Need help on which laptop to pick for djing...13.3" or 15.6"?

[octostout]

I just went from an 18.4" laptop to a 13" laptop. I was worried about the screen size, beecause I have bad eyesight, but I couldn't be happier with it.

[joemann002]

So if then an i3 with 4gb (or upgraded to 8gb of ram is plenty powerful) for just basic djing and would handle TP or VDJ then the deciding factor here is more about screen size and weight/portability (5.3lb for Acer vs 3.7lb for Lenovo), backlit keyboard, and optical drive.

I know Lenovo are suppose to be better quality and should have very few issues down the road, but it seems like at least for that particular model there has always been a wifi issue (if I want to use the web on occasion). But I think from reading some recent reviews that it might have been fixed now with touch version.

One thing I do like about the Lenovo ultrabook is the form factor and size for carrying it around. A 15.6" size can't really compare to in that regard.

Another thing I have noticed is from reading reviews on these laptops is the luminosity/screen brightness. Both of these seem to register at the low end of the scale like around 150-160lux whereas others tested are in 220-250 range. I know these are suppose to be budget laptops but with MSRPs close to $600-$700 you would think those numbers would be much higher.

Do you guys think that is an issue that can be a problem down the road? I know that a Macbook Air is like around 260ish lux so these two are really at the other end. But then again a MBA is a lot more expensive compared to these two.

[CountenanT]

That's true - I stand by what I said about the processor in terms of Traktor; if you're just running Traktor with a controller, don't worry about the differences in the processor. But if, as the poster earlier said, you want to start producing with DAWs (though Im not sure of their exact power requirements myself), or are hooking up millions of controllers and mashing cue points, it might strain some things.

[city_boy07]

So if then an i3 with 4gb (or upgraded to 8gb of ram is plenty powerful) for just basic djing and would handle TP or VDJ then the deciding factor here is more about screen size and weight/portability (5.3lb for Acer vs 3.7lb for Lenovo), backlit keyboard, and optical drive.

I know Lenovo are suppose to be better quality and should have very few issues down the road, but it seems like at least for that particular model there has always been a wifi issue (if I want to use the web on occasion). But I think from reading some recent reviews that it might have been fixed now with touch version.

One thing I do like about the Lenovo ultrabook is the form factor and size for carrying it around. A 15.6" size can't really compare to in that regard.

Another thing I have noticed is from reading reviews on these laptops is the luminosity/screen brightness. Both of these seem to register at the low end of the scale like around 150-160lux whereas others tested are in 220-250 range. I know these are suppose to be budget laptops but with MSRPs close to $600-$700 you would think those numbers would be much higher.

Do you guys think that is an issue that can be a problem down the road? I know that a Macbook Air is like around 260ish lux so these two are really at the other end. But then again a MBA is a lot more expensive compared to these two.

both will run traktor and vdj fine,

although with new updates and stuff and if you want to go into production youll want that extra processor power...

backlight keyboards are pretty useless (in my opinion) i dont look at the keys when i type so its not a issue to me....

the only thing it comes down to is the screen size and processor... its up to u man.

13" as people have stated and as you have stated seen many djs with the 13" macbook is fine for traktor.... my laptop is only really used when i dj for the music and fx etc, but i dont even look at the screen unless im choosing a song because i use my x1 for fx/loops

its down to how dependant you are to the laptop when your playin. if you 'serato face' the whole night then go for the bigger screen and save your eyes, if you mix mostly without looking at the screen then go for the processor power and the 13" will do you fine

[joemann002]

So if I go with the Lenovo is 4gb plenty with the i5 in case I want to add a externsl hard drive or a fx controller?

With the Acer I can up it to 8gb even though the processor is a i3. I keep reading of folks upping their ram to 10, 12 or 16GB on their MBPs. Is that even necessary to increase the ram that high and is there a saturation point?

I guess what I'd like to know is 4GB enough for what I want to do whether it is an i3 or i5? I just don't want to get to a point where Lenovo's lack of ram upgrade will affect what I can add or run.

[oliosky]

Get the 13. Especially if its got more juice. And a RAM upgrade is super easy if you need to in the future.

13" laptops are much more portable, take up less space in the booth, fit more bags and are absolutely fine to run DJ programs.

[joemann002]

Get the 13. Especially if its got more juice. And a RAM upgrade is super easy if you need to in the future.

13" laptops are much more portable, take up less space in the booth, fit more bags and are absolutely fine to run DJ programs.

Well the issue with the 13.3" Lenovo is that it is an ultrabook and thus really have no easy access to get to the ram compartments like other standard laptops. You need to take the full back panel off (and that is a task in itself and something not very easy to do without causing damage to unit) plus Lenovo mentions that opening the back panel will void the warranty. So if I go with the Lenovo it would be stuck at the 4GB RAM if I don't want to void the warranty or have the hassle of doing the upgrade (though there are videos there that show how to up it to like 8GB).

So I'm thinking that if everything will work fine with 4GB/i5 then there is no need to up the RAM and the Lenovo would be the choice. If those specs are not good enough for saying running a portable hard drive or fx controller as well as a midi controller then the Acer with the i3/4GB might work better since the ram on that one can be easily upped to 8GB with very little effort.

[city_boy07]

Well the issue with the 13.3" Lenovo is that it is an ultrabook and thus really have no easy access to get to the ram compartments like other standard laptops. You need to take the full back panel off (and that is a task in itself and something not very easy to do without causing damage to unit) plus Lenovo mentions that opening the back panel will void the warranty. So if I go with the Lenovo it would be stuck at the 4GB RAM if I don't want to void the warranty or have the hassle of doing the upgrade (though there are videos there that show how to up it to like 8GB).

So I'm thinking that if everything will work fine with 4GB/i5 then there is no need to up the RAM and the Lenovo would be the choice. If those specs are not good enough for saying running a portable hard drive or fx controller as well as a midi controller then the Acer with the i3/4GB might work better since the ram on that one can be easily upped to 8GB with very little effort.

4gb is more then enough for traktor, mine only has 2gb and works fine (now that i have optimised it)

you need to understand the difference between RAM and CPU.... you can juice up the i3 with as much RAM as you want but it will not run as efficiently and well as the i5 when you stress the system!

[joemann002]

4gb is more then enough for traktor, mine only has 2gb and works fine (now that i have optimised it)

you need to understand the difference between RAM and CPU.... you can juice up the i3 with as much RAM as you want but it will not run as efficiently and well as the i5 when you stress the system!

I think having read all the posts here I will go with the Lenovo with it's i5/4GB and 13.3" screen. I think that should do me well for a bit even if I can't upgrade the RAM. I think that is plenty powerful to run TP, VDJ, etc. and a few other things I connect from it.

[city_boy07]

Yeah defo