Ok, $1499 for a Alienware 17'cheap'. I said quality .. and no crapware.
It's really about the machine used to do video with. You must have enough processor speed, ram and I would say at least a i5 to for showing videos. I learned years ago about using the proper machine for DJ software. If you don't have enough gigs your program will run super slow, keep skipping and load extra slow.
Damn do you have enough laptops? Why not 2 more just for safety's sake? LOL. My reason for asking this question is to see how many have a laptop that is not a Mac and are happy.I use a 9 year old Dell as my main machine. Bought it in 2007 and had it for a backup machine. I put it in service in '09 and haven't done anything but add music and defrag since. Works like a charm.
I also have 2 newer (less than 2 years old) HP machines, another Dell that's retired ( I could still use if need arose) and a Lenovo that I picked up when I bought some gear out a few years ago. It pretty much came free so I took it. I also have an HP desktop for a studio machine that's is fully loaded to DJ if disaster were to strike and an older model that I built myself around 2010 that I store off site that is fully loaded to DJ
But I can remove that pretty easily .. I suppose an extra $700 might be worth it to someone who can't ..An i7, 8GB, 1TB quality grade PC with no crapware cost a pretty nice penny too. . The crapware subsidizes some of the cost.
I have never own an apple computer but have several Ipads, phones, even the watch, honestly one of the big reasons for me is windows 10 and Microsofts scare tactics into converting to it, download by July 29th or it won't be free, sure I would like to try windows 10, however I read constantly about having to make tweaks to it to make it work right, If they could just say download and everything will work the same but better I would be all in, I don't want to have my time to make a new operating system work for me.I just did a google search for a Macbook pro 17". I saw it listed several. Not new of course but they are out there. My big question is why a Macbook? Some people swear by a Macbook pro. What is the big deal? My main laptop is a lenovo and it's working just fine. Minus what I've done to it over time. I run VDJ and all is well. Some like that people will recognize the symbol and know you're using a Macbook. Big deal to me. They to me are over priced laptops. To each his own though. Use what makes you happy. If it makes you happy having an over priced laptop to DJ with, go for it.
But I can remove that pretty easily .. I suppose an extra $700 might be worth it to someone who can't ..
I have never own an apple computer but have several Ipads, phones, even the watch, honestly one of the big reasons for me is windows 10 and Microsofts scare tactics into converting to it, download by July 29th or it won't be free, sure I would like to try windows 10, however I read constantly about having to make tweaks to it to make it work right, If they could just say download and everything will work the same but better I would be all in, I don't want to have my time to make a new operating system work for me.
My current gig machine is a 7 year old HP with a 17 inch screen always online at gigs, but has never seen anything but Itunes and virtual DJ, works flawlessly and has never had 1 issue, however at 7 years of age it is time to replace it, I have been extremely impressed with everything Apple I have ever owned, plus it all works so well together,
I put a like to your post but disagree with one thing you. I nearly in every post mention price. Again taking it away for now from a laptop, I've know other things that are way over priced. Yet some people are caught up into labels and that's why they buy items that are way over priced. Let me give you 3 examples. I went to Short Hills Mall looking for a place to buy some CD's at the time. I go into one of the stores. Not sure which one. They had for sell a thin leather jacket that you could only wear during early spring and it's not to cold. The price was over 2k. Then in another store they had a tan/brown leather brief case that has the 2 carry handles on it. It was really hot. I tell people to guess how much it cost. People tell me $500 and think that's too much to pay. They want 2k for that brief case. A friend of mine has a daughter who said she bought a True Religion jean jacket for $400. To me and her mother that is crazy. Especially since she lives in the projects right where my friend that DJs with me lives.You should use whatever you want. The ONLY people who care what you use are other dj's and who cares what they think. Honestly, do you think your guests are out there saying... "he is using a pc, so he must be having problems with viruses and drivers.". No. Only dj's have this issue.
I prefer Macs, the other dj likes PC... Ok, conversation is over!
We always try to get into these debates to boost our own status. WHO CARES? Use what you want.
And LEAVE THE PRICE OUT OF IT when discussing this. If you are buying a $299 Dell, you will have problems. If you buy a $500 Macbook Air, you are going to have problems. Stop cheeping out dj's and making this about "overpriced" computers. Mixmaster, you put in nearly every post how something is over priced... Buy quality and buy what you want. It's only overpriced if its too much for you.
Moving on... these debates are boring and very unproductive.
We always try to get into these debates to boost our own status. WHO CARES? Use what you want.
And LEAVE THE PRICE OUT OF IT when discussing this. If you are buying a $299 Dell, you will have problems. If you buy a $500 Macbook Air, you are going to have problems. Stop cheeping out dj's and making this about "overpriced" computers. Mixmaster, you put in nearly every post how something is over priced... Buy quality and buy what you want. It's only overpriced if its too much for you.
Moving on... these debates are boring and very unproductive.
I put a like to your post but disagree with one thing you. I nearly in every post mention price. Again taking it away for now from a laptop, I've know other things that are way over priced. Yet some people are caught up into labels and that's why they buy items that are way over priced. Let me give you 3 examples. I went to Short Hills Mall looking for a place to buy some CD's at the time. I go into one of the stores. Not sure which one. They had for sell a thin leather jacket that you could only wear during early spring and it's not to cold. The price was over 2k. Then in another store they had a tan/brown leather brief case that has the 2 carry handles on it. It was really hot. I tell people to guess how much it cost. People tell me $500 and think that's too much to pay. They want 2k for that brief case. A friend of mine has a daughter who said she bought a True Religion jean jacket for $400. To me and her mother that is crazy. Especially since she lives in the projects right where my friend that DJs with me lives.
Now anybody can do what they want. Me and her mother both agree she lost her mind. I have never seen anybody's jean jacket that I would pay $400 for. I remember a story where a guy that owned a store stopped selling certain things because he knew who was coming in to buy these items. He said he knew it was drug dealers. Some things are priced that way to sucker in some people to waste their money on that item.
I wish I had a product that I could make a fortune off of taking suckers money because they see a name and think it's worth the price when it's super way over priced. I really don't have a problem if a person can comfortably afford something. Now if you got to struggle to pay your rent just to get a particular item, then I say you should really rethink if you really need that item. What gets some people in trouble is their wants and not their needs. Everybody has things they want and that's not a bad thing at all. It's only bad when a person neglects their needs for their wants.
My best friend bought a 2015 SUV because the one he had that he bought brand new in 2002 died. The engine was gone. So need to fix that one. He needed another vehicle to get back and forth to work so he could pay his bills. I bought another van myself because the one I had I didn't buy brand new was a 2002 and it started having a lot of problems. So I opted out to buy a more reliable vehicle. Only major thing I've had to do so far is buy some new tires.
About 6 years ago a friend of the B&G told me I should have a mackbook. I told him I got my first mac in 1996 and I had one at home, but that didn't stop him from telling me I should DJ with one. He came off as an apple snob IMO, and ironically some people might have thought the same of me at one time! Macs are great, but not needed to run a DJ program IMO.Honestly, do you think your guests are out there saying... "he is using a pc, so he must be having problems with viruses and drivers.".
My big question is WHY NOT a Macbook? Because it cost more? It also has MUCH better reliability ratings, much more stable OS, no viruses or malaware, fewer crashes, no driver conflicts, no blue screens. If your only justification is price, well, that is kind of interesting when we ALL hope that brides don't hire the cheapest dj. We want them to hire the best.
Simply put, it's a proven fact that Apple remains the top brand for the seventh year in a row, thanks to its combination of best-in-class laptops and industry-leading tech support. (Based on user reviews, tech support, design, warranty, software and innovation. The ONLY category where PC won was value. I would hate to be known as the "value dj" to my brides.
But again, I choose Mac because I like it. I choose it because of its reliability. I know of NO dj's who choose it because of the logo. I have heard WAY too many horror stories about drivers and blue screens and windows 10 upgrading mid-event and there is not a darn thing you can do about it but wait until its done.
In the past 12 years of using Mac, I have not had a single skip, shutdown, driver problem, crash, etc. in any of the Macs I have used or have ever sold. And I sell a ton of them. Not one. I am sure some of you have the same luck with PC, so that's great. I am willing to INVEST in something I feel will give me more piece of mind at a wedding. I am not buying GLI speakers, so why would I buy an entry level laptop. I try to use the best I can afford and so should you.
Don't let me or anyone else talk you out of or into what YOU choose to use. This is a very personal choice and only you can decide what is best for you. But the facts are there which system is more reliable. But seriously, leave the price factor out of it. We ask the brides to do it, so why shouldn't we.