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

At 11:19 AM -0800 1/5/06, Travis Hartnett wrote:
>Yeah, trying to figure the actual cost of a computer system for music
>can be tricky.  My example of $3K for the PowerBook was based on the
>price of a 17" display model with the RAM maxed out.  The base price
>for that model on the Apple Store right now is $2500, and once you put
>in the RAM and pay tax, you're not getting much change back from three
>large.  Maybe one can get by with a smaller screen and slower
>processor, it really depends on how you're going to use it.  I've
>grown used to the 17" display on my flat panel iMac which I use for
>ProTools, and whenever I have to go back to a smaller screen, it feels
>cramped, but of course it can be done.

Minor addendum on the numbers:

I just sprung for a 17" Powerbook this week (FedEx is bringing it 
even now) because the wife was pointing out that I always buy cool 
toys for myself, but not her.  The model you're looking at on the 
Apple Store is for the spiffy new 17" with the improved display.  It 
has an increased screen resolution, but not much more.

As a result, the 17" with the normal display has been reduced in 
price from a lot of the different outlets.  I just purchased a 
1.67Mhz 17" with 1.5 gigs of memory (they didn't have a sale offer on 
expanding it up to 2 gigs) for only $1949.  No sales tax (except in 
CA), either.  This deal is available at LA Computer Company.  Also, 
Mac Connection is doing the 17" 1.67Mhz with base 512meg memory for 
only $1799, after $100 rebate (also comes with a free printer).

These are all brand new Apple product, with full factory warranty. 
You can probably do even better if you're willing to look around at 
factory refurbs from someplace like Small Dog, or Tech Restore.

So, you can get some pretty comparable deals on Macs, if you know 
where to look.  About 33% down from your original estimate.

And, yes, I know I should have probably waited another 6-8 months 
until the first models ship on the Intel platform, but ongoing 
domestic bliss is far more important in the long run.  ;)

        --m.

-- 
_______
"You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike..."