I've always been adverse to laptops (people rarely move them around, there's a price premium, so why not buy a pizza box?) - but now I have a need.... I have to set up editing systems on the move, and a laptop is the only realistic option.

I want to base it around Liquid 7, it needs to be fast and stable. I want to use an eSATA system for external drives, and capture and run the media direct from there. It needs to fly - as speed is the main requirement (media sims in armed forces and governement disaster planning environments). There will be a lot of travelling, so it would need to be rugged and not too big. I do, however, work in 16:9, so I guess it would be nice if the screen was that shape. Less important - i'll also be using After Effects and Photoshop fairly extensively.

I did a search on here and found nothing. I've got the specs to start from, of course, but I'm new to laptops, so there might be specific stuff there I need to know.

Any advice? (or links to a thread where this has already been covered) Makes, things to look out for, crucial bits of the specs, latest graphics card advice (i'm aware that is really crucial)

Oh - the budget is less important than getting the above correct (and I'm in the UK anyway - so we get completely stung every time) - but maybe a grand to a grand and a half sterling.

Hi,

The Liquid forums have moved.  You'll get a lot more helpful responses at http://webboard.pinnaclesys.com/read_forums.asp?WebboardID=14&SectionID=85&lng=1

good luck,
Carl

thanks, will do. b

Bruise and Carl,

The correct link is http://forums.pinnaclesys.com/forums/134/ShowForum.aspx.

Jeez, how many different Liquid forums are there?

I know what you mean, Carl. 

The one at the link you gave is the old Pinnacle forum that predated the move to Avid.  Pinnacle now uses the same forum software as Avid so there's a new location.  I'll bet that was to save the old posts as an archive.  I noticed at the old Pinnacle forum that there's a link to the new one, so all bases are covered.

Thanks for filling in to help direct folks to the right place.

thanks - i found the right place, i think.

You did - I saw your posting over there.  I'd try to answer but I don't know which laptops are good for Liquid.  You'll have some replies there soon.