Using X10 to play music

[slapdab]

I want to use a laptop/netbook to play mpg/ogg files through an amplifier. I need a computer rather than an mp3 player because I need to be able to alter the playback speed using something like VLC or Mixxx.

I intend to use Ubuntu or Ubuntu Netbook Remix.

Does anyone know if the X10 would be suitable for this?

[Mr Grapes]

how high an audio quality are you expecting? the internal sound card on this machine may not have a particularly great SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) so you may get digital noise artifacts through the output stage. you may get away with using a decent external sound card too. CPU wise, well my old Pentium (1) MMX 200 could handle MP3 playback in Win98 without hassle. this won't even break a sweat.

[slapdab]

Thanks for the info Mr Grapes. I intend to use an external soundcard anyway so that I can cue/preview the tracks. I'm not sure how much processing power something like Mixx uses but I hope it's not enough to make any difference. I've not used a netbook before so I don't know how they compare to a normal pc when using various different applications

[Mr Grapes]

I've never used Mixxx so can't comment, but unless it's a monster like cubase or sound forge, I don't think there would be a problem per se, just don't expect to do anything heavy duty or do too many things at once.

Ubuntu NBR runs really nicely on my wife's eee900 the main issue being the sluggish SSD but the X10 uses a traditional HDD so that should not be a problem. I'm not sure what the compatability is like on the X10, hopefully someone who has tried it will be along...

I assume you have looked at the mixxx system requirements?
http://www.mixxx.org/wiki/doku.php/system_requirements
there is only a couple of entries, so based on what's there, you may have some latency issues. unfortunately the only way to know is to try, or ask other users on their forum

edit:
here's an appropriate post:
http://www.mixxx.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1137&p=4222&hilit=netbook#p4222

[slapdab]

Thanks again Mr G.

The Mixxx forum was particularly useful - I hadn't thought of looking there. They mentioned an alternative linux os (puredyne) and software (jack). I am confident that I'll find some way to make it work (even just using vlc would do the job).

Armed with this information and confidence I have now ordered an X10 and an external sound card.

I'll post on this form to let people know if it all works out.

[Mr Grapes]

I don't think you'll have any probs TBH. just make sure the ext sound card has linux drivers

[slapdab]

Success!

Ordered Monday night - arrived Wednesday morning (free delivery) - used it at my class (I'm a dance teacher) Wednesday afternoon.

Everything was "plug and play". The X10 is easily powerful enough to do everything I'm asking of it and both soundcards give perfectly good quality sound.

Now it's just a case of ripping and tagging all my dance music CDs...