Ideas for a "studio design" laptop and software?

Hello all. I'm looking to buy a new laptop. This computer's primary functions will be assisting me in room design and room tuning for a multi-room studio facility and a small club with live music and dancing. I’m a Mac guy, but open to using PCs depending on my software needs. John’s got me convinced that I need to do my drawings with Sketchup, but I’m not sure what’s out there (software) to help analyze and tune rooms. Any suggestions? My background: 14 years Live and studio sound engineering experience, graphic design/Multimedia degree with light CAD and technical drawing skills. With regard to cost: Laptop should be under $1500.00 USD All software should cost no more than $800.00 USD Any suggestions welcome. Thanks, Audionaut

If you want the most bang for the buck, a PC laptop is the only way to go. A $1500 mac is a child's toy nowadays. If you're looking for enything with a 15" screen, then you're going to spend AT least $2000 on a mac, and probably a lot more. The AMD Athlon 64 based PC laptops are beating the pants off just about every other latptop. Check out Gateway, or Acer, or Compaq. I have a Compaq Presario R4000, with an Athlon 64 4000+ that runs at 2.4GHz, has 1 GB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, and dual layer DVD burner, and more connectivity port than you can shake a stick at. I paid just over $1600 for it. However, I work mainly with Protools on it. As far as room analysis software, the most comprehensive system that I know about is Smaart Live by SIA Software: http://www.siasoft.com/products/smaart_live.html Though the price may be a bit high for you.

If you're going PC, the ETF software is good for analysis on the cheap. Sketchup is gonna cost ya so ETF would make up the diff. etfacoustic.com -bassman

Thanks for the tip on ETF. I think that's the route I'm going. As far as the laptop, I'm on the fence between a Dell, Acer and Gateway all in 1400.00 range. Anyone buy a laptop recently?

I have a Compaq presario R3000 - 3.2gig P4 - 1.5 gig ram and a 60 hard drive. DVD burner etc and ports everywhere. :) Maake suer you get a Navidia video driver (NOT ATI) and it has it's own ram, not sharing ram as mine does. HP backup is excellent. BTW cheers john