Looking for a laptop/desktop - help!
Bethaneeny
Posts: 10,094 Forum Member
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I'll start by saying I have absolutely no idea about technology!
I've just finished uni, and my laptop has broken - it's a Dell 15R. It doesn't charge, doesn't turn on - I've put a different battery in it and it's still broken, so my dad and brother came, took it to pieces and told me my laptop is no more
I'm on my partner's macbook at the minute, but something like this is way above my budget. I'm not wanting to spend anymore than £600, at the absolute most.
I'm undecided on laptop/desktop, I no longer need to take it to uni with me, so the portability of a laptop isn't important anymore. I've had 2 laptops in the past 6 years, and it seems a desktop would last me a lot longer!
It'll be used for composing music, and then just Facebook, youtube, netflix etc.
Any advice/directions to point me in/things to avoid?
Thanks
I've just finished uni, and my laptop has broken - it's a Dell 15R. It doesn't charge, doesn't turn on - I've put a different battery in it and it's still broken, so my dad and brother came, took it to pieces and told me my laptop is no more
I'm on my partner's macbook at the minute, but something like this is way above my budget. I'm not wanting to spend anymore than £600, at the absolute most.
I'm undecided on laptop/desktop, I no longer need to take it to uni with me, so the portability of a laptop isn't important anymore. I've had 2 laptops in the past 6 years, and it seems a desktop would last me a lot longer!
It'll be used for composing music, and then just Facebook, youtube, netflix etc.
Any advice/directions to point me in/things to avoid?
Thanks
0
Comments
2 laptops in 6 years, are you a bit rough on them?
nope, I had a compaq that stopped charging, and my Dell that won't turn on or charge (that was on its second battery, the first one stopped holding charge and only worked plugged in, therefore no use in lectures) Both were used on a daily basis for hours at a time.
But in general the vast majority of the public don't need anything particularly powerful. The important things are in my view: the keyboard the screen and the reliability/guarantee.
Quietness is a good thing, especially important on a laptop.
Laptops often have terrible screens, with a desktop PC you can often buy the base unit/monitor seperate from each other and get a really nice/large monitor. A technology that provides really nice screens is called "IPS"
The memory/processor/hard drive etc etc, who cares? Anything recent is bound to be fine unless you are into high-end games, video editing, simulation of nuclear physics...
Maybe look on Amazon since reviews on there are useful.
Or maybe buy a refurbished machine for cheap. a refurb desktop PC is often of significant power.
You could still buy a new IPS monitor to go with a base unit. Check compatibility.
Several big name online retailers do refurb desktop PCs quite cheap.
Back to your requirements; why not an iPad? You can do everything you want including music; the GarageBand app is free and amazing.
I compose on a programme called Sibelius
What program will you be using and at what level will you be composing music?
The industry standard (but not exclusivley) for music production is Logic Pro but this will only run on Macs, although a Mac mini is available within your buget.
i had a Dell 1545 that wouldn't get pass the bios before switching off.
got a board off eBay for £30 and its running sweet now
Composing and production are two different things.
Sibelius is the industry standard for composing music.
Windows:
32- or 64-bit Windows 7 (SP1 or later) or Windows 8 (not Windows RT)
1+ GB of RAM
750 MB hard disk space for Sibelius software only; 36 GB additional hard disk space for the Sibelius Sounds library (optional installation)
DVD-ROM drive (box versions only)
Mac:
Mac OS X 10.6.7, 10.7, 10.8, or 10.9
1+ GB of RAM
750 MB hard disk space for Sibelius software only; 36 GB additional hard disk space for the Sibelius Sounds library (optional installation)
DVD-ROM drive (box versions only)
You could consider a Mac Mini but looking at the Sibelius website, it seems it runs better on Windows and a few issues running the OS X version of it. Make sure you look at the student discount version if you are interested.
To that end, I'd recommend buying a desktop. Looking at PC World, there are plenty on sale right now that are in budget and way more spec than you'll ever need. I'd look on their website.
This is one example: http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/desktop-pc-monitors/desktop-pcs/desktop-pcs/hp-pavilion-500-242ea-desktop-pc-21907330-pdt.html
http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/1083583.htm
I never said they weren't? I was merely responding to the claim that Logic Pro is the standard.
It depends what you buy. A single brand can have many different brands of differing quality.
A Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon would be considered a high quality machine for example but also costs a lot more than what you bought.
...and the good news is that it can be tamed and made workable by the free Classic Shell download.
Laptops can be moved around the house easily (or even outdoors or to friends of course)
They also consume less power. I would recommend a laptop.
Music composition shouldn't stress any modern one unduly.
If you want to do high end video editing and the latest games then a desktop may be more suitable.
I have no idea really too and just followed a YouTube video to change without any issue.
CS is OK.
For less than the price of a pint, StartIsBack looks like it actually belongs there and has every conceivable W7 taskbar feature. Even the MS start menu is there.
It looks awesome with the Aero 8 Flat appearance style. CS looks grievous in comparision, very pre-2009 (W7).
Get a windows 8 laptop - I've been advised against windows 8, but on my day off I'm going to go look at some and see how I get on with it.
Get my brother to build me a desktop with windows 7 - I've not used a desktop for years, and again I'm going to use my parents and get a feel for it.
Buy my partner's macbook off her (She got a new one and is selling this one anyway, she's just lent it to me until I'm sorted). It's a 2011 macbook pro, she's selling it for £750 but would give it to me for £500ish, she would take a lot less but I don't want her to be massively out of pocket!
Which would you guys go for?
That has to be your choice - static desktop or portable laptop/Macbook and, if necessary, then try out a Windows 8 laptop and make a decision between the Windows laptop and the Macbook. Bear in mind shhftw's comment above that Windows 8 can be made to look and function like Windows 7 for just £1.76 ($2.99): http://startisback.com/ http://startisback.com/#buy-tab (it gets good user reviews)