Karaoke Forums

I am looking to buy a laptop with an 300gb external hard drive. Would like suggestions on which hard drive would be the best for Kj and dj applications and which ones to stay away from. Also which laptops would be recomended.looking to spend aprox 2000.00 on hardware

My best advice is not to buy a laptop for DJ/KJ work.  Go rack mount, you'll be way ahead in the short run and the long run.  Cheaper and more powerful, less setup because it's already mounted and generic repalcement parts means less down time.
     Shop software first and then get the hardware to run it.  VDJ seems to be the hot ticket in DJ software but it requires a powerful computer.  For KJ work I suggest Sack-O-Nuts ShowHoster because it's easy to use and cheap and now comes packaged with a KJ trivia game.  However, my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt on Sacks-O-Nuts because I wrote the stupid thing.  Doing that, I'm pretty sure you can get set up with hardware and software for just about a grand USD.

Are you going to use this setup for professional use?

If not a laptop works great. I would recommend Seagate or Western Digital for your external HD. Seagate makes an excellent 300gig. I have had tremendous luck with Toshiba on the laptops.

If you are going for professional use I would recommend either a shuttle style computer or a rackmount computer. They are easier to work with If you need to replace parts.

As for hosting software I'm not gonna open up a can of worms here as it has been a very heated debate as to which one is the best. The correct answer for what is best is what fullfills all of your present and future needs and is easiest for you to operate. The other considerations are support, and price.

There are plenty of decent programs out there. Do a search on this forum and you will find tons of info on them. Most have a demo download so you can try them before you buy.

_________________
FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

the problem with "the best" is it's entirely up to the individuals what is "the best" for anybody. You ask ten experts what type of video card, you may get five different answers, or ten different ones all with various points to ponder.

Same thing with laptops and desktops and shuttles and towers.

software too! what works for one person's individual needs won't work for another! at ALL! or you'll get folks like me that are rebels and don't want to pay for something, so we'll settle for less features. Or we just don't NEED all of them!

On that point I can agree. It seems that everyone has their best "whatever"
is that whatever best for your application ?????????

If you do plenty of research and ask the professionals that either use the product or sell it you will eventually come up with what you need.

If I had it to do over again I would choose a rackmount computer for two reasons, first because it is really easy to transport and if you rig it right only requires a couple of cords to plug in. Second it saves alot of wear and tear on the hardware itself. Again this really depends on what you will be doing with the system. I do many private functions and I set up and tear down alot. If you had a system that was going to stay put, then perhaps a different choice is in order.

_________________
FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

third reason is a rackmount means that if your system breaks down and you have computer repair smarts, you can fix it yourself saving yourself some valuble $$.

one thing look into rackmountable LCD monitor and keyboard and that will save space above the rack.

I wll be using a laptop and it will be for professional use. I am trying to cnvert from the traditional cdg disc and player setup to computer. Im trying to avoid purchasing the wrong hardware, by trying to find out what most of the KJs who may be running there show are using. I appreciate all the help.

LOOK AT THE hP DV8000 I just set up one for someone, and it is one sweet laptop. it has an amd64 x2 processor, and more than enough power for anything. less than $1500.00 and for the external hd they had a lacie 500 gig. I never heard of it before, bit it works great.

_________________
______________________________________
I'm Not Dead yet...... But every day Im getting Closer !

Software : I'd go with roxbox from www.kjamp.com as it is the first Mp3+g player to add mcg and ncg support.

Dr. D, I was looking at the HP, along with a couple models from Dell.  Just curious, did you add an external sound card, or go with what came with the DV8000?

Just to make this perfectly clear, what I and it seems most of the folks on this thread have been trying to say is that a laptop IS the wrong hardware.

I'm with exweed on this one.
A Laptop might make for a good backup system but I wouldn't want to depend on it night after night of fulltime use.

stock soundcard.

_________________
______________________________________
I'm Not Dead yet...... But every day Im getting Closer !

I am just converting over from discs to digital.  I am using an older HP ZE4430 laptop with an external 250Gig drive.  I just ordered my soundcard and software so I do not have experience yet on how it willl hold up.  The main reason I choose a laptop is I had one, and an attempt  to lesson the amount of heavy gear I carry around.  As a DJ moving into KJ I am continually trying to get away from loading up my entire Excursion to play a gig.  Although I will always make space and carry my new Carvin PA... It rocks!

I also finally ordered Compuhost software.  I really like the interface and it just feels intuitive to me.  The price is steep, but I really like the features. I do agree with everyone else... Try the downloads of all of them... What works for one of us may not be as intuitve and accomodating for you.  I tried Hoster, Roxbox, Compuhost, Saxs, and some freeware.  I then settled on Compuhost.

Hope that helps...
Bob

Good luck with the change over. Thats what I decided to do . Im tring to avoid buying hardware that I will regret in a few months. I looked at MTU. com they sell a laptop and a portable pc system already set up. Dont know if thats the way to go or can I do better if I configure it myself. Like to get imput on what other KJs are using

I have used a Notebook as a primary karaoke source for 6 years now.
I have never had a problem, even the one I have retired still works fantactic.

Pick up a Gateway MX7525 from Best Buy. $1350 if it's not on sale I got mine for $1199.

It has an AMD 64bit 4000+ Processor
1 gig of ram
and 256MB ATI x600 Video.

I upgraded the ram and use mine for muisc, Karaoke and Music Videos.

The best place right now to buy Hard Dives Is Staples.
200gig External $120 Maxtor 8mb Cache

300gig External $200 Maxto 16mb Cache

Sound card Pick up a gigaport $150
and you will want a wireless usb mouse.

Software I use PCDJ with karaoke plug in for karaoke and Virtual DJ for Music and Video.

pcdj HAS a karaoke plugin? Or are you talkin' about their animal "PCKJ"?

When you have PCDJ FX, PCKJ becomes a componet of PCDJ making a 3 player screen. You can assign each player to a different sound card, it quite nice. I am paitently waiting the release of a version of virtual dj with hosting options.

okay, but PCDJ has several programs.

Silver, Red, Blue, FX, KJ, etc...

you didn't specify what you were using. I've been after PCDJ to just run a plugin, like winamp! From what you stated, it's what it sounded like!

and being one that is looking at the options....

for PCDJ, what version are others running?  silver, red, blue, etc.....
Using it for music or KJ, or both?

I was thinking about going with it for DJ music only at first to get used to using digital, and then start migrating the karaoke later

I am trying to do some homework and get the right versions the first time so I dont sit here a month or two later saying, gee I should have got the XXXXXX version instead.