how does this laptop look for use w/ Vegas and Boris?

musman wrote on 7/28/2004, 3:18 AM

I'm trying to learn about laptops quickly here, but right now I'm pretty green. I was looing for something to fill a number of roles including:
1- use with Vegas
2- use with Boris Red 3GL
3- as a field audio recording device (with a new soundcard of some sort)
4- use with the DV Rack software that just came out
5- as a network renderer with my P4 2.4 (not hyperthreaded) workstation
6- possible use (if a Vegas 64 bit version comes out) with HD or 4:2:2 SD video.

Here's the link:
http://www.dartek.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=866925&Tab=2&NoMapp=0

Some specs are also below. What I'm wondering is if this laptop will perform these tasks and how much of a speed jump I might expect using it with network rendering with the workstation. Also, is there anything else, pitfalls, etc, I should know about? Sorry for the long post, but thanks for any help or thoughts on the matter!

Specs:
eMachine M6805 (Refurbished) with 90 day warranty

Notebook Specifications
XP Home

Platform : Notebook PC

Expansion Ports : 1 - Type I/II PC Card Slot

Media Ports

USB Ports 4
FireWire Ports 1
LAN Ports 1
Modem Ports 1
Audio Out Jacks 1
Line In Jacks 1
Microphone Jacks 1
VGA Ports 1
S-Video Connectors 1

Processor Specifications

Athlon™ 64-Bit Processor
Processor Speed
3000

RAM Memory Specifications

Memory Type
512MB (256MB x 2) DDR333 (PC2700)
Memory Slots (Total) 1
Memory Slots (Available) 0
Maximum Memory Supported 2GB

Hard Disk Drive Specifications

Capacity : 60GB (doesn't say the speed)

CD-RW / DVD-ROM Combo Drive

Supplemental Drive
Type : Media Reader
Capacity 6
Media Types
CompactFlash
Memory Stick
Memory Stick Pro
MicroDrive
Multi Media Card
SecureDigital

Audio Specifications

Integrated Audio
Audio Chipset : PC2001 Compliant AC'97 Audio Controller

Graphics Description

Integrated Graphics
GPU/VPU
ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9600
Video Memory : 64MB
Video Interface : AGP 4X

Maximum Resolution : 1280 x 800

Communications

Integrated LAN
Integrated Modem
Integrated Wireless LAN

Interface Type
802.11g Wireless Networking
RJ-11 Phone Connector
RJ-45 Ethernet Connector

Data Transfer Rate
10/100Mbps NIC
56Kbps Modem
54 Mbps

Protocols
54g (802.11g)
V.92

Dimensions
14" Wide x 1.6" x 10.4"

Weight: 8.65 lbs

Touch Pad

Monitor Specifications

Display Type : WXGA
Viewable Screen Size : 15.4"
Maximum Resolution : 1280 x 800

Comments

Sab wrote on 7/28/2004, 8:45 AM

Hi,

Because the video card is integrated, it probably shares the system ram. Overall it will probably be an okay machine, as long as you use an external hard drive for your video files. Concerning Boris, DV Rack and network rendering, I hinestly cannot say.

Mike

MyST wrote on 7/28/2004, 8:50 AM

Although I have no experience with them directly, eMachines don't have the greatest reputation.
Make sure you really research eMachines before taking the plunge.

Mario

soundguy10 wrote on 7/30/2004, 4:59 AM

That's all the power in the world.

I built up a whole company running Vegas 3 on a Vaio 800mhz Duron with 256mb and a 30g drive. (it finally died 6 months ago - replaced it with a Toshiba 2.6ghz Celery - piece of crap - I'd rather have the Duron back ;) My 'workhorse' machine right now is a p4 1.6ghz w/512mb and my renderfarm is made of P3s.It's not a super-fast setup but I manage to pay the rent every month with it. :)

Swap out the memory in that thing for a 1gig stick and add a USB or firewire outboard audio converter for field recording. (MOTU comes to mind if you've got the money, or the little 2 input Edirol or Tascam for 2-3 hundred)