Desktop vs. Laptop

[bryant]

Originally Posted by marklwood

I know they can be a pain to lug around, but a laptop has so few options when it come to maintenance and upgrades. I have the luxury of not having to cart mine around, but I would still go for a shuttle if I was that concerned about size and weight.

A shuttle is the way to go. My wife uses it all the time at her shows and has had not one problem, even when running VDJ at the same time and playing all kinds of videos and visual effects as well.

[dspins]

Laptops tend to have crappy sound cards. Desktop wins. Soundblaster audigy series card makes your music sound amazing. EAW speakers help too.

[Lonman]

I prefer a desktop only because it's more readily upgradable. I use a M-Audio pro audio sound card with balanced 1/4" connetors (although have a great USB audio interface for my laptop now that also uses 1/4" balanced jacks as well), video cards can be swapped out easily, memory, etc. Laptops are a little more inconvenient in upgrading and servicing on site - aside from just simply having a complete 2nd laptop for backup, a HECK of a lot more convenient as far as setup though!

[computex13]

Don't do many shows anymore, but my laptop has always worked like a charm. If something every happened to it, I would go rack mount.

[bryant]

Originally Posted by computex13

Don't do many shows anymore, but my laptop has always worked like a charm. If something every happened to it, I would go rack mount.

I use a laptop on nights when my wife has the shuttle, although both of us carry a back-up laptop too.

Once I lost a video card at a show, and another time the adapter cord failed, and both times I went to the backup.

I actually got a call from another DJ a few years ago who asked me to take over his shows as he had lost his laptop functionality during a show with NO back-up there in place. I think he was too embarrassed to return
as a DJ/KJ.

IT IS REALLLLLYYY RISKY relying on solely a laptop at a show. I recommened having at least two there, or a desktop with a karaoke machine up and ready to go. Although carrying MORE stuff around defeats the purpose,I understand.

I may be a little luckier than most as all my gigs, and the new ones I mentioned in a different post are ALL within a mile of each other and within a mile of my house, several of them I use the "house" equipment, the others are secure enough to keep my stuff on stage there. The most I would ever have to walk in a storm with would be two laptops and a mixer.

[lmcmains]

I like to use desktop best. I have two shuttle computers I've been using for about four years. I also have two small factor Dell desktops that I have for backup and one Dell laptop.

[billyo]

i've been using my Dell laptops ( E1505 and E1405 for back-up ) and never had a problem running a show with it, i also have an asus mini laptop and i only use it strictly for djing, and i also have 4 Dell optiplex (8"x9" )workstation with microstudio installed in one of them ( basically my main pc's ) with all the dj music installed in it.( have to have a back-up )