Very clear answer: NO! MacBooks have two very serious features. Through the in-house development of hardware and software are Macbook and operating system (MacOS) perfectly matched (feature = 1). And that is what makes Apple also extremely cost (= characteristic 2).
Now the savvy DJ has two options. Either he buys a lot of money for a MBP, must be dealt with as good as a thing and can get started almost plug-n-Play. Or he can / does not want to invest so much, then selects a Windows-based system and comes with a little hand and previous research to create a similarly stable and powerful device.
In this two part article we will give you a few helpful tips, fundamentals and optimization options that your Windows-based laptop fit for the DJ booth. Due to the large number of possible combinations in Windows systems, we can unfortunately be no ultimate, universal tip, which is why the following points be considered rather as a decision aid - the final choice is left to each one yourself.
The CPU - Intel or AMD Lich intelligently?
We advise on each case to an Intel-core, preferably a Core2Duo or one of the new "i" processors. The slightly older Pentium dual core CPUs are also doing well technically efficient, but generate more heat at full load, which could be in hot atmosphere may become a problem, for a possible overheating of the system, or similar symptoms.
Of Atom processors (usually found in netbooks) and AMD cores is currently advised against as many programs and devices (controller, audio interface, etc ...) are not supported or have some bad problems with it. Audio dropouts, hardware failure or complete failure of the software may be the result. Several hardware manufacturers advise in their system requirements of some devices even explicitly on AMD CPUs, eg Reloop or Vestax.
So: Intel Dual Core CPU with at least 2 GHz, preferably Core2Duo or Core i3 or i5 - or higher.
The display - Large gloss or matte mobile?
Bigger is better meets the DJ laptop is not always, because parallel to the display size increases, the size of laptop. And the latest in the search for a suitable bag / trolley etc. for the digital equipment, this boomerang to fly back evil, because here at laptop> 17 "pretty quickly fail due to the compatibility. A screen size between 13 "and max. 17 "has to be sufficient and, above all, proved to be transportable, with a 15" one is in the perfect midfield.
Actually more important than the size of the resolution. Here's my personal tip: Stay away from any new-fangled multimedia widescreen screens. For most DJ programs can not do much with the width, but you may have lost important pixels in height. Taking as an example of a tractor practice, the wide screen would make the deck a bit more time (read longer waveform), the bottom of the browser but remove some rows.
Third important aspect of the display surface. Meanwhile, there are unfortunately hardly dull displays in the lower to middle price segment. These have the great advantage that they reflect much less than their brothers shiny. For an open air gig on sunny Sunday afternoon or in the Blinkiblinki-disco light show with fatter directly behind the pulpit plays a dull shade of his socks. For Glare Glossy Shiny Blank screen flashes but there is a small Remedy: 3M Vikuiti display protection film. Does not cost the world makes the matte screen and is washable and reusable.
The power supply - no power without (whistling) sound!
Some will ask, what does it well with a Dell Inspiron 1521 AC Adapter, which is usually is supplied to note is already great? Simple: this at first glance inconspicuous part can develop into an absolute troublemaker. Namely if and only if it comes through the Dell Inspiron 1520 AC Adapter to a nasty hum. This is due in almost all cases, the so-called shock-proof plug. Power supplies with such a large, round connectors are devices of protection class I and have a grounding wire as the third, which can generate a potential difference between the connected devices and this leads to a non-hazardous, but clearly audible charge balance. This manifests itself as hum audibly noticeable and can significantly reduce the fun of hanging up when not even bring it to a halt.
Therefore, the Tip: if possible eighth on it that the laptop has a Dell Studio 1737 AC Adapter with a flat Euro plug (these power supplies are Class II, if you find any details on the connector). Such power supplies are also third-party products to be purchased separately if you already bought a notebook, which has a bad Dell Inspiron 5150 AC Adapter connector.
Note: how to find out whether in fact the PSU is to blame for the noise? Quite simply, by separating the laptop from the Dell Inspiron E1405 AC Adapter, and tests on battery power. Then the hum / whistle no longer exists, it is definitely on the aforementioned phenomenon, and a Class II Dell Latitude D820 AC Adapter provides the quick fix.
The operating system - who bitet more?
Windows XP is coming to an end. And not just in terms of availability, but also in terms of compatibility with new laptops. So, it is just in the lower and mid-priced hard to find a notebook on which XP can operate without restriction.
Based on our experience with Vista this system may give us a very clear no, and therefore recommend definitely to Windows 7 It is then only the last question, whether there is a 32 - or 64-bit system should be / may. Except for the restriction of the maximum amount of memory (with 32-bit with 3 GB is closing) currently speaks nothing against a 32-bit system, and by implication also nothing special for a 64-bit OS. The software (Serato / Itch, Traktor, Ableton Live, etc. ...) it is mostly matter, and when the hardware is 32-bit on the safe (er) s side, which compatible and primarily stable drivers . The most common hardware-makers have in terms of 64-bit now reloading properly, so their (at least newer) devices can be also operated properly.
We state: operating system, Windows 7 is recommended, preferably in the 32-bit version, with an option to switch to 64-bit.
The graphics card - all on board?
More important than the decision of whether "external" card or onboard chip is much more of the chip manufacturer and the necessary drivers. For some time driver for nVidia chips are used, the clock automatically depending on the graphics requirements, and thus cause some irregularities in the system, which manifests itself by placing the audio drop outs or similar errors evident. Remedy other driver versions or alternatives of external programmers, let the driver switch is set to a specific performance and prevent the dynamic up-and down cycles so from the ground up.
In general: DJ tools have no special demands on the graphics card, so it also does not arrive at a particularly powerful component and an onboard graphics chip means no harm. However, in solutions of onboard graphics memory constantly diverted from the regular RAM, which is due to the small size required an estimated 100 - 200 MB should do little more noticeable.
The hard drive - big enough to iSSD?
For hard drives, more recently, a new concept makes the rounds: SSD. Meant here are flash memory data like tanks, fast access time and damage-resistant (because no mechanical parts inside) Operating promise. Sounds pretty tempting at first, but has two drawbacks: first, still very expensive and secondly, no long-term experience. Who is afraid of the investment but not to draw more benefits from this experience as an inconvenience.
Most are still the "classical" HD's installed from the factory, which, compared to SSD, no real performance disadvantage, however, means a significant price savings. It would be important here only to inform themselves in advance about the speed and the resulting access times. This should be at least in the middle range or higher are.
The peripheral - USBedingt necessary?
In terms of peripherals to Windows laptops play one of their great strengths, namely the number of available USB ports in comparison to the MacBook. And have a DJ can never have enough free USB ports. Current standard is still USB 2.0, although now also appear more laptops that come up with the new USB 3 standard. As there is currently still as good as any controller or audio interfaces with USB3 is, and this is probably the next one - not two years changes, this feature can be ignored. And already the first down-Inkomatibilit?ten have emerged: the NI Kontrol S4, for example, has bad problems with the operation on a USB3 port, which also explicitly mentioned by the manufacturer. From this: Stay away from USB3, or at least do not view as a pro-reason to buy!
The topic of Firewire plays the DJ field now as good as no longer relevant, so you can ignore this connection option of buying. All the latest digital equipment for the trailers are equipped with USB ports, and do so very reliable service. The transmission rate and bandwidth of USB (2.0) is really more than enough.
In conclusion, we say that - as mentioned earlier - is no single solution or a special tip. For circulating just too many combinations, and the availability of suitable and less suitable folding computers is changing almost daily. But anyone who takes the above points a little to get the heart, for relatively narrow money absolutely DJ-grade system that is for today, tomorrow and next year to perform reliably potent and its services.
Incidentally, it must not necessarily be a new device: who does not shy away from the research and can bring a little patience will find on the used market many suitable devices with many of the properties proposed for small coin. And we believe one thing: to look at it comes really zero point zero, the laptop is in live operation sooner or later anyway gotten some bruises. With a quote from this video: "It's the inside that counts!"
In the second part will be to provide general information for DJ use, the operating system's optimization tips and other helpful information to keep your laptop lasting fit. For even the most fantastic facade can not get over comfort, if the occupant is plagued by Messy syndrome.
