Laptop + FireBox = Suggestions?

[laurens]

huh, i have 6pin firewire with firebox on my macbook and it works fine without wall wort.

At least you got the soundcard bit right with the firebox...lol

[charo]

check out this thread:
http://www.djtechtools.com/forum/showthread.php?p=31665

i guess i was wrong that this doesn't effect all mac laptops, but it is a documented problem for the some of them

[Nannou]

Thanks for the replies guys. I am sensing an overwhelming shift towards the Macbook Pro over here. haha. In all honesty i was quite seriously considering it.
But I'm not quite there yet......

I drained my brain researching all the possible laptop models I could get last night. And I came down to these two finalists:

Laptop 1: Apple MacBook Pro 15inch 2.66ghz
Firewire chipset: TI or Agere. This is my real concern about this Mac. Here is a Apple forum thread which discusses that some versions of the MBP have a cheaper Agere firewire chipset instead of the better Texas Instruments chipset. The former giving less-than-desirable Firewire performance.
It actually has a 9pin connection, so I'll need a convertor for it, but at least (with the whole Firebox power hack thing) it would run on Bus power eventually.
Usability: Yes I've heard all the arguments about OS X being a clean and easy OS to use etc. The fact of the matter is that a lot of what I do, a lot of the programs I run, require Windows architecture. I'm a little stubborn. If I got an MBP, I will certainly be dual-booting into XP/Vista. And I ain't starting a war here! It's just my overwhelming preference for Windows that keeps me searching for other options. Also: One mouse button? Please. I need two on that damned touch-pad!
There is also a significant lack of Docking station for the MBP. Meaning I'd have to plug in Display, Firewire, USB and Power everytime I want to rest it and get on with some DJing. Massive hassle.

Laptop 2: Sony VAIO Type S - VGN-SR93YS.
Firewire chipset: This is a Japanese model laptop. But it should mirror the Western "Type SR" series. I found a website which claimed that the SR used a RICOH firewire chipset. On further study I found that the RICOH chipset sucked with the FireBox, but it can be a mixed bag. The posts talk about dodgy 4pin - 6pin adaptors, and apparently the issue can vary from system to system. A bit confusing.... but I could always grab an ExpressCard or PC card to do the job.
Port is a 4pin i.LINK job. Meaning I'd have to get an adaptor. And I'd also need to run the Firebox on dedicated power all the time. To be honest that's a complete non-issue for me. Another power connection is like adding a another piece of fruit to a fruit hat.
Useability: Windows. I have Vista at the moment, so the pre-installed Japanese OS should be easy to get rid of. Two mouse buttons. Huzzah!
I can also get a Docking station for it. I have a TV which I run as a secondary display. This would allow me to have most of my cables plugged into the Dock (everything except the Firewire cable) for when I need to do DJing. This is a pretty big thing for me.


Final Analysis: The MBP should have a more solid Firewire Chipset, but has more every-day use hassles involved with it. Admittedly not all my time is devoted to DJing. When I'm doing everything other than DJing, watching videos or gaming, the laptop is going to be on my lap, on a couch somewhere. Having to plug in cables everytime I want to use it for more "serious" things, seems like an awful hassle.
It's a neat package, but I worry about how it will work as my everyday machine.

The VAIO has a more flakey Firewire Chipset, but is much more convenient for every-day use. I could track down a Firewire PC card/ExpressCard to bypass the apparently dodgy RICOH chipset. I'm also going to have a fun time getting drivers off the Japanese website, however maybe some of the western SR drivers will work for me. I already have an ultra-portable Japanese Panasonic laptop which runs and English OS and uses Japanese drivers with no issue. Maybe it won't be so bad.

I'm torn!

[djhipnotikk]

yeah, i have a MBP + firebox setup and i haven't had any major issues.

as for the single button on the trackpad...in OSX you can configure the trackpad itself to be a right click when pressed with two fingers simultaneously. personally i use a logitech usb mouse (need that scroll wheel for my intense traktor playlists ;P.

[Tigris]

Oh yeah, don't get me started with that one-button-trackpad thing; I know very well how you feel, it was the same with me.
For me the Trackpad worked out pretty well, especially when I'm on the road. The other times I use a mouse/trackball of my choice.
What I'm quite sceptical about is the new trackpad sans button. I really don't know if I could work with that; I never was one for the touch-click-thingy.
On the OS: Think about OS X as being a nice toy you can play with on your own time, while using Windows. Was the same with me. If you like it, you can use it- otherwise you can stay simply stay on Vista.
The issue with the dock is very true, but I must say, I never used a Dock even when using a Lenovo... I don't find it much of a hassle, simply attach 2-3 connectors and continue working.

[Nannou]

Thanks Tigris. Yeah I've always been a fan of tactile clicking. None of that tapping business.
To be honest a lot of it is coming down to the usability of the laptop in my current (and I suppose future) living arrangements.
I don't have a desk per-se. It's more of a couch with a screen on a low table, and wireless keyboard/mouse. Which means that when I sit down to browse/relax on my new laptop, I don't envisage myself resting it on the table and hunching over it, i'd much prefer it to be sitting on my lap.
But when I want to watch a movie, DJ, music it up, I'll definitely need to have it hooked up to all the right connections. And that can happen quite frequently.
With all that in mind, I just feel as though it would be a pain to plug in power, display, firewire (especially if I have to do the power trick everytime) each time I want to change the purpose of my laptop.
A dock seems like a lot of sense in that case. Might pop down the shops and have a look at my two potential candidates before going any further.

[laurens]

"getta mac" not a perm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqz9eJiBa_Q

[Nannou]

Oh how I miss New Zealand ads.

[laurens]

98% of them are pretty bad, just a few that are funny.

[Nannou]

Believe me, after 3 years of Japanese commercials, I consider anything else to be Oscar-winning material. I'm sorta suprised they are still making Instant Kiwi ads. Have I been away from home that long?

On topic however.... After researching my brains out, I think it's going to have to be the MacBook Pro 2.66GHz.
I think the Sony Vaio S and the Dell XPS Studio 13 are both be pretty sweet setups. Fast, and even smaller than the Mac. They also cost a little less than the Mac.

But at the end of the day I just can't get any bearing as to the reliability of either Sony or Dell.
Laptops are so finnicky. Different models under the same maker could be total opposite ends of the quality spectrum. And I just don't know enough about the reliability history of either of the Windows alternatives. Plus they will come pre-installed with Japanese OSes so I'd have to rebuild them anyway, that's a hassle within itself.

Thanks for your help guys.