Return new Dell Inspiron 8600? Touchpad chews

I just got a Dell 8600 notebook, 1 gig RAM. I was planning to get Echo Indigo I/O. I'm thinking of the returning the 8600 because of the PITA versus benefit factor.

The purpose of the 8600:

-Record out-of-town vocal tracks with a friend who lacks a DAW.
-Edit ongoing Sonar projects during my lunch break at work or while on occasional trips or while on the couch
-Audition ideas for a songwriting partner at a coffee shop
-Take some of the monotony out of editing, mixing, and mastering by doing part of these tasks outside the studio.
-Work with a neighborhood kid on Ejay and introduce him to more advanced software.
-Lay the foundation to do a potential live duo gig in the next year, using Sonar and Live or something like that.

I have a Dell desktop/former DAW and a dedicated DAW desktop. I got the DAW 3 months ago. I'm just finishing the transition process of transferring all plug-in, DAW programs.

I got the Dell 8600. Needs all the XP DAW tweaks. I started loading software. I started a dummy project Sonar 3.1.1 crashed 3 times. It was weird – it happened just before I was about to close it and restart XP according to software installation procedures. Sonar had but 2 tracks with no audio! I was just seeing if my newly installed Dxi s and VSTi s showed. The Sigma Tel built-in audio card says it doesn’t support Sonar’s whatever. I have not gotten the Indigo.

I don’t mean to sound spoiled, but there seems to me a balance between number of toys and toy maintenance versus making music.

didn't disable ACPI, did you?

No, not that I know of. I'm about to google that, as I don't know what that is, thanks.

edit:
ACPI --An abstract interface that defines a configuration and power management mechanism for hardware and operating systems. Part of the industry-wide OnNow initiative, ACPI is defined in the industry-sponsored ACPI specification.

Okay, thanks. Won't do that then.

I got the Dell 8600. Needs all the XP DAW tweaks. I started loading software. I started a dummy project Sonar 3.1.1 crashed 3 times. It was weird – it happened just before I was about to close it and restart XP according to software installation procedures. Sonar had but 2 tracks with no audio! I was just seeing if my newly installed Dxi s and VSTi s showed. The soundcard says it doesn’t support Sonar’s whatever. I have not gotten the Indigo.

Hi Jerry, I would get the Indigo first then see what types of trouble you get into.

Dell is not a name I would have chosen if I was to get a laptop DAW. I am just funny that way. You might want to take a look at searching the forum for recommended laptops for a DAW. I think you may find other better results.

That being said, Get the Indigo, try to open and work with SONAR. The bit setting of the sound card may be giving you grief like was mentioned earlier. Make sure you do NOT put on SP2 for XP. If you did, that may be causing you grief. PACE will NOT work with SP2 for XP If you are using PACEd FX plugs.

If you want to, fly on over and we can get it workin.

Trouble with it is the RAM is upgradeable only to less than 256 megs.

Yeah, you need the maximum memory you can get nowadays.

I would wager that Dell, or Compaq were not exactly high on the list for DAW laptops.

What budget you working with?

What budget you working with?

$1500ish -- am I wasting my time or necessarily setting myself up for frustration in this price range.

Jamester from another post said:

Top names (IMHO) are Toshiba, Sony, IBM, Sager, Acer, Prostar. I personally would avoid Dell, Compaq, HP, and most mass-produced 'commercial' notebooks.

Looked for notebooks in $1500 range:

Prostar and Toshiba Satellite A75-S2061 lack the PCMCIA card need for Echo Indigo.

Can't tell with Acer and IBM from their websites.

Sager's NP4380 does have PCMCIA. http://www.sagernotebook.com/pages/notebooks/product2.cfm?ProductType=4380&SubType=C

Sony A130 Series has PCMCIA. http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_CTO-Start;sid=6vP2919Psj726B4SeU78_BBfC7teHgSqv-Y=?ProductSKU=A04SU1NB-ABut Sony wants another $400 to go from 512mb RAM to 1 gig! Others seem to get around $200 for this upgrade. I've read some reviews of Sony support as bad?

Jerry - the biggest issue you are faced with in terms of that Dell is BIOS. The Inspiron BIOS is dumbed down, and the machine is a rebadged winbook (or quanta or whatever vendor got the contract this month), There certainly are other choices - one Sonarite posted his approval of a Sager that really impressed me...but if you do want a Dell, then I strongly urge you to send that Inspiron back and re-order a Latitude. They are marketed at business customers so home users are often unaware that they can choose Lats, but they are SOOOO much better, and it's 90% BIOS when you're dealing with a laptop

that's my opnion, and it isn't even worth 2 cents

Sonar doesn't really work for me unless I have Echo Indigo plugged in

my wife's Toshiba P4 2ghz 768MBRam will not work without the Indigo. My Sony TR3 will. Make sure your laptop has a card II type. My friends HP won't read the Indigo.

Inspiron 8600 with the configuration you are talking about (see my signature)... works great!

I got the Echo Indigo I/O and it works! Still, upon exit from Sonar, I get an error message. I'll post the full text of it.

It would be nice if the internal soundcard would at least give me output. That way, I could use the built-in speakers for a break from headphones, right? Or would I be looking at a meltdown with any stock soundcard, upon playing back more than a few tracks?

Upon further research, a top candidate, if I return the Dell, is the Sager NP4380-C for $1700. I've seen nothing but rave reviews about this bunch. Please comment on the specs and, in particular, does the video cam sound like a big potential for disaster?

15" SXGA+ Active Matrix LCD Display
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 3.0GHz (800MHz FSB) supporting Hyper-Threading Technology
1028 MB PC3200 DDR400 memory [ Expandable to 2048 MB ]
40.0 GB (4200rpm) Ultra DMA Hard Drive
4X DVD ± R/RW/+DL Combo Drive & Softwares
Smart Li-ION Battery
Integrated CMOS Video Camera and Built-in 7-in-1 Card Reader
ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9700 128MB DDR
6 Channel Analog Audio output
Touchpad with Scrolling Keys
1 Type II PCMCIA Slot
Infra Red, Wireless Fast IR interface
2 USB 2.0 Ports
1 IEEE-1394 Port (4 PIN)
Other Ports: 1 S/PDIF out & microphone in / Center & subwoofer speaker out, 1 Headphone / Front L/R Speaker out, 1 Line in / Rear L/R Speaker out, 1 Serial, 1 parallel, 1PS/2, 1 SVGA Video, 1 TV-out, 1 RJ-45, 1 RJ-11
Additional Features: Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps LAN & 56k Fax/Modem, Mfg.Optional Internal 802.11b Wi-Fi Wirless LAN Module, 8X DVD/24x10x24 CD-RW Combo, 4X DVD±R/RW Dual Mode drive, and 8X DVD±R/RW/+DL Combo Drive.
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Dimension (H) x (W) x (D) : 1.7"x13."x10.75" Weight: 7.5lbs. with Battery

Just got this from the Dell Inspiron Audio forum and it works:

"To get Sonar to work with my laptop's Sigmatel drivers I had to go to (in Sonar) Option/Audio/Advanced and select 'Always use MME interface.' "

Is this likely to present a problem -- going back and forth between the Indigo and the Sigmatel?

Jerry

Another piece of advice, check out the Emachines MAD64 based laptops. I have used them and they actually scream....


I would second the shuttle PC though. Easily upgradable and almost the same size as a laptop, with PCI slot(s). A thin LCD and your good to go for a while and can keep it even longer due to upgradability.

Wayne

I don’t mean to sound spoiled, but there seems to me a balance between number of toys and toy maintenance versus making music.

I agree with you.

Because I travel alot and I have aspirations to incorporate electronic music into my live performances I opted to get the laptop instead of a "traditional" desktop DAW. It is my only music system at present. I am very satisfied with it. Eventually I will get a desktop but I'm not in a big rush.

The purpose of the 8600:

-Record out-of-town vocal tracks with a friend who lacks a DAW.
-Edit ongoing Sonar projects during my lunch break at work or while on occasional trips or while on the couch
-Audition ideas for a songwriting partner at a coffee shop
-Work with a neighborhood kid on Ejay and introduce him to more advanced software.
-Lay the foundation to do a potential live duo gig in the next year, using Sonar and Live or something like that.

There are also other, cheaper options for mobile digital recording. For instance, a Roland VS-880 on Ebay goes for <$300. It's a small 8 track HD recorder with pre-amps, amp simulators, and midi I/O. Theoretically you could use something like that to record your friend's vocals, work with your friend at the coffee shop, and it can be used live. You would also be able to transfer any work that you did on it to your home DAW.

Since there are options like that available, I guess the question is how often will you need to use Sonar while you are away from home?

Research of user reviews of the 4080, predecessor to the 4380c by Sager reveals some deal killers, mainly noise:

backlight flickering that a number of others have complained about..
minor problem with the DVD/CDRW...

I used it once at a conference for a PowerPoint presentation, and when the fan came on you could definitely hear it throughout the room.

I can't take this thing to class with me because it'll disturb everyone ...

after a while i might mod to quieter/more powerful fans ...

The supposed difference between the 4080 and the 4380 is a video card.

Need to revisit whether PCMCIA cards are available on the altnernatives I mentioned above.