You have a point. Well...
Who knows?
As far as PCs being less portable than workstations... that could easily be fixed by building a computer INTO A KEYBOARD!!! (Sorry -- not yelling -- just being enthusiastic...)
I had this idea, but decided that pursuing it would take too much of my time away from working on songs, which I would prefer immensely to working on R&D. But this is my idea, and I'm going to share it with you now. I don't imagine that people will jump on it, but hey -- you never know...
I had this idea because I was typing on my new Dell laptop last summer. I realized how quiet and how light-weight it is, compared, say, with my hulking Spectral PC. Even though the Spectral can eat the Dell for breakfast, I figured that it was possible to build a computer into what I had at the time -- a Fatar SL161 Pro 61 key controller keyboard.
I didn't do it, mostly because the guy I knew who had access to computer parts was too busy to help me, and I didn't really feel like even trying to learn about the insides of my laptop. I have destroyed perfectly-good gear by opening it up and screwing around with the innards. But I still think that something like this could work.
Don't get me wrong --- I'm not suggesting that FATAR of all companies get into this. That would be a disaster. But I'm saying that the concept is sound. You could build a light-weight keyboard shell that would house the computer, and could have all of the connectivity on the back panel. You could even include some PCIe slots or whatever kind of interfacing will, doubtless, be available within the next five years. I wouldn't be surprised if someone (like me, for instance) came up with the old cartridge concept, albeit applied to a more-relevant to today's computers sort of thing.
To recap: I would love to see a light-weight, portable keyboard with a Microsoft OS, a monitor, keyboard, and mouse output, along with a S/PDIF out, Firewire in/out, USB, and some kind of cartridge system that would let you easily switch in and out any sort of interface product. You could have cartridges that pretty much DO what PCI cards do, but would be hot-swappable. You could have synths, samplers, audio interfaces, MIDI interfaces -- you name it!!!
If that doesn't sound completely dotty, I don't know WHAT does. I'm an idiot. But I may be the smartest idiot, or may be the stupidest genius, around.
YOU decide!!!
- Sammy
Good night, and good luck.
http://www.sammyjames.comYes we did.
))