Laptop for music

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ModuleOverload

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#24418 23-Jul-2008 16:21

I'm looking to purchase a decent laptop to put music on before travelling overseas. I've got just over 500 CD's that i'd like to load on. I guess I'd also be using itunes on the computer for an Ipod.

I'd also like to use the computer for basic email/internet access and putting photos onto it.

How grunty will the computer have to be?

I was looking at this one...

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/4886a587006ef6ea2740c0a87f3b0746/Product/View/XC4809

My girlfriend seems to think that this computer would not be a good choice. She thinks a mac would be better, and offer a lot better software for playing with music. However, i don't really have to coin to spend on one. My budget it about $1,500 max.

Would the Compaq do the job, without running to slow? Should I really be getting an external hard drive to accompany the computer?

Thank you!

timestyles

424 posts

Ultimate Geek

#150697 23-Jul-2008 17:01

ModuleOverload: I'm looking to purchase a decent laptop to put music on before travelling overseas. I've got just over 500 CD's that i'd like to load on. I guess I'd also be using itunes on the computer for an Ipod.

I'd also like to use the computer for basic email/internet access and putting photos onto it.

How grunty will the computer have to be?

I was looking at this one...

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/4886a587006ef6ea2740c0a87f3b0746/Product/View/XC4809

My girlfriend seems to think that this computer would not be a good choice. She thinks a mac would be better, and offer a lot better software for playing with music. However, i don't really have to coin to spend on one. My budget it about $1,500 max.

Would the Compaq do the job, without running to slow? Should I really be getting an external hard drive to accompany the computer?

Thank you!

In terms of 'grunt', any processor faster than 100MHz would be fine for playing music. The one you are thinking of buying is about 15 times that, 30 if you include the dual core processors. I can't comment on Macs vs PC's, but I do know that they are a lot, lot more expensive if you want a 14 or 15 inch screen.

A couple of thoughts....

I suggest you don't buy a laptop without trying it out. The current one you want is only at certain shops, hopefully you live nearby.

I had a look at Compaqs and noticed that the touch pad was flush with the palm rests, causing the pointer to move around when typing. This is where trying things out comes in handy.

Some laptops come with international warranties (Toshiba do).

In terms of drive space, say 250MB lossless compression x 500 = 125GB, which will max out your hard drive. For travel, space is usually at a premium, so maybe a 2.5" external drive without a power supply would be a good choice.

Personally, I'd just get a laptop overseas, if I were spending a lot of time in one country, else buy one here, no less than 2 months before going overseas.

ModuleOverload

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#150705 23-Jul-2008 17:34

"In terms of drive space, say 250MB lossless compression x 500 = 125GB, which will max out your hard drive".

I'm a novice when it comes to stuff like this. Yes I'd like to load all of the music on without any loss in sound quality. When you load music onto itunes is it a lossless compression?

Thanks for your help.

nairda

140 posts

Master Geek

#150711 23-Jul-2008 17:57

It will be if you encode them in Apple Lossless format.

Jonski

265 posts

Ultimate Geek

#150715 23-Jul-2008 18:27

If it were me, for a travelling PC, I'd go get an Asus Eee PC or other subnotebook, get a USB external drive (say, 80 - 120 Gb) and a pair of small external speakers of good quality.

You get portability, capacity and music performance, all at a good price. You get to keep your data on a drive you can carry on your person when you're on the road (so if the PC gets stolen from your baggage, you get to keep the data. Heck, get two drives and keep one completely seperate from the other) and you don't have to put up with the tinny speakers almost all laptops have. You get to easily connect to any wireless lan in you have access to and you don't have to lug all the weight of a fullblown laptop.

Check out www.pricespy.co.nz to find one at a good price.

Oh, and sign up for skydrive or similar (gmail etc) for Internet storage- just in case averything goes pear-shaped. On that put high-quality scans of your travel documents (passports, visas, tickets) and anything else you'd need in a hurry. Obviously, official agencies won't accept those images as real documents, but it will help if the originals get lost or stolen.

Cheers
Jon

I reject your reality and substitute my own!
- Adam Savage, Mythbuster

timestyles

424 posts

Ultimate Geek

#150737 23-Jul-2008 19:45

Does the eee-pc have a modem? Depending on the country, Wi-fi may be common or scarce. Thankfully we no longer have the problem where a screen won't show colours properly in a different hemisphere due to magnetic fields.

Jonski

265 posts

Ultimate Geek

#150749 23-Jul-2008 20:24

timestyles: Does the eee-pc have a modem? Depending on the country, Wi-fi may be common or scarce.

No, but that's moot, there is no guarantee that phone standards are similar between countries, and just like you need a telepermited phone here, you often need a special modem for each country. Get an external one if you need it. A bit of research on compatibility with the countries you're planning on travelling to is required here, and also check with your own ISP about international roaming access.

timestyles: Thankfully we no longer have the problem where a screen won't show colours properly in a different hemisphere due to magnetic fields.

That problem only applies to old tube technology- not LCDs. I can't imagine taking a CRT on a trip with me! In fact, can anyone name a portable PC that uses a CRT manufactured in the last 15 years?

Cheers
Jon

I reject your reality and substitute my own!
- Adam Savage, Mythbuster