VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

[Drew]

Anyone know of a reasonably priced laptop that's good for traveling VO types? For years I've been using a Toshiba Satellite with an Intel Celeron M. Surprisingly it had a decent sound card that would duplex and actually put out a pretty good sound file for travel purposes.

Since then Toshi's been through the wars. I spilled Fruity O's on his keyboard. Now using a USB keyboard. While groping, him a TSA agent dropped him. Two USB ports shot. Stuff like that. And just last week, Toshi went blind. His screen blinked out for good. Now I've got a big, fat CRT monitor plugged into him.

So, after some research I got another Toshiba Celeron yesterday thinking at least the sound card would be okay. Pfft! First, tried loading Cool Edit 2. Nothin' doing. Neither the software nor the computer wanted to go to that dance. Okay, let's try AA 1.5. It loaded, but with "compatability issues" with W7. But it did load and it played back. But when I did some test recordings....blech! Toshiba along with Microsoft did an entire re-do of the sound card and controls. There ain't no real mixer options on this thing. Mostly defaults for doofus users with headsets and Logitech Playskool mics. Plus, it don't duplex. I can suffer on the road w/o duplex, but the crappy audio quality won't cut it. The Toshiba tech on the phone tried to be helpful, but after about an hour, he even suggested I take it back as the sound card was simply not up to spec for the work I do.

Any thoughts on machines that will process decent audio? Also thinking maybe an exterior USB sound card. At this point 1.5 will work...it just changes the OS from 64bit to 32bit...which I was fully expecting. But it can't find an internal mixer.

While I'd love to move to a Mac...this ain't the time.
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www.voiceoverdrew.com
Skype: andrew.hadwal1
Although I have a full head of hair, I'm quite ribald.

[asnively]

I just bought an Acer Aspire AS1410-2039 and I LOVE it!
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[Drew]

I was lookin' at that model, too. No issues..decent sound, eh?
Might have to have BB ship it in, but I got a couple of weeks. Also thinking just a small flat screen monitor for the time being, since I'll be driving and not flying. Then I'll just push Toshi a little longer till he spits them Fruity O's back at me for one last time.
_________________
www.voiceoverdrew.com
Skype: andrew.hadwal1
Although I have a full head of hair, I'm quite ribald.

[asnively]

I'm loving it and I read a review somewhere that specifically praised the soundcard! And it's so quiet.
_________________
the Amy Snively family of brands for all your branded thing needs.
Amy Snively
Faff Camp
FaffCon
TalkerTees