I have so many precious files in my old laptop and I hate given it up. It is about 15 years old and it has never had a problem. It has never been used on the internet.

I also have programs like Sonar (Cakewalk) and Encore that I have used to create all my music; notes, lyrics, sequences and styles. Can you imagine opening a song with a staff, notes and lyrics – and have 8 more songs embedded in the same page.

About 4 years ago I worked with a sax player who had no knowledge of computers. I hooked up a wire from my laptop to his TV screen to mirror what was on my laptop. I forgot what I did. I am trying to use my laptop mirrored to a screen on my keyboard instead of using an iPad.

My questions:
1-Can I use a computer monitor instead of a TV screen?
2-Is there much difference in weight?
3-Which has the best clarity?

What I do not remember anymore is beginning to scare me. Ouch!
Help appreciated, John C.

An inexpensive LED monitor powered by USB port would be a good option. Make sure the monitor is compatible with your notebook USB port, which probably is 2.0. In this case, one single USB cable will power the monitor and transfer data.

You might want to back up all your files, too. Hard drives fail without warning... Also, if it runs Windows XP, do not get on the internet. There is a nasty ransomware going around the world. Your old notebook can be attacked just by being on the net without opening any file or clicking a link. The problem is so serious that Microsoft created a security patch for XP though they stopped supporting Windows XP in 2014. You can read more about it here at Computer World. http://www.computerworld.com/article/319...wannacrypt.html

Torch thank you for the information -- and the quick reply.

Thanks again, John C,

Personally for me on stage the laptop is KING vs a tablet and has always been so.

Donny how do you deal with the size of the LT screen?
I have a 17" screen.
John C.

I use a 17" Toshiba win7 LT no problems with lyric text files & Mp3 music files, once you set up font size, background color I use black with white text, fonts, separate window folders etc,..I don't need to read charts at all on it,.....its a must have on stage.
Nothing can search files like a LT as fast......Ive tries tablets only to return them quick.

Where do you place and secure it?

Get yourself a 2 in 1 and you can have the best of both worlds.

Bill

Bernie I have a cut down shelf standard music stand just made for a laptop works so well....as shown..you can put it anywhere you like and height too, it can hos my 10" or 17" LT

Donny, do yourself a favour and make up a snake.:)

Thanks Donny

I have a stand and holder like that, and while I find it faster and easier for me than a tablet, I would have to page down or scroll to read music or lyrics. I know many put it on its side, but that's not for me. It is a shame, in a way, as I have a loaded i7 17 in LT, but my KBs can do most of it anyway. I guess everything has it's weak and strong points.

Another alternative for taming wires.

I use cable wrap for like wires. ((speaker cables) (foot switches)(computer cables, mouse)), and clip them to my keyboard stand with table cloth clips. Really makes a neat appearance.

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-half-inch-x-7-ft-protective-wire-wrap-66986.html

Regards,

Jerryghr

Jerry, I find that sleeving in your picture is a bit of a pain as it tends to kink/open up. I just ordered this stuff. Not cheap, but I like the velcro closure along its whole length, meaning you can pop out a single cable at any given point.

https://www.wirecare.com/manufacturer/techflex/split-tube-wraps-braided-sleeving/flexo-wrap

Back to laptops, specifically, handling mid out. There is either using a module like the Ketron SD2, or, using the keyboard sound engine. I have had varying degrees of success with the latter to not interfere with the keyboard playing sounds. Audio seems okay.