new pc laptop

Posted by: scottyhammer on 25 May 2009

Hi All,

Just want to pick your brains guys...im after a pc (non mac) laptop.
The laptop will be used for two main purposes at work doing routine word processing and reports using word / excell etc. out and about and linked to my main desktop pc.
The other task will be to use the laptop as an interface with i-tunes and a dac to the main naim system (this is a grey area for me)
My question is what connections /ports am i looking for on the laptop to do all of this efficiently without fuss.
I have my eye on a dell studio 15 which has loads of ports and a nice touch is a backlit keyboard which will be handy when listening to music at night. I will get the fastest processor that i can with the most ram available that i do know i must have. please feel free to give me some suggestions.
Thanks, Scotty.
Posted on: 25 May 2009 by JamieWednesday
Scotty, lots and lots of options!

What's your budget? and preference for box/screen size?

(I've been doing lots of research recently for a 2nd laptop ...)
Posted on: 25 May 2009 by scottyhammer
Hi Jamie,

Im looking at 15" screen with a budget up to £800 ish. but im more concerned as i said about connections to use a dac through hi-fi.
like the look of the dell studio 15.

Scotty
Posted on: 25 May 2009 by Guido Fawkes
You know you can dual boot a MacBook so it can do both.

I'm no expert on PC laptops, but I have used a Dell one at work and it was rubbish - probably the worst computer I've ever used. The Sony VAIO was excellent though, built like a tank. Others I have had to use were Fujitsu (quite reasonable) and HP (OK), but if I had to use a PC then I'd go for a VAIO - only Windoze computer I've used that didn't need lots of rebooting.

The Dell was very badly made and bits of it fell off; I'd never buy or recommend one. The support form Dell was mediocre too.

Not sure if that helps.

ATB Rotf
Posted on: 25 May 2009 by scottyhammer
Rotf,

How long ago were you using the Dell as i suspect they have come on leaps and bounds recently. Which vaio ? theres so many!!
Cheers, Scotty.
Posted on: 25 May 2009 by Signals UK
Hi Scotty. Must admit that the only two Dell laptop buyers that I know (both within the last 12-18 months) have indicated that they would not repeat the experience.

In fairness, both machines are fairly low end in the £300-500 band and both in the hands of 18 year olds.

I'm too much of a mac user to know much else, although we bought Andy, my colleague, a Toshiba a year or so back and it has been fine. Well, apart from the reinstall . . .

Alastair
Posted on: 25 May 2009 by scottyhammer
Does anyone know what ports/connections im looking for to connect to a dac/hi-fi which would be a big factor in my decision.
scotty
Posted on: 25 May 2009 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by scottyhammer:
Rotf,

How long ago were you using the Dell as i suspect they have come on leaps and bounds recently. Which vaio ? theres so many!!
Cheers, Scotty.
Sorry Scotty - I don't know enough about the ports to advise - just saying how much better built the VAIOs are than Dells. It was 6 years ago that I had a Dell laptop, we seem to change supplier every three years. However, we have to use some modern Dell servers and the build quality of those is not exactly great - we also use HP servers, which are very much better. Dell is not a company I would buy from.

ATB Rotf
Posted on: 25 May 2009 by tonym
Although I've never owned a Dell laptop, before my four-year-old Dell desktop PC went tits up earlier in the year the backup from Dell I thought was excellent.

But you know what most of us are going to recommend Dave. Having gone from said PC to an iMac and used both for streaming iTunes to a DAC, the Mac is considerably better. Plus it's a wonderful computer anyway.

Seems you don't like the idea of one?
Posted on: 26 May 2009 by QTT
I do not think that you can get digital audio out from a Dell laptop unless you want to use USB.
Posted on: 26 May 2009 by nap-ster
quote:
Originally posted by QTT:
I do not think that you can get digital audio out from a Dell laptop unless you want to use USB.


You can through a docking station.
Posted on: 26 May 2009 by scottyhammer
Tony,

Its not the fact that i dont want a mac but dont really want the hassle of integrating my pc desktop in my office with the mac - 2 conflicting systems and all that and i know you can integrate them but just dont fancy the hassle.
I naturally thought that a pc laptop would work just as well with my desktop and the i-tunes/dac.
Unless i just get an ipod touch as an interface for the dac.?
Thanks all of you for the responses anyway.
Scotty
Posted on: 26 May 2009 by Clay Bingham
Seriously, unless you're really into mediocrity or the initial cost issue cannot be overcome, there is simply no good reason to buy a PC of any make. The IS types at big businesses and government make a lot of money keeping them running smoothly but you can't afford that maintenance on your own computer. In the US Apple continues to go from strength to strength while all things PC just languish. They're tomorrow's GM. They just don't know it yet.
Posted on: 26 May 2009 by fatcat
Why not buy a basic laptop for the work side of things and a turntable for the music side of things. A turntable will wipe the floor with either a PC or MAC laptop in terms of musical performance. Smile
Posted on: 26 May 2009 by Diccus62
Scotty

You go into a Ferrari showroom and someone tries to sell you a Lamborghini Roll Eyes Winker
Posted on: 26 May 2009 by scottyhammer
Fatcat,
You are jesting....arent you!
I have one of the most famous LP12s on the planet - everybody knows that. Winker
Scotty.
Posted on: 26 May 2009 by fatcat
quote:
Originally posted by Diccus62:
Scotty

You go into a Ferrari showroom and someone tries to sell you a Lamborghini Roll Eyes Winker


Nothing wrong with that. Unless you specifically stated I DON’T WANT A LAMBORGHINI. Big Grin
Posted on: 26 May 2009 by scottyhammer
I still havent got an answer for the port...would it be the SPDIF ? (optical digital audio) Roll Eyes
Posted on: 26 May 2009 by fatcat
quote:
Originally posted by scottyhammer:
Fatcat,
You are jesting....arent you!
I have one of the most famous LP12s on the planet - everybody knows that. Winker
Scotty.


Yes, I am jesting and I didnt know that.
Posted on: 26 May 2009 by tonym
(Photo opportunity, photo opportunity....)
Posted on: 26 May 2009 by scottyhammer
Ring any bells ?






Posted on: 26 May 2009 by scottyhammer
one to keep Adam happy! Winker


Posted on: 26 May 2009 by scottyhammer
Now where were we. ? oh yeah...laptops
Posted on: 26 May 2009 by garyi
I am not up on PC laptops bit basically for the most compatibility you want an SPDIF output on the laptop, all modern mac laptops have this and I would imagine certain PC laptops will as well.

Then the next best thing I guess is USB and firewire, all laptops will have USB, not sure on firewire.
Posted on: 26 May 2009 by scottyhammer
At last!! cheers Garyi. Cool
Posted on: 26 May 2009 by fatcat
quote:
Originally posted by garyi:
basically for the most compatibility you want an SPDIF output on the laptop,


Would it be compatable with a DAC that doesn't have a SPDIF input????????