Tim Ferrell wrote in message ...
Mike Rivers wrote:

There's no reason to use it to read e-mail, surf
web sites, write letters to Grandma, or play games or listen to
streaming audio while a CD is burning.

For the record (no pun intended):
I bought a laptop (sony vaio p4 2.6ghz 1gig of ram). I use it for
everything from circuit simulation to word processing to multitrack
recording. When I record it's pretty intense, i can do 8 tracks
simultaneously, and when i mix sometimes it's over 50 tracks with tons
of real time effects. I have separate external firewire hard drives,
and I have never had any problems.
I use samplitude with an RME multiface/cardbus, I run antivirus
software, and i maintain the machine regularly.
i don't use the machine professionally, but i do work part time for an
indie making demos and EPs, so the system is pretty robust. The key
is to do the research and put the system together correctly...there
are tons of forums out there just like this one to guide you, and you
have to have the time to screw up and fix it.
just my two cents
Rich