mobility, I analyze what exactly I'll be doing on the road. Am I doing tasks that require hardcore processing power? For me, not really, at the most I'm storing photos and doing internet-related tasks, and maybe some light Photoshop work.

You really have to look at what you need to be doing on the road.

Oh, and check out the Toughbooks. http://www.toughbook.com/

Thats exactly what I tell everyone that ask's me about laptop advice, why do you need a Duo Porcessor if all you going to do is surf the net, burn DVD's and CD's and remotely login to your job from road.

I would understand if you were doing something else but if your considering buying a Laptop and have that in mind then get a Pentium M with 1GB or 2 GB or Memory and 120 GB of Diskspace and your able to find them under $1,000 to $1,4000 range.



[/quote]

well, i also plan to use ableton in a live setting with this, which is why power is a concern (some of the plugins are powerhogs)...trekking the workstation to gigs is a pain!

i need the most powerful machine possible yet also portable, something to simply 'browse the net' won't do

[LeVeL]

Originally Posted by adamsinger

[quote author=LeVeL' link=board=6;threadid=28284;start=0#msg327715 date=1148063403]
[quote author=pod link=board=6;threadid=28284;start=0#msg327701 date=1148062139]
Well, I leave hardcore computing for fixed workstations.

For mobility, I analyze what exactly I'll be doing on the road. Am I doing tasks that require hardcore processing power? For me, not really, at the most I'm storing photos and doing internet-related tasks, and maybe some light Photoshop work.

You really have to look at what you need to be doing on the road.

Oh, and check out the Toughbooks. http://www.toughbook.com/

Thats exactly what I tell everyone that ask's me about laptop advice, why do you need a Duo Porcessor if all you going to do is surf the net, burn DVD's and CD's and remotely login to your job from road.

I would understand if you were doing something else but if your considering buying a Laptop and have that in mind then get a Pentium M with 1GB or 2 GB or Memory and 120 GB of Diskspace and your able to find them under $1,000 to $1,4000 range.



[/quote]

well, i also plan to use ableton in a live setting with this, which is why power is a concern (some of the plugins are powerhogs)...trekking the workstation to gigs is a pain!

i need the most powerful machine possible yet also portable, something to simply 'browse the net' won't do
[/quote]

ohh okay... Sasha :P

[Electric Eel]

get the one i have! lol its got everything you need and the portability, plus its just under 1400

[Adam Singer]

Originally Posted by LeVeL'

[quote author=adamsinger link=board=6;threadid=28284;start=0#msg327723 date=1148063789]
[quote author=LeVeL' link=board=6;threadid=28284;start=0#msg327715 date=1148063403]
[quote author=pod link=board=6;threadid=28284;start=0#msg327701 date=1148062139]
Well, I leave hardcore computing for fixed workstations.

For mobility, I analyze what exactly I'll be doing on the road. Am I doing tasks that require hardcore processing power? For me, not really, at the most I'm storing photos and doing internet-related tasks, and maybe some light Photoshop work.

You really have to look at what you need to be doing on the road.

Oh, and check out the Toughbooks. http://www.toughbook.com/

Thats exactly what I tell everyone that ask's me about laptop advice, why do you need a Duo Porcessor if all you going to do is surf the net, burn DVD's and CD's and remotely login to your job from road.

I would understand if you were doing something else but if your considering buying a Laptop and have that in mind then get a Pentium M with 1GB or 2 GB or Memory and 120 GB of Diskspace and your able to find them under $1,000 to $1,4000 range.



[/quote]

well, i also plan to use ableton in a live setting with this, which is why power is a concern (some of the plugins are powerhogs)...trekking the workstation to gigs is a pain!

i need the most powerful machine possible yet also portable, something to simply 'browse the net' won't do
[/quote]

ohh okay... Sasha :P
[/quote]

i was using ableton before sasha started using it at gigs, was using version 2.0 in 2003...saw sasha the same year and he was using cdj's...

and ill take that as a compliment any day!