What sort of computer do I need?

The right computer can make the difference between smooth, easy video analysis and a jumpy, difficult experience. This page can help you decide whether an existing computer is up to the job, or what to look for in a new computer.

Computer system specifications

The computer you use for Landro software should have:

• Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium or above, Vista Home Premium or Vista Ultimate
• Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2.5 GHz or better
• Four gigabytes of system memory
• NVidia video adapter or equivalent with 256 megabytes of dedicated video memory (not UMA memory)
• A display with no less than 1024x768 resolution and 24- or 32-bit color
• 500GB or larger hard drive for storing video session files (as a general rule of thumb, assume that each hour of compressed session video will require one gigabyte of disk space)
• Multi-format card memory reader for loading video from removable camera media
• High speed USB 2.0 connectors
• An IEEE-1394 ("FireWire") interface, for recording into Landro from a mini-DV camera
• DVD burner and software (if you intend to make highlight DVDs)

Does it have to be a laptop?

Actually, no. Many people have taken to calling this "Laptop Landro" because some of our key features are the mobility of the laptop and the ability to record and tag video right at the game... but this isn't a requirement. A similarly featured desktop computer will work just fine. If you have multiple Landro licenses, you might use a laptop for recording at games and use a desktop computer just for viewing or further tagging and cataloging.

My computer doesn't meet your requirements; can I still use it?

This question is sort of like asking if it's all right to put a lawnmower engine under the hood of your car. It may work, sort of, but it certainly won't work well. We list the system requirements to make sure you have a good experience with Landro.

If you don't have Windows 7 or Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate, you won't be able to make highlight DVDs directly from Landro. You will have to purchase and use a third-party DVD application, and assemble the video pieces yourself. This would definitely not be as easy!

If you don't have a Core 2 Duo or Turion 64 X2 processor, you can expect slower processing, particularly during recording and saving from the Presentation Cart. Recording to a Windows Media video file (the recommended storage format) may take a long time to finish saving to disk after you stop recording. A particularly slow processor may lose video frames while recording, and may also have difficulty with video playback.

If you don't have 2-4GB of system memory, you can expect slower processing, particularly during recording and saving from the Presentation Cart.

If you don't have DirectX9/Direct3D video, you can expect lower quality video playback and more lurching. You can also expect Windows Vista's overall appearance to be degraded to look more like Windows XP.

If you don't have 256MB of dedicated video memory, you can expect lower quality video playback and more lurching.

If you don't have an IEEE-1394 ("FireWire") connection, Landro probably cannot record video. Both our required video cameras and recommended analog video capture devices need a FireWire connection to your computer. Fortunately, this is easy to correct: you can buy a PC Card interface to FireWire for a laptop computer, or a FireWire PCI adapter for a desktop computer.

What should I look for when buying a new laptop?

The first thing you should look for is a laptop running Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate. Most older, lower-performance laptops come with Windows XP or Vista Basic; this is a pretty good clue that it won't do a good job for you in Landro or Vista Home Premium. If possible, ask the seller about the system's "Windows Experience Index," a new performance ranking Microsoft introduced with Vista. A Windows Experience Index base score of 4.0 or higher is a good sign.

A computer marketed for either advanced gaming or multimedia will generally have the better performance that Vista and Landro need. Try to look for computers with descriptions like "entertainment PC" or descriptions that include "digital video" or "video editing." Check the specifications against our requirements listed above. The processor type requirement is particularly hard to understand because of the many different processor names, so don't be afraid to ask your seller how a particular processor compares to a 2.5 GHz Core 2 Duo.

Make sure the computer you consider has a FireWire connection (the digital video cable); FireWire is not all that common in desktop computers (although you can add one). Make sure there is a DVD burner drive, not just a DVD reader drive. For a laptop, make sure there is a VGA output connector, or you won't be able to connect to a projector.

One place where many otherwise respectable computers skimp is on the video adapter. Avoid terms like "integrated video" or "shared video memory;" these can hurt the video playback ability of the computer.

We do not make specific make and model recommendations, because the available models change from week to week. Besides, your school may have specific policies on which makes of computer will be supported (and possibly buying arrangements for discounted systems); ask the people who support computers in your school. Hopefully these guidelines will help you make a choice on a computer that will serve you well and give a great Landro Play Analyzer experience!

 
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