Anyone have a laptop they use for DJ'ing?

Ever thought about using one? What would you get?

I've been told to stick to the mac side of things. And although they CAN be expensive, you can get a decent mac you can use for DJ'ing for around $1100USD. I've heard on the windows side that you have to becareful because if you go cheap your going to regret it, and if you don't you might as well have gotten the mac. Either way, make sure you have at least 2GB of RAM.

I've seen a few people locally using a laptop with their shows. Mostly to control lights and special effects, not really music.

I would say you should go for the mac though. I know a lot of the really good software, like from MOTU, is mostly for mac, although it WILL run on windows, usually its a watered down version.

Besides, I just love Apple products anyway. :D

I once went to a fairly decent local show where a guy was using his laptop for everything, music wise. Although, lol, it wasn't a DJ. It was an MC Chris concert, and he was doing all his stuff on his lappy. However, I don't really encourage it. I have a desktop, you know, being a net DJ, that I use. But I think if it ever came down to having to work with it on my lappy, I'd give up. You'd have to get something really, really pricey, in order to put on any decent show, because the average lap top takes a lot of breaking in before all the little hitches, and burps are worked out; mine is still too new. If I could afford it, I'd have something custom made, and music oriented. And for the Apple lovers:

Mac: Whatcha doin'?

PC: Playing a game.

Mac: Which one?

PC: You know... any of them.

Mac: Oh...

A good friend of mine used his laptop for just playing music he downloaded. I never thought of it, I might try djing on my new laptop, when I get it.

I am an internet DJ, and I just use my Desktop most of the time. Occasionally i'll use my laptop, but it depends on where I am and what the situation calls for.

For me, I am usually just more comfortable on my desktop.

I've used a friend's laptop to DJ before. But then again he's an uber professional and has more time and energy researching his equipment invested than most clubs. His laptop was custom ordered for DJing and nothing else. He used it for instant downloads of requests he didn't have as well which is the perfect use of todays wireless internet offered at lots of places.

I also sat in on a radio show where a friend of mine used his desktop (what a riot watching him drag that across the college campus in a plastic bin) to play music he owned as opposed to what the station had on CD. It can definitely make it easier if you're willing to work out the feel for using it.

I have used mine for a long time to control lights, but not yet tried for the music. It seems too impersonal and I have seen one too many DJs just putting on a play list that that goes all night and not actually do anything for their money. One guy wouldn't even accept requests, it was shocking.

The guy I met the other day used a laptop for some stuff, but said he normally uses it for alot more if he has the need. Our party was pretty low key, just music, no lights or effects so he was using it mostly for music playlists I think.

I was at a function some time recently and the DJ was using a laptop, he had the requested music playing even while the patrons was still asking for the music. It was pretty good. He also did some mixes on it.