I have used a Macbook Air to good effect, that means, that it works. I have also used a Dell Laptop (cr*p) and an IBM (what are they called nowadays?) T4something. I always preferred the Macbook Air. BUT! You probably know, that laptops are not the way to go with XXHighend.
I do prefer Amarra in Playlist Mode and with the usual tweaks over XXHighend on a Mac. If you can, I would AB a Mac with your Windows Laptop, so you can make sure, that your not misspending your money.
If it is about your wife, why not buy something like the caps2 (high waf) and use XXHighend (for you) and something like Jriver for your wife. Mani uses the CAPS2 to great effect (sound not power) with XXHIghend. Peter will always recommend a more powerful desktop (multicore, hyper threading and max ram).
Or keep your notebook and buy a mac for your wife.;-)
Claudius

Hi Clay,
Installing Windows is quite easy and you will be guided by bootcamp. Installing and using xxhighend is not. It is, if you follow Peters Installationguide close.
Claudius

Peter,
I thought that more than once but tell myself not to start believing in it.
By the way, i just listened with Amarra and I liked it very much, even at 16/44.
Claudius

Flecko,
Or the other way around? Berlin is well worth a visit. NOS1, HP500 SE, ...
Claudius

Haha,
didn't know, that this is called padded cell. In Germany we call it rubber cell.
Peter,
when will you disclose the nature of your experiment?
Claudius

Thanks Mani,
this will help a lot.
Claudius

Hi Peter,
Since I do know a bit about your experiment. I have experienced that this phenomenon works not only in the "treated" room. Have you removed this stuff from your house?
Claudius

Anyone Out there?

Advice in recession time:
don't act like it 
Claudius

Oh,
that might be it. Maybe the German XXHighend Posse it not into wine and more into beer. 
So all you beer/wine loving sound obsessive XXHighenders in Germany: You just tell me what you want to drink and I will provide it.
Claudius

I will not give up.
Claudius

Or close to Berlin?
 
Claudius

Hi Peter,
I haven't had any time, but I will report back in a couple of days.
So far: I did not hear the first seconds, but after that I could hear the rest of the track. I tried to use special mode 2 or three times and every time XX quit (I do not remember the error message. Maybe a runtime error?). The last time I tried it worked, but I got the annoying clicks.
Claudius

Hi,
I am looking for XX-Highend Users in Berlin Germany. I am still using a macbook air in dual boot mode (which just might not be "it") and am thinking about upgrading (well now for almost 2 month ;-))
Is there anyone in Berlin using XX Highend? I would gladly welcome you to listen to my system and would very appreciate you bringing your XX-Highend Machine with you. If you do not own a NOS-1 you can experience live, what it does. I might even uncork a good bottle of wine...
Beste Grüße aus Berlin
Claudius

Ah, OK! Not the first time I overread something. Sorry and thank you all for the replies.
Although it is too bad, that special is not supported. Because special is really special. The music is so vibrant (the best word I can find) and interesting, that it is impossible to not follow it. The music starts and you can hear deeeeeeeeeep into the recording venue. I hear the smallest movements of e.g. an orchestra (turning the sides of their notes, moving on their chairs ...).
Maybe I have to find the "right" setting in adaptive mode. I experimented with the clock resolution and this really does bring much more details. But it seems that you have to find the right amount of sfs for a given resolution (or vice versa).
Peter,
is there no way for special to work?
Best
Claudius