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: 26 May 2009 by QTT
quote:
Originally posted 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.

Just out-of-curiosity, how can you achieve digital audio out from a dell laptop via a docking station? and why you would want to do it if you can do it via a USB port?
Posted on: 27 May 2009 by nap-ster
quote:
Originally posted by QTT:
quote:
Originally posted 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.

Just out-of-curiosity, how can you achieve digital audio out from a dell laptop via a docking station? and why you would want to do it if you can do it via a USB port?


1. Well I have a Latitude D820 and the supplied docking station has a co-ax SPDIF.

2. Not all DAC's have a USB in.
Posted on: 27 May 2009 by QTT
quote:
Originally posted by nap-ster
1. Well I have a Latitude D820 and the supplied docking station has a co-ax SPDIF.

And it does digital audio "out" or in or both? If it does digital audio out, can you adjust the output parameters?
Posted on: 27 May 2009 by nap-ster
quote:
Originally posted by QTT:
quote:
Originally posted by nap-ster
1. Well I have a Latitude D820 and the supplied docking station has a co-ax SPDIF.

And it does digital audio "out" or in or both? If it does digital audio out, can you adjust the output parameters?


I'm pretty sure it's out only.
Posted on: 27 May 2009 by QTT
quote:
Originally posted by nap-ster:
I'm pretty sure it's out only.

Interesting. How does it work? i.e What laptop's port is connected to this SPDIF? Do you need to install any driver? Can you change the output parameters, for instance to 96/24? What is the sound quality?
Posted on: 28 May 2009 by nap-ster
quote:
Originally posted by QTT:
quote:
Originally posted by nap-ster:
I'm pretty sure it's out only.

Interesting. How does it work? i.e What laptop's port is connected to this SPDIF? Do you need to install any driver? Can you change the output parameters, for instance to 96/24? What is the sound quality?

The connection is made using the docking connector on the base of the laptop. Mine worked straight out of the box. I couldn't really cooment on the sound quality as I was only using it as a mini desktop set up. Mind you, digital is digital isn't it? (light the blue touch paper etc etc).