I’m running Ubuntu Studio and Ardour on my aging HP laptop, and I’m considering getting something better.
When I bought the laptop I wasn’t doing anything with audio production and was on a tight budget. Now that I do more with audio (and a bit with video) I’d like something more powerful.
I travel a lot for my job so a laptop is much preferred. Any tips for good, midrange machines or specs I should look out for?
Never thought I would ever say this but Apple has currently some nice Laptops and Asahi Linux seems to get better and might be a standard choice. Got a mac mini and power draw vs performance is really good. Alternatively a laptop with ryzen 9 7940HS or similar seems to be roughly in the same ballpark. macOS is kinda annoying though.
I would probably get a framework laptop. https://frame.work/de/de
Yeah, I feel like if I get really serious about audio production I’ll probably end up with a Mac. But I like to see how far I can push it with Linux! Framework looks super interesting, and its Ubuntu compatible which is a huge plus.
I tried a full Linux setup and it worked fine. A bit more difficult if you have any Wave, Native Instruments,etc VSTs but thats mostly because of their installers. Yabridge really does wonders to bridge all of these.
I think a framework might be the smartest solution if one takes everything into account. BIggest downsides of the macs is the non upgradeability and bad serviceabilty as far as I´ve heard. I was kind of forced to use macOS for Dev purposes but despite the low power draw, a third of my workstation, macOS is not really my thing.
Yeah I mean, I know apple makes great computers, I have a hard time getting passed their business model of planned obsolescence, forcing you into their ecosystem, and of course, the price. After 15+ years of Linux on my computer, and and FOSS phone, its hard to go back. I recently got and iPad and can’t evenmoves files onto it with a USB cable.
Framework looks cool and will pair nicely with my fairphone :)
I want one too! :D
I have to wait until my X220 dies of old age but the good part is I dont need it for musicproduction so no pressure on him.