Need new laptop for DJing, suggestions?
I need a new laptop for DJing w/traktor and a Launchpad S. Anyone have any good suggestions for a starter laptop?
I’d prefer to spend less than $1000.
In general terms, ANY “new” laptop will be more than sufficient for DJing.
If you want Mac, look for a refurbished laptop - that’s all that will fit into your budget.
If you are willing to go PC, then really any “major” brand version will be OK. Check the websites, and look in the “small business” section while shopping. Win7 is generally more stable and mature than Win8.
Get 8GB of RAM.
Get both USB2 and USB3 connections.
Get the largest hard drive you can find/afford. I strongly prefer more space to SSD…but opinions vary.
buy a used macbook on ebay
Refurb MacBooks direct from the Apple Store, Full Warranty and I’ve never seen a dud (and bought a few), all were brand new in every sense, one charging cable on one had some dust on it.
Currently its 799 for a 13’ Macbook Air, 4GB memory, 128GB flash storage or $979 for one with 256 SSD
Theres currently a thread going where a poster had ridiculous problems with a well specced Sony Vaio.
I have seen this thread, is that what you are referring to? A PC (not mac) that could run TP2.6.8 without problems.?
The description of the problems are:
Neither issue sounds particularly ridiculous to me…but I will agree that any problems can be frustrating. Perhaps it is all about perspective. I built my first PC for DJing in the late 1990’s. DJing with a computer was challenging at best 15-20 years ago.
Given what I know about PCs and the Windows scheduler…I am EXPECTING the graphics to “momentarily freeze” from time to time. This is how I know the scheduler is really giving the audio channel priority. To me, this is a “normal” part of DJing and not something I would even take enough notice to remember the next day.
In terms of the audio drops…that would be frustrating. A once every 5 gigs issue would certainly take a long time to ID, and even longer to evaluate any proposed fix. Those are like splinters in my brain.
Granted, the OP in that thread did mention that he has undertaken a long series of optimization’s to the laptop…and perhaps that legacy of invested time is one source of frustration.
And he obviously knew his way around, and spent (from the sounds of it substantial) time and frustration to try and sort it out.
I’m just about old enough and grumpy enough to realize in the past few years that the difference in price is only 15 or 20 hours of work, and I know I’ve spent waaayyyy more than 20 hours per year on each and every computer I’ve owned or built for Audio or Gaming, fucking around with registry / bios / drivers in relation to various audio / graphics / network / midi / software weirdness and issues over the years - never mind the other madness that can arise if you actually (god forbid) connect to the internet and browse to a questionable website of choice (not me of course).
If you already know a bit and PC building / tinkering is your thang, as you said any modern PC will do the trick for DJ’ing purposes.
Edit* Actually now that I think of it, 2 of the best little out-of-the-box sub $300 PC laptops for Traktor (3.3) for me were the Asus EEE (celeron) and the Lenovo S10 mk1. 
will you play games on it?
As everyone else is saying, MBPs (even newer retina ones sometimes) can be had for under a grand directly refurbished from apple.
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I’m using an Acer Aspire S7 - compact, fast, touchscreen, I love it. Its not crashed once, in performance or practice, in the 10 months I’ve had it. Looks great too. Can’t recommend it enough.
Currently deciding on a new Laptop for DJing Myself…
first and foremost, I tried to search the forum for any and all Laptop Posts. I didn’t want to repost a similar thread that someone or multiple people already started.
Umm let’s see, my first DJ Laptop was an Hp. I pretty much ran it into the ground. I kind of inherited someone elses Sony Vaio and am using it at the moment. To each there own, but I personally am not a Mac user. Not because I dislike them or have any knowledge about negatives with them. It’s simply because all i have ever known is PC and Mac just confuses the hell out of me. The double clicking is different and I don’t know a damn thing about how to even navigate Macs for that matter. I hear people say they are easy but I personally get a little frustrated trying to use them. So I pretty much will stick with what I am comfortable with unless I have a good reason not to.
So currently, I am still using Serato Scratch Live. Yes, I know Serato DJ is out and I am trying to make the switch. My Sony Vaio does not have the Minimum Specs of an I3, I5, or I7 processor so this is why I am still using Scratch Live.
So I am really stumped on which way to go on a new laptop. Obviously I will need something with the processing speed of I5 or I7. Years ago, you would never here me talk about spending upwards of $1000 on a Laptop but I am of the mind set that I am going to do this once and the right way. I am not planning on buying another laptop for the next 5 years if I can avoid it. So I want to get something that is reputable and damn good quality and if it runs me a grand or more so be it.
I have had positive experiences with both Hp and Sony Vaio. I personally like Sony Vaio better and I feel more confident in the durability of the Vaio vs. the Hp. But I will say I wouldn’t mind buying a Hp again.
The thing I am super confused about is the fact that I feel like Laptops are on there way out. Someone correct me if I am wrong. All I see is Tablets now. Everything is touch screen and technology is jumping by leaps and bounds year after year. I am actually nervous to jump into one of these machines that I am uncomfortable with. I am so used to the standard laptops I dunno how I will do transitioning into the newer models.
I have no clue if Tablets can be used with Serato DJ. Or if one of those combination laptops like Windows makes is a good option or not. I don’t wanna by something that is going to be obsolete in 2 or 3 years. Yet I do see that a bunch of DJ’s are still purchasing Mac Book Pro style Laptops. I am not one to jump on the bandwagon but for now it seems like the standard flip up laptop is still in business.
Would love to hear from anyone who has knowledge or suggestions on which are some good choices.
Thanks
P.S. One last thing, I recently heard that Sony Vaio is going to stop making Laptops and or Computers very soon. I think maybe end after 2015 so does this make buying one a bad option?