Equipment Standard

[snapcam]

This is a question for the computer buffs out there.

I am considering the purchase of a new laptop computer for the production and projection of Audio Visual sequences produced mostly using PTE. Some folk insist on Proshow but enough said on that.

We have just had our annual A.V. festival and I was responsible for the projection of the programmes.I was using a newly purchased laptop,not mine,

recently aquired by the governing body of the festival. We had been assured that the graphics were of a high specification.

I don't know the spec of the graphics but there was 6gig memory and Win7 operating system.

The first problem was Win 7. would not cleanly open sequences using earlier PTE vers than PTE7. I then found that the computer struggled with some of the longer transitions.

Although most sequences showed fine some showed a slight shimmer on trasitions.

These problems are I think down to the computer being used so my question is what is recommended if one is buying new with A.V. in mind. I know seperate graphics are preferred to integrated

but beyond that what should we look for in the laptop.

Snapcam

[fh1805]

I think the first question you need to answer is: Will this PC be used ONLY for showing AV sequences? If that is all it is going to do then you have the opportunity to customize it for that specific task. If, however, it is also going to be used as a first-choice workstation then the decisions about specification will/may need to be different.

My experience of running other people's sequences on my laptop and of having my sequences run on other people's systems leads me to conclude that all of the following can influence the playback behaviour:

- the capability of the graphics hardware (the amount of graphics memory is more important than the power of the graphics processor)

- the size of the image files being processed (large files cause more problems than small ones)

- the complexity of the slides being processed (a slide with many objects - and especially many masks - seems to place a greater strain on the graphics than does a slide with fewer and simpler objects)

- the presence of unwanted (at times, unsuspected) background tasks taking resource away from the primary purpose tasks (especially true of anti-virus scans)

- the software used to create the sequence (those built using Proshow will always appear to have less smooth transitions than those produced with PTE, especially to and from black)

Those who organise regional, national and international festivals have a duty to provide the very best equipment possible so that, no matter how powerful the PC on which the entrant's sequence was built, that sequence is given every possible chance to perform flawlessly. That means, because the capability of the hardware/software is constantly rising, the organisers should be buying an absolute top-of-the-range PC every single year! I'll bet there isn't an organisation anywhere in the world that is doing that.

regards,

Peter

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Hi Snapcam

I bought a new laptop a couple of months ago, specifically to use running PTE shows away from base. I searched the major manufacturers models high & low, but unless you want to pay, £1000 plus, you are not going to get a future proof spec. I eventually went to a company called PC Specialists in Holmfirth Yorkshire. I had some dealing with them a couple of years ago when I bought a LT for a friend. To a certain extent you can tailor make your LT using their wizard to add to what they have as a base. They also have a forum, which although composed mainly of gamers, can give you valuable info. There is a thread on here about buying my new LT,

Have a read & let me know if you require further info.

Yachtsman1

[Maureen]

As I run so many AV events and National / International comps I do replace my laptop and computer very often.

I would guess 18 months. Has to be very high specifications.

If I feel my own equipment wouldn't be up to scratch then I would borrow some which was.

The main criteria is always the graphics card.

Sadly when buying a laptop the graphics card is often the specification which is rarely listed on the info in most big Computer Stores.

Take along an AV which is very graphics hungry and play it on the laptop before you buy.

Best ones to use to test can be Wings Platinum AVs whose files can be huge.

If it plays those your LP will be fine for PTE and others and you are safe to run most AV comps

Windows 7 has no problems with the older PTE sequences.

Often Aldi sells Medion Laptops which are very reasonably priced and also very high specifications - very good value.

Aldi sells electronic computer gear on special offers.

Recently Tesco had a very high spec LP for sale too so you have to be aware of what you want and look out for the good deals when they come up.

Don't buy the more ordinary home specification ones, look at all the specs - they do often list the graphics capabilities.

Look for those listed for games and video work - generally have the better graphics cards.

Hope this helps.

[snapcam]

Many thanks for all your replies that has given me some good points and a starting point on what to look for.I will check out your thread Yachtsman.

Snapcam

[Barry Beckham]

Snapcam

This is a personal view, but what else are our answers , if not personal ones.

A laptop for my general Photography. No thank you, not even if you bought it for me. A desktop for the creation of images and slide shows every day of the week and twice on Sundays is my choice. I don't care what the techies say, laptops, even when their spec appears to be the same or close to a desktop do not perform the same.

They are a necessary eveil in my mind, but we have to have them to show slide shows and for demos. If you need a laptop for PTE take a heavily animated show to the PC store and have them run the show. I did on a number of laptops both in the UK and later in Australia and its an eye opener. The most expensive laptops with high end graphics cards were not always the ones that ran the slide shows smoothly. My reasoning for the test was that if I could find a laptop that showed my style of slideshow OK from a USB stick, then I would be reasonably confident that it will do the job better from the Hard Disk. As I said, its a bit of an eye opener when you do that. So, before I part with any cash for a laptop I want to see it in action.

With regards AV competitions, I have seen the same as you describe with entered slide shows looking very tacky with animation jerking all over the screen because the equipment used could not cope. Having said that I could also see the size of some of the shows before the equipment secretary launched them. Some were so large I don't how they got them that big. Hundreds of MB. In that case the organisors are up against it, but for good AV competitions I say a powerful desktop should be used to show the entires/winners, not a laptop.

Here is another issue that I have experience of. My desktop PC used for demos and PTE, now also a laptop used for the same, both run any animation I throw at them, but as soon as I connect a PC projector, the animation can be effected. My projectors are now 5-6 years old so that may be the case and modern ones may work faster.

[davegee]

maureen hit on part of the answer above.

any machine be it lt or dt needs to be a high end gaming machine to satisfy everyones needs.

my last two dt pcs have been gaming machines and i have jumped from 512mb graphics ram to 3gb on the new machine.

barry made a very good point about the choice of machine for comps. although impractical a dt is preferable.

dg

[Barry Beckham]

Dave

I don't see anything impractical about using a desktop for an AV competition, you only have to take it to the venue once when the final winners are to be shown. If all that effort to run a compettion has already been made, what a shame to spoil it all with a crappy laptop. With just a little bit more effort you can really put on a good show and see the sequences as their authors intended.

Attention to detail always, not only in making the sequence, but in showing it and if you can't do that, don't run the competition is my view

[davegee]

P.S.

Snapcam. I have USB 3 on my new desktop and the difference is just amazing!

Worth considering.

DG

[Guest Yachtsman1]

P.S.

Snapcam. I have USB 3 on my new desktop and the difference is just amazing!

Worth considering.

DG

My new laptop has 2 USB3 & 2 USB2 connection points.

Yachtsman1.

[JEB]

Ha, Ha,

My Daddy's bigger than your Daddy.

Ha, ha.

[snapcam]

Before I started this thread I was considering a moan that people have disappeared from the forum and seldom reply then what do I find,all you guys (and Maureen )

rushing to my aid.

Many thanks for all the contributions. I am now going to sit down and consider all the points made and advice given.

I will try and post a considered reply later.

Thanks again

Snapcam