Nicko

Actually they have some interesting looking deals on laptops that would be within budget - though not specifically listed under the music laptops.

I should say that the budget is around £1000 and is more matrimonial than financial. I could spend more if necessary.

I'll shortly be upgrading from my existing All in One PC which is a few years old and is running out of puff when using VSTs. I'll have to upgrade from Cubase 7 as it doesn't run on Win 10 or 11 - I'll probably stick with Cubase. The new space for the unit isn't huge and a space saving solution would be preferred, but isn't essential so I've been looking at Laptops, AIO and Small Form Factor PCs. I can get something with 16GB RAM, 10 core i5 and min 1TB SSD laptop or all in one, but the clock speeds seems slow being laptop processor (1.3 GHz but 4.5 GHz turbo), and the choice of laptops is a bit restricted because a lot have limited numbers of USBs. I do have a number of external drives I could use for storing projects once completed. For a similar budget I can get an 8L SFF with a similar spec - the big advantage being it comes with 500GB SSD plus 1TB SDD and the clock speeds are higher (2,4GHz) but 8 core rather than 10 so similar turbo boost speeds. I would, of course have to buy a monitor separately so it works out a bit more expensive and takes up more space (although I might be able to blag one as my wife is retiring and has a work monitor which they may or may not want back). The question is slower clock speed with more cores and convenience or higher clock speed and fewer cores or is the turbo boost speed the defining performance factor? Or does the dual drive trump the processor?

Almost the same for me. I deliberately steered clear of Fenders when I bought my first bass, but at rehearsal one night I was forced to borrow a bass from the studio. It was just a cheap Squier Precision but from that point on I knew the active (Indonesian?) Peavey Cirrus was living on borrowed time. I bought a US P, then traded in the Cirrus for a Squier P as a backup. Full disclosure, I'd already had a Mex Fender Telecaster six string guitar since the mid 90s which wasn't played much, but after becoming a Fender bass player I got the bug and the Telecaster is my go to guitar at the moment too. Do you need one? No. Should you try one? Yes. Should it be 'burst and tort? Absolutely not.

I think Niails observation may have something to do with it. My important life moments have been punctuated by some rather bland music - some that stick in my mind are Holidays in the Sun by the Sex Pistols (the first time I saw a band play live - admittedly my brothers punk band in his bedroom), Without You by Harry Nillson (which was playing first time I hooked up with my wife), Last Night a DJ Saved my Life by Indeep (which was playing when I lost my virginity - I'd like to claim it lasted longer than the record but sadly not) and Cocaine by Clapton (the first song I ever played live to an audience).

The OP asks if they are your favourite, that's an easy question to answer. As for are the Beatles the "best" band ever that would require you to define best. They are the most successful, they are arguably the most influential and they were hugely popular both when they were a band and for a long time after. Some of it is self perpetuating though, Oasis claim that the Beatles were great so Oasis fans start buying and listening to their records. I note that no BCer is currently wanting to take any of their tracks to a desert island (Your Desert Island Discs..? thread) although it's a small sample at the moment.

Au Fond du Temple Saint - (The Friendship Duet from the Pearl Fishers) Bizet Like a Rolling Stone - Live version by Jimi Hendrix You Only Live Once - The Strokes Welcome to The Black Parade - My Chemical Romance Soul To Squeeze - Red Hot Chillies Rockit - Herbie Hancock Forbidden Colours - David Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto Since I've Been Loving You - Led Zep Book - Crime and Punishment (I've read it before but it would keep me going for a while. and by the time I finished it would probably have forgotten the beginning which isn't difficult because not much happens but it's beautifully written). Luxury item a never ending bottle of cold Viognier (assuming its a hot desert island). Can I also have a lighter so I can burn the Shakespeare which I detest.

Yes but also a lot of self penned - I think about 50% on most albums.

Didn't the Everly Brothers do that first though?

I think the Beatles are a bit over rated. Some of their stuff is OK but I find a lot of it utter shite. I hear all this stuff that without the Beatles we wouldn't have modern rock music but Jimi Hendrix and Lou Reed surely weren't a result of the Beatles and defined genres of music that came later. And if I had to choose a band from the 60/70s pop scene I think I prefer the Kinks.

I'm assuming S Club are at 7?

Can't help with the ID but that is one fugly looking guitar.

Well, I never saw that coming.

I have played guitar for 40 odd years and still don't really like playing solos. I often end up playing them because the song demands something but I'd prefer to do rhythm.

Motorcycle Emptiness - Manics

No, still not a fan of the roadworn look.

Holiday in Cambodia - Dead Kennedys

Al Capone - Prince Buster

Liquidator - Harry J All Starts

Nice pic, but I'm not going to get an entry in this month. I'll be following as I think there's a lot of inspiration in the image. You'll all be pleased to know the turkey is already cooked though.

My Ding A Ling - Chuck Berry

Erm, Could It Be Magic - Take That

Classical Gas- Mason Williams