All valid points above; but if you want to be portable you just have to grit your teeth and take the hit!

Assuming you have to have a laptop - points to consider

If you aren't carting around a keyboard/module, and wish to use the laptop "stand alone" then you could use a software synth. For midifile playback these are fine; there are difficulties in synchronising such synths with any samples / audio recording due to the delays inherant in the software synth operation.

I've used the Yamaha SW-XG50 (?) software synth at 28 voice capability on my Celeron333 (SLOW) machine without too much trouble. Modern machines should have no problem. Isn't there a Roland software synth built into XP these days?

If you are taking a keyboard/module with you and are using the PC purely for sequence / midifile playback on the external device then the PC spec is minimal by current standards. You could use a serial port cable via the "To host" socket that is present on most modern keyboards/modules. What I dont know is whether this type of link is supported yet under windows XP. Also note that some portable and desktop manufacturers are starting to remove serial / parallel ports and replacing them with USB.

Then again, the new Soundblaster "Extigy" looks rather interesting, as a compact ish external module. This connects via USB.

Golden rule for laptop purchase: consider it to be non-upgradable no matter what the salesman says.

If your budget gives you a choice between 10% extra processor speed and another 128/256 MB memory go for the memory.

If you may be away from power for long time seriously consider an extra battery. Also, make sure the laptop uses the "mobile" version of the processor. Laptops using non-mobile chips get rather hot and eat batteries as the non-mobile chps are not design with power and heat dissipation constraits in mind. Lithium batteries are lighter than hydride but cost more to replace!

Dell put high-res screens on some of therer laptops. As a brand they are very well received. I know a number of people using Dell portables, all of who intend to go back to Dell when the time comes.

Best of luck!

[This message has been edited by MacAllcock (edited 05-20-2002).]

[This message has been edited by MacAllcock (edited 05-20-2002).]