laptop with sonar?

I'm considering buying a laptop to replace my desktop, but I'm concerned about performance with sonar.
 
My soundcard is a MOTU hybrid, so there wouldn't be a problem there.
 
most cheap laptops come with a 5400 rpm HDD, but I was considering getting one with an SSD.
 
thoughts?

lol - thanks abacab!

Options are very limited here in Vietnam, I had to wait ages for i7 laptops to appear, and they had different issues.
 
My Criteria was:
i7
at least 8mb ram, preferably up gradable to 16
DVD drive, so that an SSD would be an option.
At least 3 USB ports, preferably 4. (so many more powerful laptops seem to be going for sleekness and cutting back to 2 USBs, which would force an external hub on me)
HD resolution screen, so I could be happy without running a second screen.
 
I got my HP Envy Touch, i7, fixed 8mb ram, DVD drive, 3 usb ports, HD screen and touch too (should that ever evolve into something useful)
 
Ran DPC latency as soon as I got home, and after 15 minutes at factory setting, I was happy.
 
I've seen others happy with their HO Envys, and they have slightly better spec'd than mine.
 
I'd keep an eye on the usb port number and consider HD screen, my prevous laptops didn't have that and I'm glad I went for it. Touch with laptop HD screen doesn't work for my, stubbies, but I've wondered about a stylus. It seems a waste to have now. I forget about it, and remeber everytime and ant walks across the screen, and I try to brush it off. But given my choices, there was only this laptop at the time that met my desired specs.
 
I have found over the years the advertised ports may not be true, so double check with the manufacturer that they are correct. Even in the UK, I've stood in PC world saying, 'this card says Firewire, show me the firewire on this machine.'. 'Do you have a machine with firewire.......yes I know this says it has firewire, but where is it?......

My laptop only has USB 3.0 ports but all of my devices work, even the old Frontier Tranzport that only has drivers for Vista and must be installed in a compatibility mode.   

another question - what about video outputs?  on modern laptops can I connect TWO external monitors to them?  if so, how?
 
some of the specs say:

HDMI output expands your viewing options

Connect to an HDTV or high-def monitor to set up two screens side by side or just see more of the big picture.
 
but I"m not sure exactly what that means.  does that mean two monitors can be connected to the HDMI output?
 
here's one of the laptops which says that statement above (several others with HDMI or mini HDMI or MINI VIDEO port says the same thing)
 
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-yoga-900-13-2-2-in-1-13-3-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-256gb-solid-state-drive-platinum-silver/5207000.p?id=bb5207000&skuId=5207000
 

Beagle
another question - what about video outputs?  on modern laptops can I connect TWO external monitors to them?  if so, how?
 
some of the specs say:

HDMI output expands your viewing options

Connect to an HDTV or high-def monitor to set up two screens side by side or just see more of the big picture.
 
but I"m not sure exactly what that means.  does that mean two monitors can be connected to the HDMI output?
 
here's one of the laptops which says that statement above (several others with HDMI or mini HDMI or MINI VIDEO port says the same thing)
 
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-yoga-900-13-2-2-in-1-13-3-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-256gb-solid-state-drive-platinum-silver/5207000.p?id=bb5207000&skuId=5207000
 

Good question. No HDMI listed under connectivity specs. Based on the description of the included ports and optional accessories for that listing, I assume it supports one external monitor via the USB Type-C-to-HDMI Adapter, listed under accessories frequently bought together.  http://www.bestbuy.com/si...9289&skuId=4480802
 
The Lenovo site lists 1 x USB Type C 3.0 with Video-out.
http://shop.lenovo.com/us...00-series/yoga-900-13/
 
This similar listing for a 15.4 inch Yoga lists one HDMI output, but under accessories it lists a HDMI-to-Micro HDMI cable.  Either case it, it looks like just one external monitor capability.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-yoga-710-15-2-in-1-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-256gb-solid-state-drive-black/5225018.p?id=bb5225018&skuId=5225018
 
Seems that they are cutting back on extra connectivity in slim designs these days.  So it depends on your needs.  Best bet, go visit a store, if you can.

Hey, you got me curious, so I had a look around.  If you are set on the 13" ultrabook convertible style, I ran across this at the Microsoft Store.  USB 3.0 only, but does appear capable of supporting 2 external monitors.
 
This store sells the "Signature Edition", meaning Windows without the junkware or 3rd party trialware.
 
HP Spectre x360 13-4195nr Signature Edition 2 in 1 PC

• 13.3-inch WQHD touchscreen
• Intel Core i7-6500U
• 8GB memory/512GB SSD

https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/HP-Spectre-x360-13-Signature-Edition-2-in-1-PC/productID.323246400
 
Spotted this in the Q & A: There is a HDMI and a mini Display Port, so you can get two external monitors, but you might need adapters.
 
EDIT: other thoughts on the ultrabook form factor... I cannot find one that has an optical drive bay where you could swap in a 2nd hard drive.  Plus there was another recent thread on the Sonar laptop topic, with some good advice offered.  I did notice you were looking to use this as a desktop replacement, so some due diligence is definitely required, in that case.
 
That said, I could imagine using the small touchscreen in tablet mode as a mixer control surface, with one or two large external monitors for tracking views, etc :-)
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com...Platinum-m3461160.aspx

I did purchase one.  It does not have a second hard drive nor an optical drive where I could change it out, but it does have a Type C port where I can add an external 2nd drive.
 
what I do is not sample heavy at all.  I have moved to a more direct audio environment and moved away from heavy use of Kontakt or other samplers.  the ones I do use can easily be bounced to audio.
 
I looked at the Lenovo you posted, abacab, they had it at bestbuy last night when I went to check out the laptops.  it was a close second choice, but I ended up with an HP Spectre x360
 
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-spectre-x360-2-in-1-15-6-4k-ultra-hd-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-256gb-solid-state-drive-natural-silver/4864800.p?id=bb4864800&skuId=4864800
 
256 SSD 16G DDR3 (would have preferred DDR4, but...)
i7 2.5GHz Dual Core 
4k UHD touchscreen 
1 HDMI
1 Displayport
3 USB 3.0
1 USB Type C
 
the only thing I wish was different would be I'd like to have a 2nd HDD or SSD.  but as I said, I think I can get away with an external on the Type C.
 
I've got a lot of installing to do before I can fully test it with sonar, but I'll let you guys know how it goes.  I've got 15 days to return it if it doesn't work for me!

I have always used a desktop but am beginning to spend time in Idaho helping my mom... 1 week/month and am looking into a laptop... best I've seen is this new laptop just out a month ago: 
 
Asus - 2-in-1 15.6" 4K Ultra HD Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - 2TB HDD + 512GB SSD - Chocolate black aluminum hairline with dark copper
 
Reviewed in Cutting Edge Notebook
 
$1399

Product Features

Intel 6th Generation Core i7

15.6" touch screen for hands-on control

3840 x 2160 native resolution. Natural finger-touch navigation makes the most of Windows 10. LED backlight.
 

6th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-6500U mobile processor

Ultra-low-voltage platform. Dual-core, four-way processing performance. Intel Turbo Boost Technology delivers dynamic extra power when you need it.
 

16GB system memory for intense multitasking and gaming

Reams of high-bandwidth DDR4 RAM to smoothly run your graphics-heavy PC games and video-editing applications, as well as numerous programs and browser tabs all at once.
 

2TB hard drive and 512GB solid state drive (SSD) for a blend of storage space and speed

The hard drive provides ample storage, while the SSD delivers faster start-up times and data access.
 

360° flip-and-fold design

Offers versatile functionality with laptop, audience, tabletop, presentation and tablet modes.
 

Cloud support lets you access your files anywhere

Store your photos, videos, documents and other files on Dropbox for secure access across multiple devices. Fees may apply.
 

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M graphics

Driven by 2GB dedicated video memory to quickly render high-quality images for videos and games.
 

Stream entertainment from your laptop to your TV

Intel® Wireless Display (c) wirelessly transmits content to your HDTV* — photos, music, Web videos, Internet TV — whether on the hard drive or online.
 

Built-in stereo speakers

Bang & Olufsen ICEpower audio optimizes the sound to generate high-quality audio from ultraslim devices.
 

Bluetooth interface syncs with compatible devices

Wirelessly transfer photos, music and other media between the laptop and your Bluetooth-enabled cell phone or MP3 player, or connect Bluetooth wireless accessories.
 

4 USB 3.0 ports maximize the latest high-speed devices

USB 3.0 ports are backward-compatible with USB 2.0 devices (at 2.0 speeds).
 

HDMI output expands your viewing options

Connect to an HDTV or high-def monitor to set up two screens side by side or just see more of the big picture.
 

Thunderbolt port for connecting advanced monitors and external drives

This single interface supports both high-speed data and high-def video — plus power over cable for bus-powered devices — ideal for digital content creators.
 

Built-in media reader for simple photo transfer

Supports SD and SDXC memory card formats.
 

Next-generation wireless connectivity

Connects to your network or hotspots on all current Wi-Fi standards. Connect to a Wireless-AC router for speed nearly 3x faster than Wireless-N.
 

Backlit keyboard

Allows you to enjoy comfortable and accurate typing, even in dim lighting.
 

Additional ports

 
Headphone/microphone combo jack.
 
Note: This laptop does not include a built-in DVD/CD drive.
 
 
Naturally, I'd eventually swap out the other HD for a large SSD...it's a crappy 5400 and both are swappable but coming up with this is challenging enough!  
I've already submitted queries as to whether I can swap out the memory and boot it up to (oh I would LOVE THIS.... 32GB...that would seal the deal for me!
 
Any thoughts???

Actually, Bob... I'll be transiting lots till the end of the year when I hope to relocate to be mom's care giver in her last few years... starting with a week a month and ramping to much more as I settle my affairs in Oakland...and in the process, considering it's sort of an overdue retirement from heavy labor (landscape/garden creation/maintenance) I'll be visiting family/friends in the northwest/BC canada area when my mom needs a break... mobility might be a main aspect of my life!  Can imagine a small trailer studio while traveling...as I'm mostly virtual these days!
 
Given my current rig, I can't imagine doing with a lesser machine.  I max out my 4930 periodically and if I really can stop spending half my day trying to work enough to survive/mortgage/taxes et al, I might really be able to finally explore my songwriting passion at a level I've always dreamed of... two beefy ssd's and a TB interface and I should be on cloud nine, only having to resort to the VastMaschine when I wanna finalize and create videos to move my climate music to youtube, which might change more minds...
 
Just thinkin' out loud... the idea of moving my studio rig seems insane...or at least really challenging/dangerous. I'd also be a reward for letting go of the house/farm I spent over 20 years creating!  And I've spent more than that on recent vsts this year alone!
 
Would love more ram but nothing I see offers TB, all the usb3 ports, and 2 drives in a convertible touch screen format.  One tester is able to drive 5 hd monitors via TB so yikes!

"15.6" touch screen for hands-on control
3840 x 2160 native resolution. Natural finger-touch navigation makes the most of Windows 10. LED backlight."
 
Wow. hope you have reeeelly good eyes. That's quite the resolution for such a "small" screen. It'd be great on a 27" or bigger screen tho. For LP DAW use I prefer 17" minimum.
 
Many LPs have Display Ports instead of HDMI (mine has 2 & 1 respectively). HDMI is intended to connect one device to one display. DisplayPort can be used to connect the same device to multiple displays. Both can carry HD quality digital video and audio signals.
 
My LP has great specs but is a bit noisy. Something I'm looking for is a quieter LP.

Cactus Music
No matter what the specs, Some laptops have crap inbedded in their system that make recording imposible. This is why laptops can be a crapshoot.  Always run Latency Mon before you spend the money, or make sure the sales person is aware that if you can't get background processing under control, it's coming back. 
 
My son bought a $1,500 Dell just for audio and it was a dud. Dell would not return it as they claimed there was nothing actually wrong with it... only for audio was it a doorstop. He bought a $500 Acer, suped it up a bit, and it's been doing fine. 
 
We had a heck of a time finding a Laptop with a DVD drive for our music program at work. We need to rip CD's into iTunes. After 3 months the DVD drive is no longer recognized by Windows or the BIOS. I hate laptops...

+1!
 
The more I look into this area the more excitation I have become...but I agree... get a no questions asked return policy...