Laptop for a DJ? Please HELP!

DJ CP · 11th March 2009, 5:36 PM

Hey, im a DJ and looking for a laptop to buy. I dont mind pc or macs as long it will do the job without crashing.

I pretty much want a laptop which has a Illuminated keyboard and im struggling to find one except macbooks.
so please help me!
thanks alot people!

underskore · 11th March 2009, 5:38 PM

lol, i was having a discussion with some mates just last week about how an illuminated keyboard is a must have on a laptop for dj and noone wanted to agree with me...

i have a MBP

SLATYE · 11th March 2009, 5:40 PM

The Dell XPS series use backlit keyboards. Both the 13" and 16" ones start at $1999.

Talisman · 11th March 2009, 8:08 PM

If you're using Serato then obviously, the illuminated keyboard will help... and I've seen those keyboard covers show you all the preset keys for Serato..

Why is it exactly you need the illumated keyboard for... for Serato yeah? I don't think it is absolutely necessary, as long as you have reasonable light shining from the laptop screen back down to your keyboard, you shouldn't have too many issues.

If it's just for looks.. then.. hehe.. up to you mate.

//hakes

0M39A_1337 · 12th March 2009, 7:58 AM

probably not the best solution, but how bout one(or two) of those usb snake lights pointing at the keyboard?

eg http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...x&cPath=209_66

haydio · 12th March 2009, 8:28 AM

Get a MacBook, It will have the backlit keyboard and it will crash less, if at all.

zoidbergmerc · 12th March 2009, 9:49 AM

some of the new dells have an option of back lit keyboard.

Remote Man · 12th March 2009, 10:08 AM

I've been looking at this too and I guess a mac is a pretty good solution. Pity about the apple tax.

Phreeky · 12th March 2009, 10:47 AM

Every digital DJ i've seen always uses macs, more compatible with more audio equipment i've been told

r3flexion · 13th March 2009, 5:29 PM

buying a mac is the safest bet.

the problem with laptops is that often the psu is poorly grounded. you end up getting a noticeable hum in your audio when the laptop is connected to the power point. this will happen with both onboard and external soundcards, so don't start thinking that is a solution. when you disconnect it from the wall, the noise goes away.

macs seem to have this problem the least, because apple obviously know they are popular with musicians.

if you get this problem on another laptop, you'll have to drag around a di box with a ground lift switch or remove the ground pin on your psu. i strongly recommend not doing the second option though - if a spike occurs, the electricity will go to the nearest ground, which would most likely be your body lol.

11th March 2009, 5:36 PM	#1
DJ CP Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 5	Laptop for a DJ? Please HELP! Hey, im a DJ and looking for a laptop to buy. I dont mind pc or macs as long it will do the job without crashing. I pretty much want a laptop which has a Illuminated keyboard and im struggling to find one except macbooks. so please help me! thanks alot people! __________________ Q9400 @ 3.4Ghz \| ASUS P5Q-E Motherboard \| 4 x 1GB KINGSTON HYPERX DDR2 1200Mhz \| WESTERN DIGITAL 150GB VELOCIRAPTOR & SEAGATE 1.5TB Harddive \| ASUS KNIGHT COOLER Cpu Cooler \| XFX 8800GTS XXX EDITION 320MB \| RAIDMAX SIRIUS Case\| CORSAIR HX620 600W PSU

11th March 2009, 5:40 PM	#3
SLATYE SLATYE, not SLAYTE Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Canberra Posts: 21,040	The Dell XPS series use backlit keyboards. Both the 13" and 16" ones start at $1999. __________________ Main system: Pentium-D 805 \| 1GB (2x 512MB) PQI DDR400 \| Gigabyte 8I865GMK-775 \| Xtreama Radeon 9800Pro with Zalman ZM-80HP-D \| 320GB WD SATA HDD \| Antec SmartPower 2.0 500w Laptop: Compal EL80 \| C2D T7200 \| 320GB Fujistu HDD \| 2GB DDR2-667 \| GF Go 7600

11th March 2009, 8:08 PM	#4
Talisman Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Melbournes Inner Eastern suburbs Posts: 1,338	If you're using Serato then obviously, the illuminated keyboard will help... and I've seen those keyboard covers show you all the preset keys for Serato.. Why is it exactly you need the illumated keyboard for... for Serato yeah? I don't think it is absolutely necessary, as long as you have reasonable light shining from the laptop screen back down to your keyboard, you shouldn't have too many issues. If it's just for looks.. then.. hehe.. up to you mate. //hakes __________________ [You are the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world] Folding@Home 40000 Points Milestone \| Folding@Home 2000 Club

12th March 2009, 7:58 AM	#5
0M39A_1337 Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hobart, TAS Posts: 1,157	probably not the best solution, but how bout one(or two) of those usb snake lights pointing at the keyboard? eg http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...x&cPath=209_66 __________________ 30+ Successful Trades PROUD HOMEBREWER "Give a man a beer, he'll waste an hour. Teach a man to brew, he'll waste a lifetime."

12th March 2009, 8:28 AM	#6
haydio Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Rockingham, WA Posts: 366	Get a MacBook, It will have the backlit keyboard and it will crash less, if at all. __________________ Core i7 920 @ 4ghz - 6GB DDR3 - 1TB RAID0 - 9600GT - 2x 19" 1x 32" Toshiba TV Black Macbook 2.2ghz - 4gb Ram - 320gb HDD Nikon D40 - 18-55mm - 70-300mm Volvo S40 - 1999

11th March 2009, 5:38 PM	#2
underskore Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: 3122 Posts: 3,628	lol, i was having a discussion with some mates just last week about how an illuminated keyboard is a must have on a laptop for dj and noone wanted to agree with me... i have a MBP

12th March 2009, 9:49 AM	#7
zoidbergmerc Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hobart Posts: 348	some of the new dells have an option of back lit keyboard. __________________ [MxP] ZOIDBERG MAXXX POWER Founding Father \| Intel Q9450 @ 3.2Ghz \| ASUS P5Q \| Kingston HyperX 4GB 1066Mhz \| 2x 500GB WD \| EVGA GTX 285 SuperClocked \| Corsair HX-750 \| Win7 RC\| ViewSonic 22" \| Logitech Wave Keyboard \| Logitech Z-5500D Speakers \| Logitech Mx-518 Mouse

12th March 2009, 10:08 AM	#8
Remote Man Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Melbourne.vic.au Posts: 860	I've been looking at this too and I guess a mac is a pretty good solution. Pity about the apple tax. __________________ sorey four ne gamma and spealing miscakes.

12th March 2009, 10:47 AM	#9
Phreeky Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,661	Every digital DJ i've seen always uses macs, more compatible with more audio equipment i've been told __________________ We all know the answer, but what is the quetsion? -Acid 42

13th March 2009, 5:29 PM	#10
r3flexion Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 211	buying a mac is the safest bet. the problem with laptops is that often the psu is poorly grounded. you end up getting a noticeable hum in your audio when the laptop is connected to the power point. this will happen with both onboard and external soundcards, so don't start thinking that is a solution. when you disconnect it from the wall, the noise goes away. macs seem to have this problem the least, because apple obviously know they are popular with musicians. if you get this problem on another laptop, you'll have to drag around a di box with a ground lift switch or remove the ground pin on your psu. i strongly recommend not doing the second option though - if a spike occurs, the electricity will go to the nearest ground, which would most likely be your body lol.