Need new laptop...very soon.

[iQuit]

I am really struggling without having a fast laptop to video edit on. I have been looking around and found this Orca 9098 and it seems like a good deal but let me know what you think.

http://www.compamerica.com/mobilstar/

P.S. The G4 PowerBook really can't cut it.

 

[jsw]

It looks great in terms of specs, but the battery life is going to be pretty bad driving all of that.

Are you sure a desktop won't work for you? Even a relatively cheap PC will be able to whomp the specs of that notebook.

 

[iQuit]

some specs.

3.2 GHz
Geforce 7800 Go
1920x1280 glassview 17" widescreen
1 gb of memory
80GB HDD
dual layer dvd burner w/ lightscribe...meaning you can laser enscribe a label on the cd

Windows XP Pro OS
wireless
remote and some other things.

under $2500

 

[iQuit]

I am on the go a lot. I need something for video editing and can't wait much longer. I have a desktop that is ok fast but I am just not home a lot and need a laptop that can handle what I need. I am just looking for the best laptop around for about $2500.

 

[wPod]

So what does this computer have that the PB doesnt? 3.2 Ghz 64-bit processor, PCI express. . . all nice advantages, but what does it have that the PB doesnt. .. and just doesnt need to be on a laptop? Tv Tuner and remote control! Lightscribe, dual optical drive. . . 4 speakers!?!?! (Ok seriously now) all this amounting to 4.5 lbs MORE than the PB that is essentially useless (unless it were on a desktop, then it would make a decent set up) Id say if the PB really does not suite your need, you at least find a more portable reasonable laptop. Possibly one from a known manufacture, so you will have a decent warrantee and service. I think it would be better to get a 17" iMac and find a case for it so you can carry it everywhere with you!!!! the battery life on the orca would essentially be nill due to all the power it takes. so you might as well! heh.

 

[iQuit]

I need something fast, but the only OSX portable is the Powerbook. Would the 15" be able to do some video editing on the go? I won't crush a whole bunch of rendering into it.

 

[wPod]

I need something fast, but the only OSX portable is the Powerbook. Would the 15" be able to do some video editing on the go? I won't crush a whole bunch of rendering into it.

Yes, the powerbook is very good for that. just load it up with a lot of ram (i think 2GB is the max) and you will be pretty surprised at how it compares to most windows portables.

If i recall correctly Lucasfilms used apples for a lot of in the field work on the most recent star wars movies. including the use of iPods to transfer data from one location to another (to prevent the clips from being snagged off the internet)

 

[Roy Hobbs]

Personally I would never buy any of the laptops on that page.
If I was going to buy a Windows laptop I would never buy from a small company like that. I would go with HP or Dell before I went with some "no name" type place.

 

[Chaszmyr]

It is my personal opinion (that I think is well-founded) that the PowerBook does not lack the necessary power. Are those PC laptops more powerful? Sure. But there are a number of disadvantages that come along with such machines:

1. Many PC laptops, especially if it is hot out, have a tendency to overheat and shut down if you overwork them. This is especially true for laptops packing desktop processors.

2. They are VERY BIG.

3. They are VERY HEAVY.

4. They have very poor battery life.

5. You are doing video editing, why would you not want to have access to Final Cut Pro?

Also, I completely agree with kvanwagoner.

 

[generik]

I need something fast, but the only OSX portable is the Powerbook. Would the 15" be able to do some video editing on the go? I won't crush a whole bunch of rendering into it.

The good question is WHY would you need to do that on the go?

Often shuffle work from office to home? Buy another workstation for your office.
Higher flyer movie director who always edits movie in his limo? Buy a freaking PM to put in your limo beside that wine chiller.

The good question is seriously WHY.

If you are truly bent on movie editing "on the go", well strictly speaking no one is stopping you from building a trolley with wheels that you can mount a PM in and push around everywhere you go.

You got to draw a line somewhere, in my book movie editing requires a dual with a RAIDed disk array. Even that 3.2Ghz monstrocity isn't going to cut it in the least.

 

[generik]

Just to add... that monstrocity doesn't even pack a mobile chip.

if it uses a Prescott core P4, woah, 120W of power consumption! I will be very surprised if you can even get 1 hour out of its batteries under full load!

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Like others have said, the mobility on that Orca will be very poor - don't expect to do much work running on battery power. And it will get very hot.

PowerBooks have often been used for video editing, and the only way to tell if it's right for you is to go to an Apple store and ask if you can try editing a sample project you've created to test how it performs. They shouldn't refuse , especially if you're planning on dropping $2500+ on a new laptop.

Personally I think you should look for either a PC laptop with a Pentium M that runs cooler and uses less power or consider trying out a PowerBook. I personally think that large DTR laptops with P4s are a bad compromise.

 

[Chaszmyr]

PowerBooks have often been used for video editing, and the only way to tell if it's right for you is to go to an Apple store and ask if you can try editing a sample project you've created to test how it performs. They shouldn't refuse , especially if you're planning on dropping $2500+ on a new laptop.

They won't refuse, and if for some reason they do, wait a minute and ask a different employee.

 

[rosalindavenue]

Just to add... that monstrocity doesn't even pack a mobile chip.

if it uses a Prescott core P4, woah, 120W of power consumption! I will be very surprised if you can even get 1 hour out of its batteries under full load!

I have a 17" Toshiba P4 with a Prescott core. It is about 2 years old. (I never take it out of the house). The fans run ALL THE TIME; it now gets LESS than a half hour of battery life; when it was new it got just over an hour. That's just surfing the web-- if I were to edit video on it it would not have lasted half an hour with a new battery.

(These days my kids use it; I use my ibook)