motu and powerbook? how limiting?

[dmbfrk]

If i were to use the 896 with a g4 1 ghz with 1 gb ram - what are my limitations for using the notebook over a desktop system? where will i run into bandwith problems or dsp processing issues? i want to work with as many tracks as I can fill ..i do not want to be limited! is this a bad combination then?

[cmchamp]

Your limitations will be the internal HD as well as a single processor. If you use a FireWire 800 drive, haven't seen any on the market yet, or a FireWire800 RAID array (Glyph may release one) then you'll be able to handle at least 32 tracks. Press releases when DP3 was released over a year ago stated that a dual 800 could handle 100 tracks with 4 band EQ and 2 other plug-ins on each.
As for DP4, I know it's optimized for dual processors and OSX but don't know anything more about it yet.
If you're doing jazz or clasical music, you shouldn't have a problem recording as many tracks as your input allows. If you're doing a style which requires much plug-ins, virtual instruments, etc., you might run out of processor headroom.
In addition, you won't get much life out of your battery if you're thinking of doing much processing on the road. I'm lucky to get 1.5 hrs out of my iBook.