Karaoke Forums

I am currently in the market for a new computer for my kj business. I'm currently using a Dell Inspiron 1000, but it can't hold enough RAM, so I have to upgrade. I'm looking to spend about 500.00 or less. I can get a refurbished laptop with 2gb ram for that price, I'll be using an external harddrive for all of my music, and video. I can also get a desktop with 3gb ram, under 500.00. My current laptop has 720mb of ram, but I think it can't even use all of that. I am running Compuhost, and have had problems with "lagging", and have to play back my karaoke in Standard mode in order for the tracking to be syncronized with the lyrics. THAT SUCKS, if you buy such a highly advanced hosting program, you want to use ALL of the options. So, I am looking for some input as to WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES that I should be looking for. I will also be using a karaoke player hooked up to the computer to play discs, and dvd's. Pro's and Con's of each (laptop vs desktop) would be helpful. Also any input on Windows XP vs Windows Vista Home Premium for karaoke use. Also looking to have a 17" monitor. NOT LOOKING FOR a build it yourself, NOR a Gaming PC for 1500.00, Or a rack built for whatever price. Any suggestions are appreciated, as usual.

Thanks,
Rosario

Personal preference really. Desktop you have more to carry, but they are usually cheaper initially & can be customized & serviced much easier by yourself.
Laptops are definitely more convenient.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Go with the laptop. You'll be glad you did after you lug around a desktop for awhile. There's really no other disadvantage to going the desktop route other than the weight/setup. Do get at least 2gb of RAM whichever you go with and try to go with XP if you can. It'll take up less RAM with less chance for errors.

I went from a laptop to a desktop when I got a better case for equipment. I find the desktop easier to maintain and it cuts a lot of connections I have to make. If I didn't have a permanent PC installed in my case I'd still be using a laptop.

The only major difference between the two was the PC display. IMO the only advantage the laptop has is the built in display, making it easier to setup and run. But of you're looking for extensibility with sound, video, etc. then you need something other than a laptop.

I'm going out on a limb and saying what OS you choose isn't really relevant. I have been running vista with no issues for over a year. Just turn off all the auto-update crap no matter what OS you use. Personally I prefer Vista anymore because of the better memory management and application isolation but I haven't had a problem with the OS at all (on either the laptop or rack mount). I test run a department that tests PC applications so my setup is very solid, perhaps more so since I have a team of people telling me what I need to avoid.

Best thing I can say is evaluate your work flow and get the best solution to fit it. For me it used to be a laptop and now it's a desktop. That might change for me in the future, who knows.

if you're going to go for the "refurbished" laptop, make certain you have the extended video (SOME kind of 2ndary monitor to put your karaoke screen on)... some of the refurbished units I've seen don't have that.

Everyone knows my dislike for the laptops. I'm not saying they won't work, but I find the customization of the desktop units to be easier and far more supportive for our needs.

Spotted Cat said:

I disagree. There are micro ATX desktops, or just small desktops. All of these you can build with more speed, capacity, memory, drive space etc. for usually LESS than half of what you would spend on a laptop if you build it yourself. Total cost is about $400-450.

laptop components are designed to be lighter, smaller and consequently fail more often/sooner.

If a power supply goes out on your laptop - you ship it out or wait days
If your monitor goes on your laptop - you ship it out or wait days
If your soundcard goes out... get a USB one

On a desktop, you can replace literally ANYTHING the next day at your local store.

This is why my system is a desktop and not a laptop. I also don't have to lug a table or use someone else's since the bottom of my system holds the cables and serves as its own "stand" as it were. The "footprint" of my system is about 16" wide and about 20" long.

I use a laptop as the "emergency backup" only.

Plus the time you spend building it. I have been an electronics tech since 1977, but I don't build my own computers. It doesn't make sense. And you can get a laptop that will serve for $500-600 new. That is not double at all.


I disagree completely. Actually, they are designed to -- and do -- take much more abuse than desktops. Desktops are not designed nor stressed to be repeatedly relocated. Used the same way, the laptop rates to hold up better.


That part is true -- if you fix your own computers. Not everyone wants to at all, nor does it make sense to do so for most people.

But with a laptop, you can easily carry a spare in a small amount of space. I do so, one that has a subset of my entire library (most of the karaoke, only a couple of hundred DJ songs). If my main laptop ever fails -- and it has not yet -- I can bring it in and be up and running immediately.

_________________
[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

For karaoke or DJ only go laptop. If you want to do recording sessions or have shows with sophisticated normal volumes then go main frame. However with improved codecs and increased ram and larger internal hard drives, laptops are becoming adequate.

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

Why buy a refurbished computer when you can buy a new one for the price you mentioned?

Look at Deals2buy.com, they constantly have great deals on laptops-Compaq, HP, Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba, Gateway-you name it. Also check out Buy.com

I found the laptop I'm going to buy. HP Compaq Presario CQ60224NR, 3gb ram, 250gb harddrive. Using a 1tb external harddrive for my music, videos,etc. Computer has Vista Home Premium. I'll be running Compuhost, does anyone see any problems that I may run into with this setup? The reason I'm asking, is that I am currently running XP, and don't know how much difference Vista will make. Any imput?

Thanks

Rosario

The laptop you mention is running integrated graphics. This means Aero doesn't play well. As such I'd recommend against it.

Maybe I like overkill - but I would never get a computer be it laptop or desktop without a dedicated graphic chip/card.

If you have any intention of running a 2nd monitor at any sort of resolution - it will be worth it.

I'm running vista basic now and Compuhost runs fine on it. I have also installed it on my home computer which is running Vista Premium without issues.
Hope that helps.

_________________
The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

The system in question can run just about any karaoke system just fine with the graphics. If you can play World of Warcraft on the laptop you can certainly run a show on it. My rack PC is overkill for Karaoke but I just used my former (gaming) desktop guts to make it. While a real heavy duty video card is nice, it's not needed.

srnitynow: While the intel chipsets for integrated graphics lack many of the specialty features of the ATI and Nvidia it's a solid card for your needs . I can't speak for whatever software you're going to use but I doubt you will have pause with the performance.

What I would mention is this:

You will spend a lot of time with whatever you use, not just shows. You will add music constantly, and organise. With the laptop all you'll need do is open it up and get to work (from your comfy couch )

Obviously, a desktop will not work that way.

When I set up for shows, my only connection are an input to the s-video, and the USB input for the audio interface (which is already in the rack). I also have a stand to elevate the laptop, a cooling pad, and a mouse. I hate the laptop mouse pad, but that's my personal preferance.

I do four shows a week, and it is awesome!

_________________
Good music, good friends, howling good times!

Such an easy question, do doubt that a Laptop is the way to go Price dropped, hard drives keeps getting bigger and a good laptop will perform just has good as a desktop In fact, not even necessary to use an external drive, you can get a 500g, 2.5" drive, so basicly all you need is a spare (mirror) drive if anything goes wrong...

Yikes! Better hope your life is accident free!

It took me TWO MONTHS to transfer all my disks to my harddrive. I'd hate to think that if something happened to my computer (lost, stolen, dropped, natural disaster), I'd have to go through that again.

My way, if something happens to the laptop, I can buy a new one, reinstall the hosting software and plug in my external drive. I could be ready to host a gig in about 20 minutes that way.

Your way, you are definately going to be missing some gigs! Better hope you didn't take too many advanced deposits! (or your back to using disks... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! Shoot me now!)

_________________
Good music, good friends, howling good times!

Did you miss where he said he would mirror the drive?

Having only one copy of any drive -- external or internal -- is just begging for trouble. If you have one copy on an external drive you are just as much at risk.

_________________
[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Sure I did. I have mine mirrored too.

Take your mirror drive and start copying....

Meanwhile, I'll ... um... just plug my drive in... Done! Leaving for my gig now. See you in a couple of hours.

Either way will work fine, but I try to built the best defense against that evil Murphy guy.

_________________
Good music, good friends, howling good times!

So what was your reference to two months?

_________________
[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Anyone that runs a computer should have a backup somewhere, I have an external drive at the ready if needed. It gets updadated everytime I get new discs along with my show machine. My initial rip to computer time took almost 4 months, doing about 6-8 hours a day - not faithfully but mostly. No need to re-rip anything, get new computer load the software, plug the drive in - copy to new computer, good to go.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!