These are all good answers and very helpful. I like the idea of the Asus Zen Core(is that i5 or 15?), although I would maybe consider upind the RAM, a la Rharv's recommendation. Of course, I'm not sure if upping the RAM is possible, but that's another question that I can address offline.

So, I'm thinking about my applications of the software. Currently, I'm doing backing tracks for lessons, and I'm getting good used out of what I have now, on this laptop that I'm typing this on now. I'm using BIAB and Real Band from the external drive presented by PG Music(actually, I backed that up and I'm using the back-up). I'm not having any issue with speed, as I'm not using it live. I'm not using BIAB or Real Band live, just creating sound files of the sequences. I'm considering recording some of my vocals, guitar, and/or bass parts into Real Band for demos in order to hustle band positions and auditions, maybe demos for arrangements in a band situation. I'm working out the kinks of using a Behringer interface to get these things to record in Real Band. I guess the two unknowns, or little knowns, would be what I may want to do for the impending duo situation, and outside of BIAB, I may want to be able to do some video for online lessons and/or band demos. I'm not even sure if it needs to be HD vid. I've been editing video on this machine with AVS software pretty well for lessons and stuff.

I've got a singer who I used to work with, and she now wants to do some duo work. Some of the things she'd like to do would be "Ain't Nobody" by Chaka Kahn, other funk and blues material that we both like. Some of this seems like it's going to be pretty challenging to do with one guitar and two vocalists. Back in the day, we worked together in another keyboardist's sequenced band. I don't have access to that guy any more, and as I'm pretty good with arranging, I'm considering running sequences off of this impending laptop. Is this a good use of my resources, or should I just create the backing tracks in Real Band and save them as soundfiles, playing/singing with the soundfiles live? I know that the original reason to do sequences was to be able to mix the different instruments live for different rooms, and recordings weren't quite as portable. Is it still worth playing live with a sequence, or are recordings the way to go?

That said, would I be looking at soft synths? I'd like to not be filling my house up with external hardware, such as keyboards and hard synths. I'm not a keyboard player, and am more of a step-edit kind of guy(I'm a guitar player).

I throw myself at the mercy of the court. What should I be considering? I like the idea of the Asus coming in between $600-700. Looking at how the world is going with the virus, I don't know that I want to go much more than that, and would prefer less. Or am I trying to spread things too thin?

Band-in-a-Box® for Windows
Version 2026 (1217)
64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
RealBand 2026 (4)
Windows 11 Home
Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz)
12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)