I'm looking at laptops & the ADK one seems like a great price for what you get. I'd love to not have to worry about hardware issues with building my own & ADK seems like a pretty reliable company.

Anyone have any experience with these?

Just realizing that the ADK that builds computers is not the same ADK that makes mics & pres.

I think I'm still going to get one, though. I can't find anything but positive feedback on the web.

What's their garauntee? Not warranty for defective parts...garauntee. "If this doesn't work like you want it to, we'll...?"

With THAT, I wouldn't buy a music PC from anyone. I've been watching this thread...I WANT to hear positive things. But, people who build Windows PCs for anything specific--ADK for "music PCs" or Alienware for "gaming PCs", I think are selling expensive snake oil. Not that there's ANYTHING wrong with their systems...just that the difference between Intel based computer systems is usually very small.

I'm saying...ask the question. And make SURE you're getting the whole system from them--MIDI interface, audio interface, main software DAW app--preinstalled and imaged on the restore disc.

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the difference between Intel based computer systems is usually very small

Popman is always right...but if you read deeper in the website of companies like ADK (computers) and Sonica, they address things like making sure there are no conflicts with drivers and soundcards or videocards, other software compatability and of course--keeping things quiet. If you are computer literate, you can probably figure it all out yourself. But it seems mighty handy to have someone whose already figured it out for you--for a price.

Actually...looking at their prices...they don't seem bad on the surface. If they're really super quiet and rack mountable in the $1700 range...that'll be fine.

I configured one to run samples (third HD...8gb RAM)...and then realized they don't support Vista64 (so I coulda pulled the 8GB off)...but, it ended up close to $3k quick.

...and on the benefit of installing/imaging/supporting the software themselves. They don't offer anything besides C4 that I have on my machine...or plan to have on my machine. No VSL Strings. No BFD or DKFH. No Ivory.

But, they do sell Macs...which is the better choice for that stuff still. I bet when Vista stumbled they made that decision. They can just address the RAM that new gen VSTis want. PCs can't.

But...for just audio multitracking/mixing--get one of their lower end machines (but pay'em a bit more for the rack box)...if you're uncomfortable building and such--that's a decent option. If you're THAT uncomfortable, I'd give them the $150 extra for the 2 year onsite and lifetime tech support as well. So, likely $2k for the computer itself.

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Popman is always right...but if you read deeper ...they address things like making sure there are no conflicts with drivers and soundcards or videocards, other software compatability

I'm occassionally right...but, mostly left.

I came down too hard. To clarify my point...they're not going to teach you to use the deep software they sell...and they won't garauntee X level of performance out of the set ups. So, what they're doing is selling well configured systems at a high price.

To me, the advantages of Windows PCs versus Macs, is that they're more user expandable over time...and they're far cheaper. If you go to their site and configure a haus Xeon class workstation, it's more than a MacPro. And without Vista64 support (which I completely understand their lack of)...it can't do what an Apple can do. They won't support the stuff you buy for it later...so, you're basically worse off than poppoing for a MacPro+interfaces that are Mac centric (MOTU and Apogee, for example)...and Logic. They come in fairly trouble free configs.

So, unless you just HAVE to use Steiny/Sonar products...or have some fundamental love of Windows...the advantages of the platform are severely diminished.

IMO. Of course, YMMV.

I'm getting a laptop for remote recording (I'll still mix on my pc). The one I configured came out to about $1700, not too bad IMO - I'm sure I could get a similar one cheaper, but then I take the chance of hardware conflicts & inferior components. I'm going to buy the laptop, a Presonus Firestudio & Digimax FS from them. They have 2 years parts & labor warranty & lifetime support for both the laptop & the interface.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

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I'll let you know how it turns out.

Appreciate your report. Looking forward to it.