Modartt user forum - New laptop purchase for PianoTeq

Re: New laptop purchase for PianoTeq

2018-04-13T03:55:23Z

music_guy wrote:

Some music producers just buy off-lease, used professional laptops for ~$300. There has been no "barn-busting"' tech in the laptop space for a while so used is a good option. See post #3 for an example (but you don't need to get that specific model HP):
https://www.gearslutz.com/board/music-c...800us.html
Intel uses confusing marketing terms (like i7 which includes some good chips and some garbage) so don't get too hung up on those.

Took your advice and ordered a certified refurbished HP with i5-4300U and SSD. Should arrive this weekend. I'll keep you posted.

Re: New laptop purchase for PianoTeq

2018-04-07T15:08:11Z

Some music producers just buy off-lease, used professional laptops for ~$300. There has been no "barn-busting"' tech in the laptop space for a while so used is a good option. See post #3 for an example (but you don't need to get that specific model HP):

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/music-c...800us.html

Intel uses confusing marketing terms (like i7 which includes some good chips and some garbage) so don't get too hung up on those.

Re: New laptop purchase for PianoTeq

2018-04-07T06:57:15Z

Groove On wrote:

Or a low end Pentium like this Minix Mini PC with a Pentium N4200.
- Realistically US$500+

Yes, N4200 seems to be a good entry CPU. Recently tried a fanless notebook Acer Aspire 1, that was available for 199 EUR in a sale. Performance index 43 on Pianoteq v6.0.3:

http://www.forum-pianoteq.com/viewtopic...11#p952111

Re: New laptop purchase for PianoTeq

2018-04-07T06:03:15Z

- This thread gives a good overview of what you might expect from different CPUs.

- Depending on your threshold for "good performance" an upper-end Celeron might work - you can find systems for around US$300. Or a low end Pentium like this Minix Mini PC with a Pentium N4200.

- Realistically US$500+

New laptop purchase for PianoTeq

2018-04-07T05:30:03Z

So, I'm new to software-based pianos, but looking for a replacement (hopefully upgrade) from my long-in-the-tooth kurzweil micropiano. I thought I had a laptop to assign to PianoTeq-only duties, but it turns out it is more broken than I realized. So, planning to buy something new.

I'd love to buy something for under $300. I am most comfortable with Win7, but have enough experience with Ubuntu that I could move in that direction if needed. I'd be interested too in the Raspberry Pi/Chromebook/lightweight-computer solutions, but don't want to be alpha-testing bleeding edge solutions. After all, my kids need to practice piano from time to time.

Also, I plan to use a Behringer UMC204HD I have, so the audio IO will likely be off-board.

So, what sort of laptops should I consider? Celeron? i5 or better? AMD-based? SSD?

Many thanks!

Ken