[Cap]

No problem, Art.

Please do not take this as a slam. If you have no clue as to terminology/information contained in my response, this may not be the best time in your educational curve to consider digital DJing and my apologies for not being more specific.

You asked what laptops do we use:
SONY PCG-GRX560 (3 units; main, backup, backup to backup). In otherwords. I have three identical units. If one fails, there's another to move right in and take over. Even if that one fails, there's a third. Because of the unwarranted yet natural uneducated fears of computer failure, my client's are made aware of the triple redundancy even though my #1 main has never failed.

Your list of programs and features you wish to accomplish takes a great deal of horsepower to accomplish. In computer terminology, the power to accomplish your goals in a timely fashion is dictated by several factors that you simply must be aware of.

1) Processor Speed. The higher the number, the faster the data is crunched, generally offered in mHz ratings. A Pentium 4 2.8mHz machine can process faster than a Pentium 4 1.6 mHz.

2) RAM (random access memory). The higher the number, the more data can move back and forth from the processor without the need to temporarily store it on the hard drive. For WinXP, 256mb (million bits) is minimal, the higher the number, the faster your machine will operate and the more programs you can have operating efficiently at the same time.

3) Size of the hard drive. Consider this your file cabinet. The larger your file cabinet, the more data can be stuffed into it. Obviously, one can store twice bottom much data in a 120gb (giga-bit) hard drive as a 60gb.

4) RPM of the hard drive. The faster a drive spins, the more quickly stored information can be retrieved or stored. This factor is grossly neglected. If your hard drive spins at 4200rpm, it's slow and probably inexpensive. 90% of all laptops are 4200 because of weight, power consumption and price. 5400rpm's in the 60gb-80gb are now available, there are some 7200rpm drives for laptops of less than 60gb. In the ideal world, my laptop would have internal 10,000rpm 100-120gb drives. So far, I have not seen any being manufactured.

5) Laptop screens are measured differently that desk tops. A 16" laptop screen equates to a 17" desk top. No clue why the different measurements, one versus the other.

6) The internal sound cards/devices of a laptop are usable but noisy in terms of pro audio output. That's why Brian and I listed our outboard sound cards, his being a PCMCIA Indigo DJ and mine a USB GigaPortAG.

Computer terminology is not hard to learn if equated to an office structure. If you don't know what PCMCIA or USB means, consider learning the language and what it all means before making any purchase.