which laptop for recording? (specs inside)

[runmikeyrun]

Hey everyone,

I have a choice of two laptops that I can use with my Lexicon Alpha interface (USB 2 channel). I was wondering if you could let me know which would be better to use for both multi-tracking songs at practice and recording a 30 minute continuous live set. I would be running Cubase LE.

Laptop 1:
Dell Inspiron 9300
Windows XP Professional
Processor: x86 family 6 model 13 1994mHz
Memory: 2,048 mb
hard drive: 74.5gb

Laptop 2:
Dell Inspiron 710m
Windows XP Professional
same processor and memory.
hard drive: 90gb

Thanks in advance.

P.S. I know a mac is best but these are the only choices I have, I can't afford a new laptop.

[seamonkey]

Run this on them and see which one does best
DPC Latency Checker

Take off all the extra junk, Anti-Virus, fancy window settings, etc.

[scottfeldstein]

Macbook Pro.

[Jake Saint]

Originally Posted by runmikeyrun

P.S. I know a mac is best but these are the only choices I have, I can't afford a new laptop.

Craigslist. i got a two year old macbook pro for 800 bucks.

[runmikeyrun]

Originally Posted by Jake Saint

Craigslist. i got a two year old macbook pro for 800 bucks.

Jobless and full time at two colleges. Bankruptcy pending. 2.5 year long divorce still going on because the ex is milking me for spousal support. If I had 800 bucks i'd fill my empty fridge and take my daughter out to dinner, not buy a laptop. While 800 bucks might seem like not a lot of money to you, that's more than I have per month to pay for EVERYTHING I NEED.

What part did you two miss about I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW LAPTOP?? gggrrrrrr............. lol.

[DerTeufel]

Originally Posted by runmikeyrun

Hey everyone,

I have a choice of two laptops that I can use with my Lexicon Alpha interface (USB 2 channel). I was wondering if you could let me know which would be better to use for both multi-tracking songs at practice and recording a 30 minute continuous live set. I would be running Cubase LE.

Laptop 1:
Dell Inspiron 9300
Windows XP Professional
Processor: x86 family 6 model 13 1994mHz
Memory: 2,048 mb
hard drive: 74.5gb

Laptop 2:
Dell Inspiron 710m
Windows XP Professional
same processor and memory.
hard drive: 90gb

Thanks in advance.

P.S. I know a mac is best but these are the only choices I have, I can't afford a new laptop.

They are both the same with the exception of hard drive size. Use the one with the bigger hard drive.

[bassgod0dmw]

Originally Posted by runmikeyrun

same processor and memory

The hard drive is the only main difference, so I'd go for the one with a bigger drive or a bigger/better display. Performance wise they are going to both be about the same.

Other things to consider would be how many and what kind of ins/outs they have.

[longfinger]

Originally Posted by runmikeyrun

Hey everyone,

I have a choice of two laptops that I can use with my Lexicon Alpha interface (USB 2 channel). I was wondering if you could let me know which would be better to use for both multi-tracking songs at practice and recording a 30 minute continuous live set. I would be running Cubase LE.

Laptop 1:
Dell Inspiron 9300
Windows XP Professional
Processor: x86 family 6 model 13 1994mHz
Memory: 2,048 mb
hard drive: 74.5gb

Laptop 2:
Dell Inspiron 710m
Windows XP Professional
same processor and memory.
hard drive: 90gb

Thanks in advance.

P.S. I know a mac is best but these are the only choices I have, I can't afford a new laptop.

Performance wise, they seem identical, so start looking at the casing, physical size, weight, condition of actual units being considered.

A google search brought me this
Dell Inspiron 710m Review (pics, specs)

and this
Dell Inspiron 9300 Review (pics, specs)

I'm not sure if those are exactly what you're looking at.

What are the screen sizes of the two laptops you are looking at? (is it 17" for the 9300 and 12.1" for the 710?) Weight? Online it seems the 710m has a smaller screen, is lighter, is more portable. From the review, the 710 seemed more well put together, the 9300 seemed cheap by comparison.

Both seem to have LCD screens that opens up all the way so that the laptop becomes flat and can be placed on a music stand. That's a great feature by the way, many laptops can't do that. Great for reading PDF files from a digital fakebook, on a music stand. Though if the laptop is too heavy for a stand... the greatness is reduced.


Hold the two laptops in your hands, ask: which one feels better? Which as a better screen? Which has a better keyboard? What are the inputs and outputs of the unit? THe smaller one seems to have Firewire (4pin). That's good to have.

[Tupac]

Dell makes bad laptops. In fact, most laptops are pretty bad in general. If you order the parts and give yourself a half hour to assemble it yourself (super easy, gamers do it all the time), you'll have a monster computer for $600 that would be the equivalent to a $1200 laptop. But if you must buy a laptop, don't settle for anything but an Asus.


EDIT: Sorry, I completely misunderstood the OP. I didn't realize you had to choose between them. Do they have the same sound card? If they do, I'd say go with Laptop 2. Sounds like they're exactly the same except with different hard drives...

[seamonkey]

Besides checking them with the DPC latency checker, pick up a copy of ASIO4ALL, it allow the most all motherboard audio to work in lower latency.
ASIO4ALL - Universal ASIO Driver

[Jake Saint]

Originally Posted by runmikeyrun

Jobless and full time at two colleges. Bankruptcy pending. 2.5 year long divorce still going on because the ex is milking me for spousal support. If I had 800 bucks i'd fill my empty fridge and take my daughter out to dinner, not buy a laptop. While 800 bucks might seem like not a lot of money to you, that's more than I have per month to pay for EVERYTHING I NEED.

What part did you two miss about I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW LAPTOP?? gggrrrrrr............. lol.

My bad bro. in that case, if it's for recording, go for the larger HD. you'll regret getting a small one.

[Phatbottom]

If your multi-tracking you need to get a hard drive thats fast, at least 7200rpm. Otherwise itll have a hard time recording and playing back alot of tracks. So get the one with the faster hard drive.