Brian - Cost considerations made me go rackmount. I had an Extra P4 sitting around. I also had a laptop (actually it's work's laptop, but it might as well be mine. I didn't feel like spending a grand or so on a new laptop, so I went with the rackmount.
I had my tower strapped into my Gator 10x6 case...i found the case very haevy and bulky.....weight alone nmadfe it difficult for one person....So i picked up a rack case on ebay for $65 bucks and a SKB 4u Xcase ($140.00)
Laqtop pro's
- lightweight, easy to move around
- can be taken to client meetings (although with a back up laptop, I have that luxury)
Cons
- expensive
- lightweight, mobile (easy to steal, drop)
- eggs in one basket (difficult to service, cannot buy an lcd, motherboard..cheaply)
- limited hard drive space
- heat
Rackmount Pros
- looks frickin' cool in a rack
- unlimited drive space
- redundancy (raid)
- easy to service/upgrade
- versatility (two onboard cd players)
- inexpensive
- looks more "pro" than a laptop *******
Cons
- weight and size
***** let me qualify this statement. One of the issues we have as an industry is the prol;iferation of those with laptops downloading their music, renting gear and hanging a shingle out as a DJ.
I went to a gig recently...Here was the DJ with his laptop sitting on the table, a Numark USB 2 channel mixer, an xternal drive an old peavey amp and two PR 15's....That's it
With everything sitting on the table...it reeked for me....sorry it looked amateur hour. Wires everywhere. With guys like that, for us to be taken seriously, is difficult.
I probably will have a second laptop within a year and may ditch the rackmount. My intent is to have the laptop inside the 6u part of my Gator, and use the external keyboard or DAC and the large LCD. I'll still have the old laptop on the case wing as back up and song search.....
Don't take this the wrong way. Laptop is the ideal way. If you use a laptop, integrate it into a set up that looks like you you're seriouis about your business....
If we want to be treated as professionnals we need to look and act as one.