Suggestion for a LAPTOP with "line in"

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

OK, I've "given up" trying to find a notebook that meets my specs AND is
"light". I'm going to settle for one that has "built-in" speakers, a "line
in" port and preferably a "built-in" microphone. So what's available?

thanks, ken

--
1st Class Restoration
"Put your old music on CD"
www.dvbaudiorestoration.com

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

On Tue, 1 Jun 2004 13:03:19 -0500, Ken Bouchard <ke_bouchard@adelphia.net>
wrote:

> OK, I've "given up" trying to find a notebook that meets my specs AND is
> "light". I'm going to settle for one that has "built-in" speakers, a
> "line in" port and preferably a "built-in" microphone. So what's
> available?

The Acer Aspire 2000 and 2020 (not 2010) line of notebooks have good
sound, as well as most of the Fujitsu Lifebooks and Apple Powerbooks. But
most notebooks simply aren't made to handle difficult sound-editing
chores, especially because it's hard to cut down on interference in such a
compact package. Why not try an external sound card? And it's a worthy
investment because you can take your sound hardware from computer to
computer, after upgrades, etc.

http://www6.tomshardware.com/video/20040223/index.html


--
Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Ken Bouchard" <ke_bouchard@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:9aCdna0JdNdgTyHdRVn-hw@adelphia.com...
>
> OK, I've "given up" trying to find a
> notebook that meets my specs AND is
> "light". I'm going to settle for one
> that has "built-in" speakers, a "line
> in" port and preferably a "built-in"
> microphone. So what's available?
>


Would you possibly tell us a little
about what are your specs? Otherwise
it could be difficult to come up with
answers to your question.


dk

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

actually, my "specs" are pretty simple: a fast cpu,256 G memory, around 40
GB HDD, Win XP
and "built-in" speakers. (and of course a "line in" port.)

thanks, ken

--
1st Class Restoration
"Put your old music on CD"
www.dvbaudiorestoration.com



"Dan Koren" <dankoren@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:40bd25a0$1@news.meer.net...
>
> "Ken Bouchard" <ke_bouchard@adelphia.net> wrote in message
> news:9aCdna0JdNdgTyHdRVn-hw@adelphia.com...
> >
> > OK, I've "given up" trying to find a
> > notebook that meets my specs AND is
> > "light". I'm going to settle for one
> > that has "built-in" speakers, a "line
> > in" port and preferably a "built-in"
> > microphone. So what's available?
> >
>
>
> Would you possibly tell us a little
> about what are your specs? Otherwise
> it could be difficult to come up with
> answers to your question.
>
>
> dk
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

You may have difficulty finding a good notebook with Line-In. Most just
seem to have a mono mic socket. Another option is to use an external USB
sound card. The Creative SoundBlaster MP3 is small and inexpensive and will
allow you a better choice of computers.

Be careful relying on built-in microphones - they can be pretty bad at
picking up background noise - such as cooling fans and CD drives spinning
up.

David

"Ken Bouchard" <ke_bouchard@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:9aCdna0JdNdgTyHdRVn-hw@adelphia.com...
> OK, I've "given up" trying to find a notebook that meets my specs AND is
> "light". I'm going to settle for one that has "built-in" speakers, a "line
> in" port and preferably a "built-in" microphone. So what's available?
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

I know that some laptops (my Thinkpad T40) come with a line-in if you
use it with the docking station (or a port-replicator I think), but I
presume this won't be helpful if you're looking for a laptop? Also,
to change the level of the microphone socket, you need an extra (IBM)
plug-in, which I haven't downloaded, but doubt that it will provide
line-in quality. However, it is stereo.

If it's any help my T40 has an excellent output from the line-out
(headphone socket) that is pretty close to hi-fi standard.

The microphone on it is terrible - being attached to the body of the
laptop is only useful for telephone-quality recording.

An external USB soundcard would be a very good idea. The
Extigy/Audigy(which one?) will provide hifi output (I think- haven't
tested it but assumed so) and a line-in.

Duncan.

"David Lee" <davidlee_malvern@dont.use.this.bit.hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:<c9l666$1c2$1@hamble.qinetiq.com>...
> You may have difficulty finding a good notebook with Line-In. Most just
> seem to have a mono mic socket. Another option is to use an external USB
> sound card. The Creative SoundBlaster MP3 is small and inexpensive and will
> allow you a better choice of computers.
>
> Be careful relying on built-in microphones - they can be pretty bad at
> picking up background noise - such as cooling fans and CD drives spinning
> up.
>
> David
>
> "Ken Bouchard" <ke_bouchard@adelphia.net> wrote in message
> news:9aCdna0JdNdgTyHdRVn-hw@adelphia.com...
> > OK, I've "given up" trying to find a notebook that meets my specs AND is
> > "light". I'm going to settle for one that has "built-in" speakers, a "line
> > in" port and preferably a "built-in" microphone. So what's available?
> >

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

It looks like "Acer" has some Laptops with the appropriate equipment. One
thing: Does anyone know what they mean when they specify that a certain
Laptop has "stereo microphone/line in"? Wonder if that means your input with
"line level" is going to run through a microphone preamp. Won't that
overload the A/D converter?
Also wondering how Acer handles their warrantee. Do they have good "phone
support"? How about "depot" repair? My daughter will be in Waco TX, can she
get it fixed locally if it breaks? What kind of warrantee do they have on
the display?

thanks, ken


--
1st Class Restoration
"Put your old music on CD"
www.dvbaudiorestoration.com



"Duncan James Murray" <duncanjamesmurray@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:992f1a28.0406021527.4a3369f5@posting.google.com...
> I know that some laptops (my Thinkpad T40) come with a line-in if you
> use it with the docking station (or a port-replicator I think), but I
> presume this won't be helpful if you're looking for a laptop? Also,
> to change the level of the microphone socket, you need an extra (IBM)
> plug-in, which I haven't downloaded, but doubt that it will provide
> line-in quality. However, it is stereo.
>
> If it's any help my T40 has an excellent output from the line-out
> (headphone socket) that is pretty close to hi-fi standard.
>
> The microphone on it is terrible - being attached to the body of the
> laptop is only useful for telephone-quality recording.
>
> An external USB soundcard would be a very good idea. The
> Extigy/Audigy(which one?) will provide hifi output (I think- haven't
> tested it but assumed so) and a line-in.
>
> Duncan.
>
> "David Lee" <davidlee_malvern@dont.use.this.bit.hotmail.com> wrote in
message
>
> news:<c9l666$1c2$1@hamble.qinetiq.com>...
> > You may have difficulty finding a good notebook with Line-In. Most just
> > seem to have a mono mic socket. Another option is to use an external
USB
> > sound card. The Creative SoundBlaster MP3 is small and inexpensive and
will
> > allow you a better choice of computers.
> >
> > Be careful relying on built-in microphones - they can be pretty bad at
> > picking up background noise - such as cooling fans and CD drives
spinning
> > up.
> >
> > David
> >
> > "Ken Bouchard" <ke_bouchard@adelphia.net> wrote in message
> > news:9aCdna0JdNdgTyHdRVn-hw@adelphia.com...
> > > OK, I've "given up" trying to find a notebook that meets my specs AND
is
> > > "light". I'm going to settle for one that has "built-in" speakers, a
"line
> > > in" port and preferably a "built-in" microphone. So what's available?
> > >

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Ken Bouchard" <ke_bouchard@adelphia.net> wrote in
news:etSdncDbMOybPF7d4p2dnA@adelphia.com:

> Also wondering how Acer handles their warrantee. Do they have good
> "phone support"?

phone support is very good.


> How about "depot" repair? My daughter will be in Waco
> TX, can she get it fixed locally if it breaks?

yes they have agreements with various services places all over north
america, and usually promise a 1 day turnaround time. their head offices
are in texas too.

> What kind of warrantee
> do they have on the display?

you can check out their warranties online. they are sold with a 1=year,
but you can upgrade to 'accident protection' for 1 or 3 years.

- joshua

 

[wus]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

You may have difficulty finding a good notebook with Line-In. Most just
seem to have a mono mic socket. Another option is to use an external USB
sound card. The Creative SoundBlaster MP3 is small and inexpensive and will
allow you a better choice of computers.

> in" port and preferably a "built-in" microphone. So what's available?
>

You are wrong.
I was found the following ...

.......The most sophisticated cases, besides having frontal USB ports, also have plugs for microphone (mic in) and loudspeakers (or ear phones), a feature makes installing a microphone or ear phones in a PC very easy, since we don't need to take the case and look for a place into which install such peripherals (or even loudspeakers). Moving the case is really an inconvenience, even worse if it is still fitted to an order-made piece of furniture, for instance.

click to enlarge
Figure 1: Detail of case with front USB ports and on-board audio jacks.
To use those plugs, your motherboard needs to have an integrated sound card (in other words, on-board sound). The installation, however, it is not as simple as it seems, and we will explain in today's column how it has to be done.
A group of seven wires leaves the plugs. At the end of each wire there is a small black connector, and, in this connector, we can read the function of the wire. You will find the following wires: Mic In (or Mic Data), Ret L, Ret R, L Out (or Ear L), R Out (or Ear R) and two Gnd (or Ground). If you watch carefully, the Ret L and L Out wires are connected to each other, the same happens between the Ret R and R Out wires. If your case also has an input plug (line in), there will be two other wires: Line In L and Line In R.

click to enlarge
Figure 2: Wires of the frontal plugs of the case.
You have to look for the place of installation of such wires in your motherboard. This place is indicated as Audio, External Audio, Ext Audio, Front Audio, F Audio, or something like that. This place consists of a 9-pin connector, and there are two jumpers installed, making the connection of some of these pins. The exact position of this connector varies depending on the motherboard model, and you will need its manual to precisely locate it.

click to enlarge
Figure 3: Place on the motherboard where the case wires have to be installed.
To install the wires, the first step is to understand the pin numbering system of the motherboard connector. There are nine pins in the connector, but the connector is considered a 10-pin one because one of the pins was removed (pin 8). The jumpers connect pins 5 and 6 and 9 and 10. As there is the space without a pin (pin 8), it is easy to discover the numbering of the other pins. Notice that the pins are oddly numbered to one side of the connector (1 to 9) and evenly numbered to the other (2 to 10).

Figure 4: Motherboard audio header pin-out.
Remove the jumpers. The connection of the wires must be made the following way: Mic In to pin 1; Gnd to pins 2 and 3; R Out to pin 5; Ret R to pin 6; L Out to pin 9, and Ret L to pin 10.
• Learn how to install the frontal USB ports shown in Figure 1.

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