Laptops with 18" screen?

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The Wizard Of OZ

Well-Known DJ
Dec 13, 2007
3,130
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Tampa Bay Area
Anyone have one? - OR - Have you seen one up close?

I've been thinking about getting one to replace my 17" Dell which is about two years old and on it's way out to pasture. The 18" laptops are expensive and they're big and heavy, but I guess I'm looking at it as a portable desktop replacement. Most of the time it's not going to move around, but it is nice to have the ability from time to time to take it on the road.

As far as I know only Toshiba and HP make them.
 
If you go with one I wouldn't get anything less than one with an i5 or preferably i7 processor and a blueray dvd rom and while you're at it max out everything from memory to hdd size... if you're going to spend the money spend it well.

In otherwords if you're going to run with the big dawns ya can't piss like a puppy.
 
I wouldn't waste the money...

I considered a large screen earlier this year when I bought my 2 new lappies, and ending up going with one with a 14", and the other with a 15.6".

When on my desk, which is 99% of the time, the 15 is connected to a 22" monitor. It's cheaper to buy the external monitor separate, then it is to buy the lappy with a big screen. When on the road, the smaller screens use less battery power, so the battery lasts longer :)

The 14 is in the man cave most of the time, and is the one I take on trips, because it's lighter, and fits better in my backpack. It's screen size is fine for playing music, and basic internet browsing.
 
Hey Wiz...

I'm on the same bus as you....need new Laptop for primary gig play. Will make my current and old Laptop my backup and for home use until I decide upon a new desktop.

I want the NEW laptop only for DJ gigs. Maybe Dell will be the route I take as they will customize a laptop for you...but I don't know what I really need in the way of speed and storage and database software. It should probably have anti-virus software and of course my OTSAV software...(need to purchase a second license.)

Wiz...not trying to hijack your thread, but why have two new threads asking for the same info. If you prefer me to open my own, I will gladly do so. Give the word. :)
 
I have a specific use for it and I need a large screen. 17" is ok, but larger is definitely better. I'll be plugging in an external screen too.

I looked at the nice all-in-one machines and I think they're way cool, but not really very portable like a laptop. It would be awesome to have a 21" primary screen and who knows, I may eventually go to a desktop or all-in-one if things go well.

NO WAY I can or will spend $1,800 on a computer-no way in hell. I could maybe go $800 or $900 for the 18" laptop, but no more than that. Otherwise it will have to be a 17" machine and I've seen them for as little as $550. I'll just have to make do with what I have right now until some funds start rolling in . . .
 
The Wizard Of OZ said:
$4,000? that's ridiculous. Some people have more money than brains.
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Pfft.... after I got done customizing it... I had it to nearly 6K with alll the bells and whistles and extra's.... I think there was even a laptop in there somewhere.... LOL :triwink:

Trust me of the Dell computers the Alienware line is the BEST hands down.
 
The Wizard Of OZ said:
$4,000? that's ridiculous. Some people have more money than brains.
Click to expand...


This bad boy set me back about $5500 in 1982 dollars -- that would equate to $12,635.31 in 2010 dollars!

Course, it certainly paid back over the course of my career... ;)


firstpc.gif
 
Wiz...need a reliable and fast laptop for gigs. I'm thinking in line with the 16+" screen. I think the 18"+ will cost way too much money for the amount time left that I will be djing. I'm an "ole fart" but love seeing people get up and dance...and the hi-5's after doing a Sweet 16 dance. Weddings are my forte. I need the bigger screen so I can see the DJ software print better. LOL :)
I already wear glasses.
 
Twinspin, look at the 17" laptops. I've seen them go for $550 recently and that's with windows 7, 4 GB RAM, 500gb hard drive, LED screen etc. I may go that way to save a few bucks.

I was talking with a guy today at the health club and he had me convinced that if most of the time I'm using it as a desktop then I could save a few hundo and just get a desktop with a 22 inch screen and use my laptop for the occasional excursion. So now I'm rethinking the whole thing since I have a backup laptop now.
 
The Wizard Of OZ said:
Twinspin, look at the 17" laptops. I've seen them go for $550 recently and that's with windows 7, 4 GB RAM, 500gb hard drive, LED screen etc. I may go that way to save a few bucks.

I was talking with a guy today at the health club and he had me convinced that if most of the time I'm using it as a desktop then I could save a few hundo and just get a desktop with a 22 inch screen and use my laptop for the occasional excursion. So now I'm rethinking the whole thing since I have a backup laptop now.
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I replaced my desktops this past year with new lappies, and just used my existing monitors and keyboards.

The power savings alone are well worth it. My desktops were drawing so much more power, that I've already saved a couple hundred in electric costs :)

My UPS/Line Conditioner monitors the output, and a Core i5 lappy, and a 22" Acer monitor, are only drawing a total of 53 watts. The desktop (at idle), was drawing 180 watts, and just went up from there if I did anything... ;)
 
Wiz...
You health center friend may be right on. If you don't use the primary that much on gigs, why not just buy a 20" monitor and hook up the laptop to it when not djing?

I already have a 19" monitor but no desktop...it croaked a few years ago. I've been using my gig laptop as the "home" computer.

It IS time to get that new laptop for primary gigging. The one I have has had the motherboard replace two years ago and that was a used board then. The original board lasted 3 years but the video screen crapped out and I had to find a "used" motherboard fast. At that time, however, I was not using the laptop for DJing. I just started Digital DJing about 18 months ago. I'm still using CDs too. I guess the percentage of digital to CD is about 55 - 45 per cent now with 45% being laptop.

I find it difficult to locate the songs that I want to play in an instant because I've been so used to thumbing through my CD cases. We know exactly where to look and have the track circled to make it quicker to find and play. I can usually find and play the next CD (special request) within 20 seconds...and that includes putting it in the CD drive and pressing play. LOL

I know...it could be just as quick if I had my songs in folders or playlists in the computer; I have some playlists (5 or 6 song sets) that I can find in a second or two.

Anyway, I'll be looking at Dell and maybe HP. By the way, does anybody know what "beats audio" is in relationship to external sound card?
 
IMHO, it's not good to try and save pennies on laptops.

I have 3, 2 have 18" screens. At 54, my eyesight is not what it used to be!

1) HP dv7-4171us. 18" display, AMD triple core N850 processor, 8gig ram, Win7 64 bit. 2 drives installed, 1 with 500G for OS and programs and the second with 750G that's for music library only. This runs Serato Scratch Live quite well, however my comfort zone with Serato Itch/Numark NS7FX is not high, and I just bought this right after Thanksgiving. A lesson learned for me: NO AMD PROCESSORS! I gave them a chance, never again.

2) ASUS G73. Intel i7, win7 64 bit, 8G memory, two 750G drives. 18" display. This is a powerhouse and I am most pleased with it. Runs anything faster than a scalded cat! Worth all it costs. Here's a link to this machine:

Amazon.com: ASUS G73JW-XA1 Republic of Gamers 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop (Black): Computer & Accessories@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/416OcTXFfeL.@@AMEPARAM@@416OcTXFfeL

3) Dell XPS 15. i7, 500G HD 4G memory. I have a friend who works at a major university in Cambridge MA. This was a warrantee replacement BRAND NEW machine. Configured from the Dell site, it is a tad over $1600. From my friend: $720 and has 2 years of complete coverage and overnight replacement warranty left. Sometimes it pays to have some well-connected friends! I'm still configuring this to my liking but the machine is fast and well-built, but 15.3" screen.

I used to go cheap on the lappies, with the 2 i7 Intel boxes I get this great warm and fuzzy feeling that I'm not going to run out of gas during a gig. Both i7 boxes also have 2 gig video memory and fast video cards. Multitasking is no problem!

Best,

Paul
 
beemer, you hit on the very reason I was and still am considering a laptop with an 18" screen. My eyesight isn't what it once was, I'm right behind you - I'm 52.

However, no way am I going to spend $1,200. I'll just wait it out, even if it takes 6 months or a year for prices to come down on the I5 and I7. I can live with a 17" laptop, I just thought that an 18.2" would maybe be a bit better. 15.6 doesn't really cut it, it's just barely adequate for me. I love the convenience of opening the laptop up, using it and closing it up-it goes into it's bag and away it goes-and out of the way. Anywhere I want to go I can take it with me. Hard to do that with a desktop.

Since I don't have a friend at Cambridge or Princeton or MIT, I'll just have to keep shopping and looking and waiting until the right deal comes along or I just get tired of looking and give up . . .
 
Wiz...I'm still looking. What software is a necessity to have on your DJ gigging laptop? Excel (spreadsheets), anti-virus, DJ software, internet capability (Win 7). Am I missing something?

Can you run Laptop on power vs. battery for long periods of time? Is that a BAD thing? I'd freaq out at a gig if I was on battery and it was about to run out. How do you get around that?

Thoughts? Anybody.
 
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