Best Laptops for Pro Tools LE

[ptrbas]

With only one firewire port you can do it like this. Quote from Digidesign.

If only one port is available, connect the drives to the CPU, then connect the Digi 002 to the drives

[executivos]

I know but I thought that hooking it up like that will bring down the performance a bit...

[Datus]

I just saw that 17" Widescreen Toshiba laptop at Best Buy. Man that thing is beautiful. Does anyone know much about the specs on the processor, and the chipset? Also can you connect the 002 via the 4 pin firewire? Because thats all it has, but I would be up for buying a firewire pc card anyways.

[executivos]

my notebook has the 4 pin firewire...thats not a problem at all. whether the firewire port will work well is questionable...you're supposed to get an approved firewire card. I got lucky with mine. I think there are many more out there that will work but digi only lists 4 on their site.

Anyway to use the one with your notebook you just need a 6 pin to 4 pin firewire cable. These are easier to find then 6 pin to 6 pin firewire because it's the cable you need to connect a video camera as well. finding them cheap is different. some places want like 50 bucks which is ridiculous. buy them online from pricewatch or ebay and they should be under $10.

[Datus]

Thanks, i actually have like 5 of those cables, cause i do a lot of DV stuff. Thats great to hear.

[Allen Hallada]

I just saw that 17" Widescreen Toshiba laptop at Best Buy. Man that thing is beautiful. Does anyone know much about the specs on the processor, and the chipset? Also can you connect the 002 via the 4 pin firewire? Because thats all it has, but I would be up for buying a firewire pc card anyways.

I have seen three versions of this laptop. One with 2.4Ghz, one with 2.8Ghz, and one with 3Ghz P4 Northwood. They run off the 865PE chipset with 512MB DDR SDRAM. I like this setup alot. Hope someone gets one of these and does some testing on it. The Toshiba website only lists the 2.8Ghz version but I'd stick with the lower costing 2.4Ghz. I think there was about a 400.00 difference.

Allen

[xlr26]

I just got the Toshiba P25-S507 (2.8Ghz). Haven't had a chance to test it out yet, maybe tomorrow. Btw, I never saw a 2.4 in the one of their widescreen laptops. Anyway, any suggestions for a second HD? THe sys drive is only 4200rpm so I figure I'm not get the best results w/out a second HD. PLus, I'm gonna be using the P25 as my main computer for everything, so I'd like to have a dedicated audio drive regardless...NOt sure if I should go internal/external. It has module bays for an optional HD etc., but I'm wondering if I'd be limited to another 4200rpm dirve if I went that route. I dunno. ANy thoughts? Thanks...

[Datus]

Well considering that you can get a 5400 in the slightly higher model, I am sure you can add a 5400 to the modular bay. I would go external myself though, just to make it movable.

Hurry up and test that baby, if you get good results I am sold on it. Also are you using an MBox or a 002?

Matter of fact depending on your results I may sell my desktop...maybe...

Do you know with the VGA out can it support it as a second display, or just instead of the LCD?

[Shan]

Cant wait to see those results on the Toshiba. Im looking at that one myself. It looks like Im going to get this one and try it out first. Its the hp pavilion zd7001us widescreen notebook pc. It wont be released untill September. Here are the stats:

• Intel® Pentium® 4 processor with HT Technology 3.06GHz, 533MHz
• 80GB hard drive, 512MB DDR SDRAM
• DVD+R/RW and CD-RW combo drive
• 17.0" WXGA+ TFT widescreen display
• NVIDIA® GeForce™ FX Go5600 video card

Shan

[Allen Hallada]

Cant wait to see those results on the Toshiba. Im looking at that one myself. It looks like Im going to get this one and try it out first. Its the hp pavilion zd7001us widescreen notebook pc. It wont be released untill September. Here are the stats:

• Intel® Pentium® 4 processor with HT Technology 3.06GHz, 533MHz
• 80GB hard drive, 512MB DDR SDRAM
• DVD+R/RW and CD-RW combo drive
• 17.0" WXGA+ TFT widescreen display
• NVIDIA® GeForce™ FX Go5600 video card

Shan

Hey Shan,
I made a mistake on the Toshiba above. I was thinking of this HP Laptop with the 3Ghz processor. I saw it online the other night. This thing does look impressive. I agree with everyone else here on replacing your desktops with these new 17" Laptops. I'm loving mine right now and it runs silent.
Spent some time on the Toshiba again today and couldn't believe how fast that thing ran. HP will probably utilize the JBL Pro speaker that they are sticking in the Compaq 1000 series right now. They are amazing for the size. No need for desktops anymore.

Allen