Custom Built Notebooks

[dawman]

I cannot find a company that sells notebook chassis.
Companies that claim custom built will build for you, but only the parts they use.
That's hardly custom.
I need a desktop in a notebook, and will have a mobile rack for my HDD's,
The idea is to have the PCI-e connector, and the notebook/laptop connector and switch between both rigs w/ the XITE-1 and portable drives.
After an hour of searching, I keep coming up w/ zilch.

[garyb]

try searching "whitebook".

i found these using the intel 945GM chipset:
Asus S96F (AS96F945GM1) 15.4" LCD
Asus S62Fp (AS62FP945GM1) 14.1" LCD
Asus Z62F 14.1" LCD
Clevo M550N 15" LCD
Clevo M540N
Compal HGL31 (CHGL31945GM1) 14.1" LCD
Compal HEL81 (CHEL81945GM1) 15.4" LCD
Foxconn W02NU 5.4" and 15" LCD's
Foxconn W03NU 14.1" LCD
Gigabyte W551U 15.4" LCD
Gigabyte* W451U 14.1" LCD
MSI MS1034 15.4" LCD
Quanta SW1 (QSW1945GM1) 14.1" LCD
Quanta TW3M (QTW3M945GM1) 15.4" LCD

and these using the 945PM:
Asus S96J (AS96J945PM1) 15.4" LCD
Asus S62J (AS62J945PM1) 14.1" LCD
Clevo M570U 17.0" LCD
Clevo M575U 17.0" LCD
Compal HGL30 (CHGL30945PM1) 14.1" LCD
Compal HEL80 (CHEL80945PM1) 15.4" LCD
Quanta TW3A (QTW3A945PM1) 15.4" LCD
Quanta TW3 15.4" LCD
Foxconn W02ND 15.4" and 15" LCD's
Gigabyte W551A 15.4" LCD

maybe that'll help....

[dawman]

http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=5& ... odelmenu=1

I was searching the wrong places.
Since you built the last P35 DAW I shall tell you my dilemma.
Gigastudio has died, no news there, but I plan on running Bidule w/ GVI & K2 stuff. My problem is that I have maxxed out my memory finally. The 3GB Switch was a nice jump, but I know I need to go to 64bit now.
This Whitebook looks pretty fierce, and I believe if I run at 64bit XP/Vista, I should be cool w/ the 4GB maximum. As it should allow me to access more RAM than the 2.25GB's I am getting now.
How much of my RAM will a 64bit OS take?
I am hoping to use 3GB's or better, as I am finished buying libraries. I have the ultimate strings, horns, Pianos, Guitars , etc.
I only need more RAM as my new Horn Rompler is awesome. But it is giving the DAW a beating as far as RAM goes.

[garyb]

if it's Vista, up to 1gb, but without all the extra visual it might be down to 500mb...

[ScofieldKid]

Some stuff has both E-SATA and ExpressCard.

Here's one with high performance, small screen: http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/asus-u6v.aspx

[dawman]

That looks good.
The E8400 would be fine since I won't use VST synths or effects, just memory hogging Romplers.
eSATA is critical also, and the 5400rpm would be for O.S. + Apps, so it's slower speed shouldn't be an issue.
I think this combined w/ the power of an XITE-1 should be poweful enough.
The whole idea is mobility/power.
Even Gigastudio 4 runs great on the old E6850's.
But Bidule as a host uses much less CPU power.
It seems as though battery life is a big consideration w/ the throttled down T series CPU's. I cannot perform w/ those, that's why the Wolfdales are important.

I am so tired of moving my rig around.
Besides flirting w/ stewardesses by rolling up next to them is way cool.

[garyb]

battery life won't really be an issue. battery use will likely lead to groundloops and other problems. you'll need to be plugged in.

[dawman]

After a week of fishing and having the pleasure to see a demo of a Dual Core laptop w/ Cubase 4.1, I have recieved some great advice from Nashville of all places.
Most cats get to use hardware because of management and crew, etc. One of my old crew hooked me up w/ a touring keyboardist that uses a MacPro w/ Logic and VSTi plugs.
He has been a Logic guy since the EMagic days and uses the EX24 sampler for Piano libs., and VSL strings, the EVB3 plug and some other libraries of Acoustic Guitar and Electric, etc.
But he never loads during a show, and also uses a real Leslie ( I hate him ) .
He explained his downsizing to me over the last 3 tours and explained that the most important consideration was the CPU being as close to possible to the rig being downsized. Seemed wise as he was using a 2.53 Quad as Logic & Mac are well optimized.
He then mentioned a few CPU's that would be what he considered similar, but unavailable till next year. The Intel T9800 is a low watt 2.9 something GHz CPU that is a lighning fast Core 2 Duo.

So after NAMM it is then.
The little mobile rack can be my entire rig on a notebook. The hell these big racks.
The little portable rack above will hold a 1U eSATA 4 x HDD array, a Furman PL+, A16U, XITE-1, hardware reverb if I even need it, and my Analog 3U synth. The cables can be ported through the top of the racks too. So 8U worth of gear on both sides.
My quest is over.

This will be the most powerful, mobile Live PA / recording rig around, I shall see to it.
Even the Barbetta's will be sold for the Bose LII's & their ATA cases. 6 small ATA cases total !!! That's insanely portable.
For the first time in my life I can fly the entire live rig, no more sharing rooms and busses w/ smelley roadies. 55 minute flight to Las Vegas for 169 round trip.

I am XITED all over again.