Just bought a new laptop

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Scott Harris said:
I seriously hope it works well for you. I'm just saying from a business perspective I see more value in purchasing current technology and expect it to last 3 years, then relegate it to backup use and buy a new one. That's common practice in the corporate world for a good reason. If you are audio only, running all apps in native resolution with no controller it should be fine.
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Scott, I know Precision's having a cow but rest assured, I've thoroughly tested the equipment I'm using and have measured CPU utilization as well as monitoring heat build-up. What I have is more than sufficient for my needs. I know I got some stares over the mention of netbook but it works perfectly well for either audio-only or slideshow. In fact, I've already been using the netbook for some ceremonies. If you beef out the RAM on those little boxes, they're not bad at all. Keep in mind also that the slideshow I use is something that I've written, so it's already optimized to use very little resources. Laugh all you wants boys but I've never had an audio or slideshow failure on any of my gigs. I know an awful lot of VDJ users who can't make the same claim.
 
Precisionpower said:
I have a basic I-pod as my back up, But have yet to ever use it in over 5 years of owning it. for you to have 2 back-ups like that, and to "have your fingers crossed" should tell you something
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I don't care how much of a "souped up super computer" you're running..........you only have 1 PC at the gig?
 
If my present Laptop worked yesterday driving a particular software, what good would a new machine do me today running the same software? Its not like the tune is playing slow and new software is going to make it play faster! For Backup, my Pioneer Mep 7000 is already ready and running as a standalone Dual CD/MP3 Player that can utilize 2 external hard drives.
 
ahoustondj said:
If my present Laptop worked yesterday driving a particular software, what good would a new machine do me today running the same software? Its not like the tune is playing slow and new software is going to make it play faster! For Backup, my Pioneer Mep 7000 is already ready and running as a standalone Dual CD/MP3 Player that can utilize 2 external hard drives.
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Consider the shoveling sh_t analogy...

In most cases, a 20 year old, will be able to shovel more efficiently than a 60 year old. Why? Because he has up-to-date equipment (his body), as opposed to the old dude, who can barely hang a Shakira poster now. While he may not have yet achieved the ability to baffle people with said BS, he can certainly shovel it faster in most cases... ;)


But, back to computers for a moment Obi-Wan-Poster-Hanger...


While your music may not play faster (and who would want it to), your entire system will perform faster. This will reduce your latency in doing certain tasks -- such as everything you do on a computer.

Let us say you press a button on your over priced, external MIDI controller. The MIDI subsystem in Windows will have much less latency (probably to the tune of 10 >< 100 ms). Your display will update faster, so you can see how you're ruining the music with your mad skillz in closer to real time.

The internal clocking mechanism that drives your old, non-asynchronous USB sound card, will be somewhat faster, and may present a better sound quality.

Your sorts and searches will be faster, giving you more time for above-mentioned mad skillz.


If you are performing in real time, like you mention you do -- it only stands to reason, that you would want the fastest machine available, to lower any potential latency.

On the other hand, if you are merely shoveling sh_t -- a regular shovel will do... ;) :)
 
SoftJock Rick said:
Consider the shoveling sh_t analogy...

In most cases, a 20 year old, will be able to shovel more efficiently than a 60 year old. Why? Because he has up-to-date equipment (his body), as opposed to the old dude, who can barely hang a Shakira poster now. While he may not have yet achieved the ability to baffle people with said BS, he can certainly shovel it faster in most cases... ;)


But, back to computers for a moment Obi-Wan-Poster-Hanger...


While your music may not play faster (and who would want it to), your entire system will perform faster. This will reduce your latency in doing certain tasks -- such as everything you do on a computer.

Let us say you press a button on your over priced, external MIDI controller. The MIDI subsystem in Windows will have much less latency (probably to the tune of 10 >< 100 ms). Your display will update faster, so you can see how you're ruining the music with your mad skillz in closer to real time.

The internal clocking mechanism that drives your old, non-asynchronous USB sound card, will be somewhat faster, and may present a better sound quality.

Your sorts and searches will be faster, giving you more time for above-mentioned mad skillz.


If you are performing in real time, like you mention you do -- it only stands to reason, that you would want the fastest machine available, to lower any potential latency.

On the other hand, if you are merely shoveling sh_t -- a regular shovel will do... ;) :)
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Me thinks you need a little more fiber in yer diet! It will help yer get rid of some of that s**t!:tribiggrin:
 
Scott Harris said:
Some divisions used to lease but we currently own all of our laptops. Including older models, that's probably somewhere near 8,000 of them. After 3 years I would guess that 1/3 of them are worn out from abusive users. Two and three years ago we had stretched it to a 4 year lifespan to cut the budget but we left R&D and field support on the 3 year lifespan because they just hit the wall with performance and need upgrades. They are currently getting W520's with quad core i7's, quadro FX video, 8GB of RAM and a 500GB drive. They are almost twice as fast as the W500's they are replacing and only cost $1,500 with 3 year global on-site support. We do buy $400 laptops for users who have desktops and only use it to RDP into their real machines.
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...and you don't think the $1500 laptop won't be as easily abused?

Again big difference in what your company does versus what I or Rick Ryan does. I don't abuse my laptops; they don't see the net...That's why I can get away with a $500 machine ....that's going on 5 years of use
 
Precisionpower said:
It really blows my mind that someone would skimp on something so important as the computer that runs your entire operation...
I over built my rack mount for the soul reason being "computer head room" meaning it runs, Audio, Video, and karaoke almost effortless...it runs cool on the hottest days, doesn't break a sweat running video's...it pretty much idles along all night.

I have a basic I-pod as my back up, But have yet to ever use it in over 5 years of owning it. for you to have 2 back-ups like that, and to "have your fingers crossed" should tell you something
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Why would I need a tank to drive 3 miles to work. I don't run kareoke, video...never had it over heat, never had it crash....I've never had to defer to my back up....Aren't you skimping by trusting a wedding to an I Pod?
 
SoftJock Rick said:
Consider the shoveling sh_t analogy...

In most cases, a 20 year old, will be able to shovel more efficiently than a 60 year old. Why? Because he has up-to-date equipment (his body), as opposed to the old dude, who can barely hang a Shakira poster now. While he may not have yet achieved the ability to baffle people with said BS, he can certainly shovel it faster in most cases... ;)


But, back to computers for a moment Obi-Wan-Poster-Hanger...


While your music may not play faster (and who would want it to), your entire system will perform faster. This will reduce your latency in doing certain tasks -- such as everything you do on a computer.

Let us say you press a button on your over priced, external MIDI controller. The MIDI subsystem in Windows will have much less latency (probably to the tune of 10 >< 100 ms). Your display will update faster, so you can see how you're ruining the music with your mad skillz in closer to real time.

The internal clocking mechanism that drives your old, non-asynchronous USB sound card, will be somewhat faster, and may present a better sound quality.

Your sorts and searches will be faster, giving you more time for above-mentioned mad skillz.


If you are performing in real time, like you mention you do -- it only stands to reason, that you would want the fastest machine available, to lower any potential latency.

On the other hand, if you are merely shoveling sh_t -- a regular shovel will do... ;) :)
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A shovel can only hold so much Sh!t...Rick, you're not gonna say I need a $2000 laptop to run mp3 files through Rockit? I find you analogy interesting given Rockit, at its pricepoint is the "$400.00 laptop" of dj software world...
 
Steve LeBlanc said:
A shovel can only hold so much Sh!t...Rick, you're not gonna say I need a $2000 laptop to run mp3 files through Rockit? I find you analogy interesting given Rockit, at its pricepoint is the "$400.00 laptop" of dj software world...
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Not saying that at all Steve...

Rockit is flexible. Albeit, sorts, searches, loads, etc., will be much faster on a faster, up to date machine -- Rockit was designed for the LCD (lowest common denominator). Yes, it will run better on a faster machine -- but it was also designed to be able to cope with slower machines.



On the other hand, I was addressing Canute, who runs 4 decks simultaneously (so he tells me). He's bouncing in and out of decks, putting samples in here and there, etc., blah, scratch, blah, wiki-wiki, blah, etc...

It seems to me, that if you are doing that sort of stuff, that you would want to have your gear up to snuff...


Me -- I happen to know Windows well. I know that the more up to date your machine is, the drivers, the software -- the more robust it works :)
 
SoftJock Rick said:
Not saying that at all Steve...

Rockit is flexible. Albeit, sorts, searches, loads, etc., will be much faster on a faster, up to date machine -- Rockit was designed for the LCD (lowest common denominator). Yes, it will run better on a faster machine -- but it was also designed to be able to cope with slower machines.



On the other hand, I was addressing Canute, who runs 4 decks simultaneously (so he tells me). He's bouncing in and out of decks, putting samples in here and there, etc., blah, scratch, blah, wiki-wiki, blah, etc...

It seems to me, that if you are doing that sort of stuff, that you would want to have your gear up to snuff...


Me -- I happen to know Windows well. I know that the more up to date your machine is, the drivers, the software -- the more robust it works :)
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While some of what you say may be true it really does not hold much merit to me. My system (Software & Laptop) is running quite well now as it is. if I add new features to it then I will consider an immediate upgrade.
I do recognize the fact what a newer machine can do but right now it is not on my priority list. Why fix what isn't broke?
 
I actually have 2 identical computer setups and a 3rd laptop if needed as well as the DND4500. And if I was in the business I'd probably have more stuff just in case due to the work schedule and use of the machines. Everything breaks at one ti me or another it's better as in sound to have more and not need it than not enough.
 
Steve LeBlanc said:
Why would I need a tank to drive 3 miles to work. I don't run kareoke, video...never had it over heat, never had it crash....I've never had to defer to my back up....Aren't you skimping by trusting a wedding to an I Pod?
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Steve...I do very few weddings, (maybe 3 a year?) So the i-pod is for back up on bars and private party's and such. For weddings i bring my old PC with me for back up, and make a couple of cd's with the special music on them
 
Steve LeBlanc said:
The most important day in a clients life..and you bring your "old" gear and 2 cd's... Hmmmmm...

you said it....
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That would mean that my normal, purpose built, dj machine would have to have a major malfunction, which i haven't had in the 6+ years i've been digital. My stuff is built for the task at hand, Not whatever Best Buy or Wal-mart will give me the best deal on.

And i'm gonna say that my "old" PC is still better than those $400 lappys you guys are "Crossing your fingers" about.
 
Oh baby..... AMD and old Pentium dual-core....... I tried both. Hp, 17.3 screen, triple core AMD 8 gig ram. It'll run Serato Scratch live just fine...............however............I also hav a Numark NS7FX and this runs Serato Itch. So long AMD. BARELY works with itch, this after taking out all the fluff, Aero, etc, etc.

2 different dual core pentium machines, both with 8 gig ram......both ran SSL fine, both would NOT run Itch.

I learned my lesson, I'm still using the AMD triple core for SSL, however I have 2 other lappy's, Both I7's, run Itch all night, I can surf the net, watch movies, compose Email......all at once while Itch plays happily with no CPU overload.

Lesson learned for economy cheapo laptops....once burned, twice shy.

Best,

Paul
 
Precisionpower said:
That would mean that my normal, purpose built, dj machine would have to have a major malfunction, which i haven't had in the 6+ years i've been digital. My stuff is built for the task at hand, Not whatever Best Buy or Wal-mart will give me the best deal on.

And i'm gonna say that my "old" PC is still better than those $400 lappys you guys are "Crossing your fingers" about.
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When did I say I was crossing my fingers...at least I have a full back up, ready to go at a moments notice. not 40 songs on 2 cd's....
 
Steve LeBlanc said:
When did I say I was crossing my fingers...at least I have a full back up, ready to go at a moments notice. not 40 songs on 2 cd's....
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My "Old" PC has my FULL library on it....which is rather deep music wise. the 2 cd's just have the special dance songs on them.
So your going out of your way to try and make me look bad isn't working so well is it Steve? I run a professional company, with professional gear. Not the cheapest crap i can find. I also run video, and karaoke, and full sound and lighting for live bands....

I'm very well aware of what needs to be done to get the job done correctly. And many people notice it.
 
Precision - what happens if your "old pc" fails? Are you not left with 2 cd's?

I'm not trying to make you look bad; just countering your ridiculous notion that dj's who use $500 laptops are "cheapening" out or are less than professional. I could give a crap that you run video, kareoke and live audio. Think that makes you better?

I and we also run professional companies with professionnal equipment and end up with the same results you do. We know the equipment we need to make it happen....
 
Steve LeBlanc said:
Precision - what happens if your "old pc" fails? Are you not left with 2 cd's?

I'm not trying to make you look bad; just countering your ridiculous notion that dj's who use $500 laptops are "cheapening" out or are less than professional. I could give a crap that you run video, kareoke and live audio. Think that makes you better?

I and we also run professional companies with professionnal equipment and end up with the same results you do. We know the equipment we need to make it happen....
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My primary rack mount PC would have to die first, before i would have to use the old PC, then I have CD's for back up, and my I-pod.
there's a snow balls chance in hell that i'd be left with no music at my event.

And the whole Video, Karaoke, and live sound thing means nothing to anyone but me....But, the majority of the issues i see with people trying to run video's and such, Is that they don't have enough Computer horsepower to do it correctly. Running a cheapie computer for something like that is asking for nothing but problems.

But hey...If you want to run your $400 lappys and you can make it work, then all the power to you.
 
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