Musician/Graphic Designer looking for a GREAT laptop

[Achebe]

Musician/Graphic Designer looking for a GREAT laptop, got advice???

Hi I need help finding a laptop that suits my needs. I'm looking to buy a laptop for two purposes:

1) I want to begin doing professional quality audio recordings on my computer (I've worked in studios for years, but have only used my own computer for low-quality sound recording).
So with the laptop I will be using pro tools (most likely Pro Tools M-Powered software).

2) I do lots of graphic design work, using both Photoshop CS2 and QuarkXpress 6.5, so I would want a laptop that will function well with both those programs.

My budget, in Canadian Dollars, is roughly 2,500 to 3,000$. In USD I guess my limit would be roughly $2,800 (I guess the sooner I buy the better since the exchange rate is so close right now).

I'm open to both Macs and PCs. I've never used a Mac before (surprisingly, since one of my main sources of income is graphic design). Both computers I've owned recently were custom built and I'm aware that when I enter the realm of laptop I don't have as many options to "soup-up" my machine, so I would like to know which laptops come with more than I need already built-in.

I haven't done much research already, but I am aware that the Macbook Pro is a great computer (not sure how it is with studio recording capabilities/compatibility), and I also read about the LiveTracker MkII by Sonica (not sure how it is for graphic design stuff).

To be honest, I am more concerned about having a program that functions well with pro tools than anything else, but I do want something that will serve me well for ALL the work I do. I also prefer a 17" monitor (I guess I'm really looking for a desktop replacement).

Here are some of the specs for the computer I own. I would love something similar (or better) but I don't know if it exists in a laptop (I am completely ignorant when it comes to laptops, I really know very little about them).

- AMD athlon64 processor 3800+
- 2.41 GHz, 2 GB of RAM
- 160 GB hard drive
- sound card (creative soundblaster audigy2 ZS)
- video card (ASUS extreme GeForce 6200 TurboCache)
- 8 USB ports (6 in back, two in front)
- DVD +/-RW (LG GSA-4167B)


THANKS SO MUCH for any help you can give me!!!

 

[speedyink]

Well, I paid $1100 cdn for my laptop, which would do you well in all areas except maybe the sound card. You can easily get a laptop that will put shame to your desktop for under $1500, just browse around on Newegg. I would give you a link to some good ones, but my internet is being a pain right now.

 

[Tuffie]

I would have a look at this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220182

General Specs:

General
Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium
CPU Type Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2G
Screen 15.4" WSXGA+
Memory Size 2GB DDR2
Hard Disk 160GB
Optical Drive DVD Super Multi
Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
Video Memory 256MB GDDR3 VRAM, TurboCache up to 512MB
Communication Modem, Gigabit LAN and WLAN
Card slot 1 x Express Card
Battery Life 2 hours
Dimensions 13.9" x 11.2" x 1.5"
Weight 6.8 lbs.

Alright I think something like that laptop would probbably do well for your needs, just cause of that really sexy GeForce 8600M GT which will handle all your GFX needs, and a really nice plus is DX10 support! very nice feature in a laptop.

I know it doesn't have a 17" screen but in my oppinion you should at least look at something like that.

Kent.