laptop for PP

[Aanarav Sareen]

That have been discussions about this and remember that Alienware is only a brand.

Aanarav Sareen
Adobe Certfied Expert, Premiere Pro
https://www.asvideoproductions.com/video

[Bob Cole]

[Aanarav Sareen] “remember that Alienware is only a brand.”

right… what do you mean by that? I did a search before posting and found only one item, which said it ran hot. It was on Avid’s list of suggested laptops for DVXpress, and I just wanted to know whether some PPro users had been successful with it. It seems to be a “gamer’s computer,” and I am still curious as to whether the qualities that give it a good rep. there are relevant to NLE.

I guess a better way of putting this question is: everybody wants the sweet spot between the fastest processor and one that runs coolest, quietest, and most reliably. Insights on the trade-offs between power and practicality in laptops that will run PPro are welcome.

Thanks. I have read all of your recent posts on this topic, Aanarav — very helpful.

— BC

[Tim Kolb]

I suspect the biggest, baddest Centrino would be the answer. I use a laptop with a desktop processor, but it is a furnace…and when all the fans are running, it hovers.

The only caveat is drives. Centrinos tend to come with harddrives that conserve power in a similar fashion to the processor. A 4200rpm drive won’t be useful for even a little DV content. You’ll want a 7200rpm drive if you plan on storing any media internally.

As far as brands go…there are a lot of badges, but only a few real manufacturers. I’d lean toward a vendor you have a comfort level with and one you know will support the product.

TimK,

Kolb Syverson Communications,
Creative Cow Host,
2004-2005 NAB Post Production Conference
Premiere Pro Technical Chair,
Author, “The Easy Guide to Premiere Pro” http://www.focalpress.com
“Premiere Pro Fast Track DVD Series” http://www.classondemand.net

[Bob Cole]

[Tim Kolb] “You’ll want a 7200rpm drive if you plan on storing any media internally.”

Apparently (acc. to HP) there’s a shortage of 7200 rpm internal drives. That would leave me with the need for an external drive, connected I assume by firewire. I need the firewire port to ingest DV, so how do I handle that?

— BC

[Aanarav Sareen]

Well, you would always need an external drive regardless. Considering the cost of laptop drives and comparing them to external firewire drives, the firewire drive would be the better choice.
PS: You can get 7200rpm notebook drives from online vendors like Newegg or someone similar

Aanarav Sareen
Adobe Certfied Expert, Premiere Pro
https://www.asvideoproductions.com/video

[Bob Cole]

[Aanarav Sareen] “the firewire drive would be the better choice.”

But you can’t import the video via FW and be connected to an external FW drive at the same time — or am I missing something? Do you import the media to an internal drive, disconnect the playback unit, connect the FW drive, and export the media to the external FW drive? Sounds strange.

— BC

[Tim Kolb]

I’ve had a couple of laptops that seemed to ingest DV to an external drive from a camera hooked up in loop through….and some that didn’t.

One thing that I’ve found doesn’t usually work very well, though others have had better luck, is getting one of these PCMCIA cards that has FW ports on it and using one peripheral on the internal and one on the card. The PCMCIA card just doesn’t seem to have the throughput to keep up.

It’s sort of a dilemma. None of us want a pizza oven, but we can’t edit video (or at least get the content in and out) as easily on the super efficient laptops.

I have a 3.2 HT/2 Gigs/2×60 Raid 0 7200rpm/DVD-RW with a wide screen, but it doesn’t even fully open up on an airplane in anything less than business class. I call it a lapstation.

TimK,

Kolb Syverson Communications,
Creative Cow Host,
2004-2005 NAB Post Production Conference
Premiere Pro Technical Chair,
Author, “The Easy Guide to Premiere Pro” http://www.focalpress.com
“Premiere Pro Fast Track DVD Series” http://www.classondemand.net

[Bob Cole]

Thanks. I’m making progress in my quest, which is really a search for either a FCP/Mac or a PP/PC laptop solution.

It would appear to be helpful to have two “duals.”

Dual FW (for ingesting media and storing it), and capability for adding to the screen real estate through dual monitors. So far, I think Mac PowerBooks have both, and I haven’t found a PC laptop with either for certain. (HP makes a nice laptop but you need to buy a docking station to add the second monitor.)

I’d appreciate suggestions for PC laptops that would fill the bill. Having PP in my HP xw8200, I’d prefer a laptop PP solution, but haven’t found the right comination yet.

— BC

[Aanarav Sareen]

Well, I use PCMCIA cards within little difficulty. The only problem is to make sure that nothing else is accessing the card at the same time. It works, but not as well. Another solution would be to daisy chain your harddrive and your DV deck. This is what I did with my ancient desktop.

Aanarav Sareen
Adobe Certfied Expert, Premiere Pro
https://www.asvideoproductions.com/video

[Videoe]

Bob, just about any current PC laptop will do the job processor-wise. If the laptop has USB 2.0 as well as the 1394 port, you can use the USB port for an external A/V drive. I got an external housing w/USB 2.0 for $45. Add a 7200 RPM HDD for $60-$120 depending on size, bingo. Change the HDDs in the housing when/if you need to. As to the dual display bit, that’s not an Apple/PC issue, rather what Graphics card you’ve got. Look for an ATI, Nvidia etc. card with dedicated video memory and decent specs. Get at least 512 mgs of RAM, though a 1 gig would be nice. With laptops you pay for faster speed and smaller sizes/weights. Unless you’re into heavy effects or 3D rendering like me, a semi-light, relatively inexpensive laptop should do. I got a used and heavy Sager for $1,300 because I will be editing HDV and I do a lot of After Effects and Cinema 4D stuff and I needed a cheap “desktop replacement” for the extra power. You’re needs will likely be different. You have lots of choices on the PC side; keep on researching and I’m sure you’ll find what you need.