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Rain Computers LiveBook A2 Core i7 DJ and Audio Workstation Computer

Run your production software on a laptop that's optimized for making music, with Rain Computers' LiveBook A2, including 8 GB RAM and tons of I/O built in. (2) Read 2 reviews for this product | Rate and Review This Product
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Product Description

The Rain Computers LiveBook A2 is tested and certified for use with your favorite creative apps from Pro Tools for the musically inclined to Serato for the DJ lurking inside you. Find yourself in a place where the technology is taken care of and all you have to do is play. This is what it's like when your laptop can keep up with your creativity.

Your plug-ins will thank you.

They didn't just put out another laptop, they rewrote the book on what it means to be a mobile audio workstation. Quad-core power, discrete NVIDIA GeForce graphics, room for 16GB of memory and a high res glossy or matte display, nothing else even comes close. You want more tracks, more plug-ins and more virtual instruments without being tied to your studio like the old days? Then you want LiveBook A2.

Welcome to tech support for creative people.

In addition to the complimentary 1 year RainCare Technical Support and Warranty, your Rain also includes a free Rain Ensemble Plug & Play session. During your session you can ask for help with anything outside of the computer. They can install your gear, tune your system for the best performance or help with issues that fall into the "grey area" between your computer, software and hardware.

LA-201 Features:

- Designed for audio production and DJ with software like Pro Tools and Serato
- Powerful Core i7 "IvyBridge" quad-core processor and up to 16GB of memory
- Hi-res 15.6 in. backlit LCD display powered by NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M
- USB 3.0 and eSATA for high speed streaming to your audio interface and external drives
- One Free Rain Ensemble Plug & Play Session for help with all your gear

LA-202 Features:

- Designed for audio production and DJ with software like Pro Tools and Serato
- Powerful Core i3 "IvyBridge" dual-core processor and up to 16GB of memory
- Hi-res 15.6 in. backlit LCD display powered by NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M
- USB 3.0 and eSATA for high speed streaming to your audio interface and external drives
- One Free Rain Ensemble Plug & Play Session for help with all your gear zZounds is an authorized dealer of Rain Computers Inc. products.
LA-201 Specifications:
- CPU: 2.3GHz Intel "IvyBridge" Core i7 Quad-Core Processor
- Memory: 8GB 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel SDRAM
- Total Memory: Up to 16GB
- Storage: 500GB SATA II 7200RPM High Performance Drive [16MB Cache]
- Optical: StormDrive Dual Layer CD/DVD Writer
- USB 2.0: 1 x USB 2.0 Ports [480Mb/s]
- USB 3.0: 2 x USB 3.0 Port [4.8Gb/s]
- eSATA: 1 x eSATA Port [3Gb/s]
- Media: 1 x Card Reader [SD, MMC, MS]
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M [1GB]
- Display: 15.6 inch High Resolution Display [1920 x 1080]
- Video Out: 1 x VGA, 1 x HDMI
- Audio In/Out: 1 x Headphone Out, 1 x Mic In, 1 x S/PDIF Optical Out
- Webcam: 2.0 Megapixel CMOS
- WiFi LAN: Integrated Wireless [802.11 b/g/n]
- Wired LAN: Gigabit Ethernet [RJ-45]
- Bluetooth: Integrated Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
- Input: SmartTouch TrackPad, Full Size Keyboard w/ Numeric Keypad
- Security: Kensington Lock Port
- Battery: Smart Lithium Polymer Battery [6-Cell]
- Weight: 5.7lbs. with Battery

LA-202 Specifications:
- CPU: 2.4GHz Intel "Ivy Bridge" Core i3 Dual-Core Processor
- Memory: 4GB 1600MHz DDR3 Dual Channel SDRAM
- Total Memory: Up to 16GB
- Storage: 320GB SATA II 7200RPM High Performance Drive [16MB Cache]
- Optical: StormDrive Dual Layer CD/DVD Writer
- USB 2.0: 1 x USB 2.0 Ports [480Mb/s]
- USB 3.0: 2 x USB 3.0 Port [4.8Gb/s]
- eSATA: 1 x eSATA Port [3Gb/s]
- Media: 1 x Card Reader [SD, MMC, MS]
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M [1GB]
- Display: 15.6 inch High Resolution Display [1920 x 1080]
- Video Out: 1 x VGA, 1 x HDMI
- Audio In/Out: 1 x Headphone Out, 1 x Mic In, 1 x S/PDIF Optical Out
- Webcam: 2.0 Megapixel CMOS
- WiFi LAN: Integrated Wireless [802.11 b/g/n]
- Wired LAN: Gigabit Ethernet [RJ-45]
- Bluetooth: Integrated Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
- Input: SmartTouch TrackPad, Full Size Keyboard w/ Numeric Keypad
- Security: Kensington Lock Port
- Battery: Smart Lithium Polymer Battery [6-Cell]
- Weight: 5.7 lbs. with Battery
Dimensions and Weight in Packaging
LA-202
Shipping Weight: 10 lbs
Shipping Dimensions: 17 x 14 x 7 in
LA-201
Shipping Weight: 10 lbs
Shipping Dimensions: 17 x 14 x 6 in
Rain Computers Inc. Warranty If you have additional warranty questions, please call the manufacturer at 877-MIX-RAIN
Rain Computers products cannot be returned once opened. If a product is found to be defective, Rain Computers will be able to resolve the issue under warranty. Please contact us for the most recent contact information if you have any problems. details
What Our Customers Are Saying About zZounds "Shopping with zZounds is quick and easy. Their Play as you Pay installment plan is great, and allows me to split my order total into easy monthly payments. Their selection of products is second to none and their service is the best in the industry." - customer on May 12, 2013
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Customer Reviews
3 out of 5 (2 ratings) Rate and Review This Product
"Everything I'm used to from my Rain desktop in a portable package!"
Sound: I’ve been using an old pair of Sennheiser headphones that I’m sure would earn me the scorn of many an engineer, but they’ve proven to be nigh-indestructible, so they keep coming with me. Sound through the LiveBook is crisp and clear, provided the proper steps are taken to avoid ground loops and such. I noticed in the other review that the reviewer had a big issue with buzzing, and all I can say is that you have to be aware of your environment and arrange your setup accordingly. I’ve been a bassist for over twenty years and have dealt with every ground loop/buzz/hum there is, so in my gig bag I carry a couple of ground lift adapters and a hum eliminator. Between those and the use of proper cable runs (you are making sure your power and audio cables cross at a ninety degree angle, right?), I haven’t had any problems with my LiveBook. Incidentally, I just checked Rain’s website, and they have a document targeting just that issue. Feature: This laptop has everything I need to do what I do. I opted for the quad-core, which is significantly more advanced than my aging Solstice, so my hope is that I can make this my main recording box and keep the Solstice, which still runs fine, (pro tip: don’t crap up your work computer with non-work software) as a backup, or maybe throw in a new hard drive or two and use it for media storage. Ease of Use: o issues with setup and no bloatware that I could find. I’m still getting used to Windows 8 and I may call the Rain folks up and see how hard it would be to downgrade to Windows 7, but it may make more sense to just get used to Windows 8. Quality: Fit and finish are good, with no obvious defects. The keyboard is full-size, and comfortable enough as laptop keyboards go. Screen image is sharp with no dead pixels. I haven’t thrown a ton of tracks/plug-ins at it yet, but it’s nice and quiet so far. Again, my Solstice is still up and running after...hm...seven years maybe? So I have high expectations. Value: This laptop does what I want it to do without issue and my experience with customer support has been really exceptional, so I think I’m getting a good value here. Manufacturer Support: Over the years I’ve called Rain with a number of questions and I’ve always been pleased with the response. It’s similar to the relationship I have with the folks who built my basses in that I’m talking with someone in the same field who uses the same products and understands the same concerns. The Wow Factor: It’s an understated piece of equipment, so if you’re looking for, I dunno, fancy interchangeable faceplates or color coordinated lighting, well...look elsewhere. The ‘wow’ for me is that I bought a product and it does exactly what I need it to do. Overall: I’ve used a Rain Solstice desktop as the hub of my home studio for years, but I’m traveling a lot more now than I have in the past and needed something portable that could handle the demands of on-site recording sessions. So far, my LiveBook A2 is working out exactly as I’d hoped.
Style of Music: Jazz, funk, rock, experimental
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"Beware. Do not buy."
Sound: The sound is awful... I use Sony MDR-V700 headphones. When I have them plugged into the headphone jack, I can hear a constant buzzing noise that rises in volume depending on how I move my mouse or what keys I press on the keyboard. When I use an interface I cannot have the power plugged in otherwise I get this noise but amplified at an extremely annoying level. This makes music production practically impossible. Absolutely horrible sound quality for 1600$... The worst ever!!! Feature: I guess the most useful feature is that I can browse Facebook on it... But that's not what I paid 1600$ for... I could have went with a 300$ Acer and got something better... Ease of Use: This laptop does not seem to work well with other hardware or software... I had and still have trouble with Ableton Live crashing in the middle of working on a track. How come this never happens on my nearly 8 year old dual core desktop??? Does not respond well with many drivers... Windows 8 is flat out awful. Their new User Interface is quite possibly the worst thing to happen to a computer... But I won't talk anymore about that, after all, I'm reviewing the laptop, not Windows. Quality: The laptop arrived with the hard-drive cover improperly fitted. I had to go to Home Depot and buy a precision screwdriver kit just so I could fix it. The entire casing feels like very cheap plastic that could easily crack. The camera is awful. Even in a well lit room it looks like a camera phone from 1999. We're in 2013... Cellphones have had decent camera's since 2006, so why can't a laptop?... It's not a huge issue, but really? Value: In short? No! Not even close... This is the most outrageous price I've ever seen for something of this 'quality'... How Rain can get away with selling a computer like this for 1600$ is completely beyond me. I'm sure their little 1 on 1 tech talk with an audio expert is a great value to slap on to this thing, but the laptop itself is awful. I'm really kicking myself for buying this laptop... Manufacturer Support: I don't even want to know what this company is like to deal with... I just want my money back. The Wow Factor: I really tried to like this computer when I first got it. I tried to convince myself that I could get over it's flaws, but in the long run, it's flaws severely affect what I do and what I'm trying to accomplish. I bought this on an impulse because I haven't been able to record anything for months, and the fact I can do payments through Zzounds was great, but when it really comes down to it... This is a 700$ computer at best with a 1600$ price tag. Overall: Please look else where if you want something to make music on. You will be horribly disappointed. This detailed review has no reflection on Zzounds. They were great about changing my order when I mistakenly ordered the wrong model. I strongly urge anyone reading this to look else where for a computer. The value/quality is far too low for it's price tag.
Style of Music: Dub-Techno
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