Fireface800 & HP Laptop - Happy marriage?

[ThatOlBluesSound]

Hi folks!

I found a good deal on a HP Laptop which I'd like to use with a FF800.
Take a look at the specs and please share your thoughts.


Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 (Santa Rosa) - Cache 4MB - 2,0GHz - FSB 667MHz;

2 x 1024MB DDRII 667Mhz (Not expandable);

HDD 160GB 5400rpm;

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 up to 256 MB shared

DVD Writer Lightscribe Super Multi (+/-R +/-RW)

BrightView High Definition WXGA de 15,4 pol.;1280 x 800;

Windows Vista Home Premium;


1 VGA;
3 USB 2.0;
1 IEEE-1394 with (RICOH Chipset);
1 RJ 11;
1 RJ 45;
1 S-video TV;

3D Sound Blaster Pro
Altec Lansing speakers;

Modem 56 k, de alta velocidade;
Ethernet 10/100BT;

Wireless LAN Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/b/g;

ExpressCard/54 (supports also ExpressCard/34);

Li-Ion 6 cll battery lasts 2/3 hours;



Le me know what you think please, ups and downs...

Thanks

[Ashofapheonix]

Picking a laptop for audio is sort of hard. HP doesn't make laptops, nor does dell, or Apple, or Gateway. Their all using other companies like Quanta, Uniwill (ECS), Clevo, Asus. So really you can't just say one brand is better than the otehr since the makers they use for each model they put out is different Designer or manufacturer from the next. Basically if your laying down a few tracks, most laptops will work provided theres not IRQ sharing ect going on, and you have an express card. If your doing serious audio work (like lots of soft synths/samples, or quite a few audio tracks with plugs) you should look into something that people have had success with. Getting a laptop thats certified for Digidesigns FW interface, whetehr your using protools or not is a good idea, since it says the laptop is capable at least of doing audio. Other options is pick up a laptop from a good DAW vendor, like Sonica or ADK...

The problems with most laptops, isn't too do with system power but more to do with resource sharing, and poorly written bios, the other is poor choice of internal chipsets like the allin one chipset, and firewire chipset. Most part laptops when designed weren't designed for work station use but rather just business (office pc's) or average home use stuff. Because of resource sharing, laptops are usually prone too pops and clicks ect while recording, ect. but this stuff is rarely an issue if your running 10-12 tracks with one or two plugs.

As for the rest of it, just make sure you have enough ram, and a fast enough hard drive. If the internal hard drive is 5400rpm getting a dedicated 7200rpm hard drive for recording VIA E-SATA if possible, other wise Firewire is going help performance a lot Most CPU's, that don't say celeron or possibly AMD (though this is more chipset issures) are okay for audio.

Best of luck to you, and I hope this helps.

P.S. A Ricoh Chipset raises a yellow flag with me, most Ricoh chipset laptops are okay at best. texas instruments firewire is far better option.

[minus-sounds.com]

Originally Posted by Ashofapheonix

P.S. A Ricoh Chipset raises a yellow flag with me, most Ricoh chipset laptops are okay at best. texas instruments firewire is far better option.

I would only recoment a Texas Instruments chipset, although I had good luck with a VIA chipset firewire PCMCIA that I have used with the Fireface 800. But still my PCMCIA chipset was Texas Instr. Now I have a LaCie 800 PCMCIA that uses a Texas Instr. chipset.
YMMV