Laptop Computers and Ext. Hard Drives for P2

[tarzan]

Our station is still in the process of deciding exactly what type of editing systems we will have in our live trucks, so I thought I'd ask for recommendations for brand names for laptop PCs we should get to log P2 and edit Avid in the field, as well as external hard drives for storing and/or backing up our P2 files. Recently I bought with my own money a Maxtor 500 Gb OneTouch Plus for $150. It works so far, but it's my own extra backup drive. My station will most likely get P2 stores, but I'm not sure what else they're planning on getting.

What would the rest of you recommend we get? What would you recommend we stay away from?

[Bismarck]

We recently bought a few Apple laptops with Final Cut Pro. They seem to be working out alright. If you're stuck using Avid, I'm not really sure, because when we tried running Avid Newscutter XP (I think) on our Windows laptop, it was slower than hell. The P2 stores work well, but as the P2 cards get larger and larger they're going to become less and less useful.

[lost focus]

do not put laptops in the live trucks. Install rackmounted computers. They are faster, cheaper and easier to fix AND no one will have the great idea to edit in a restaurant or the at the beach and get crap on it. Also less likely to walk away and go missing. Not to mention the photog that's not going to reconnect it correctly and screw the next crew.

Not a bad idea to have a laptop or two around for travel and such. I can't convey how much I think it's bad idea to put laptops in livetrucks.....

[Necktie Boy]

I like the idea of rack mount computers. My buddy has one. Sweet. If you are going Avid, Dell is the only approved system. Get the fastest, largest hard drive, and most memory. External Hard Drive would be nice....
OT: How do you archive the P2 off the Laptop and computer in the truck? Wireless network?

[Tallinvegas]

Yes!!! A rack mounted is the best way to go. We are out fiting all of our trucks with this system. I can send you some pics and specs if you want. I took a complete system to the super bowl this week with me including a Maxtor 1 Terabite external hard drive and it works great!!!. Its super fast and gives no lag time dring play back. We have a travel laptop in a halliburton case and its a pain in the As$. Include the mojo a card reader and all the wires i think it comes in around 40LBS :(

[alldayeveryday]

Avoid avid completely

[BlueWing]

I like the idea of rack mount computers. My buddy has one. Sweet. If you are going Avid, Dell is the only approved system. Get the fastest, largest hard drive, and most memory. External Hard Drive would be nice....
OT: How do you archive the P2 off the Laptop and computer in the truck? Wireless network?

Most of the HP workstation line is Avid approved. Only a few of the Dells are still approved.

[BlueWing]

Avoid avid completely

Why is that ?

[tarzan]

The P2 stores work well, but as the P2 cards get larger and larger they're going to become less and less useful.
Well, I'm guessing that as the P2 cards get more storage space, so will the P2 stores.

[quicklad]

Haven't heard of any plans to upgrade the P2 Store -they make the P2 Gear now- has a screen, but no internal storage - you supply the drive.

For rack mounted in the truck, I'd put in some mirrored RAIDs