Re: Using a laptop onstage: Dominic Frasca's take

[Todd Pafford <calenlas@gmail.com>]

This brings up a good point about hardware obsolescence.  That $3000
laptop will (barring hardware failure) perform exactly the same 20
years from now as long as you don't keep upgrading the software.  It's
the increasing bloat and new features of newer software that puts a
hurting on hardware.  Somehow the software industry has convinced us
all that we must perpetually have the latest, greatest versions.

Just a thought.  I'm a sucker like everyone else for needing the newest 
toys. :)
Todd

On 1/3/06, Travis Hartnett <travishartnett@gmail.com> wrote:
> The new issue of Frets magazine has an article on Dominic Frasca
> (10-string nylon string guitarist) who now uses just a laptop, MOTU
> interface, and Logic for all his onstage processing.  The article's
> too long for me to type in, but his closing words are:
>
> "There aren't many cons when it comes to laptops, but if I had to
> bring up one thing, I'd remind people that the main drag about these
> machines is that they become obsolete very quickly.  When you drop
> $1,800 on a Universal Audio 1176 compressor, you have a piece of
> equipment that will be as functional and relevant in 20 years as it
> was the day you bought it.  But you can spend $3,000 or more on a
> top-of-the-line PowerBook and within two years it may not be able to
> handle the latest programs or upgrades.  And there's always the risk
> of a crash.  Luckily, my Mac has never crashed onstage, nor has it
> ever broken down, but I do travel with a backup 12" PowerBook just in
> case."
>
>
> TravisH
>
>