[linux-audio-user] laptop alternatives

[Paul Coccoli]

I use a Shuttle SK41G (old by now), which is a little "lunch box"
style PC.  It has one PCI slot, which I use for my M-Audio Delta 66. 
It also has on AGP slot (empty on mine).  I use onboard video and
ethernet without any trouble.  It's a sorta-portable system, with an
LCD monitor.  I intend to pack it up and bring it to a friend's house
to record there (he has a room with his drums set up there).  I've
also got a combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM, and USB qwerty keyboard (Happy Hacking
keyboard) and MIDI keyboard (Evolution MK249C).

I like it better than a laptop for the reasons you already mentioned. 
Theoretically, I can get a new Shuttle XPC motherboard if some
component goes.

I would avoid a Mac since they use a different processor; I think most
Linux audio software is developed for little-endian x86.  My bet is
that most programs will give you trouble on big-endian PPC.
 
On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 10:36:51 -0700 (PDT), Brian Redfern
<bredfern at calarts.edu> wrote:
> It seems that the little "lunch box" form factor with a flat screen
> monitor is really portable but has the advantage of giving you control
> over the kinds of hardware you're using, as opposed to a laptop where
> you're at the manufacturer's mercy.
> 
> I would think that your safest bet would be to convert a mac power book
> into a PPC linux machine, but building a little linux lunchbox machine
> would still be a lot cheaper than forking out $2000 for a powerbook, but
> that's still better than spending $850 on a paper weight.
> 
>