Going Mac (advice about the switch)

Tetsugen

I'm planning to switch over completely to the apple. I currently need a 15-17 inch notebook that has editing capabilities, and possibly the most powerful word processor in the world. Will the normal macbooks be fine?

On the home front, I want a stationary macpro or imac for my editing needs at home. Can anyone suggest both set ups for under 5000 combined?

And has anyone here used Final Cut Pro 2? How is it compared to the first?

Brodo Faggins

Macbooks only come in one size, 13 inches. The Macbook Pros come in 15 and 17 inch varieties. I believe Final Cut Pro 2 doesn't work on a Macbook, or something to that effect. With a student discount (if applicable), you can probably get a 15'' Macbook Pro and a mid-sized iMac for under 5000.

blanknogo

Do you have a monitor, or will one need to be included into the 5000?

DeathPrawn

As others have said, MacBooks are 13.3" and MacBook Pros are 15" and 17". A regular MacBook won't have any problems with iMovie or probably even Final Cut Express, but if you're going for Final Cut Pro, the integrated graphics may make it tough (I, however, am speaking without FCP experience; the key word is may). I would, however, check out this article, which benchmarks Final Cut Studio 5 (I think that's Final Cut Pro 1?) on a MacBook, a MacBook Pro, and a PowerMac G5. The MacBook does surprisingly well.

The story is similar for iMacs versus Mac Pros. All iMacs use integrated graphics chipsets, whereas Mac Pros have dedicated and upgradable graphics cards. If you don't have one, it's nice that the iMac includes/is a monitor.

If you want to go all pro, MacBook Pros start at $2000 and Mac Pros start at $3000, before student discount (if applicable), AppleCare (you want it), and tax/shipping (if applicable). If you get a student discount, I believe it's usually in the vicinity of 10%, which would just leave you on the north side of $5000. This is assuming you don't need a monitor, etc. for the Mac Pro. This is also assuming you are happy with the base models of each.

If this is too much, I would say it comes down to a compromise between which is more important to you, the horsepower at home or on the road. Getting a MBP and an iMac gets you a larger laptop screen, but a MB and a Mac Pro lets you upgrade the desktop model when you want new parts.

Fristle

The MacBook (non-pro) is not listed as meeting the requirements on the Final Cut Pro 2 website. But, it seems to meet the specs they recommend. It's possible it would do the job -- if this isn't the #1 reason you need the Mac, perhaps that is enough.

Fristle

DeathPrawn wrote: »

The story is similar for iMacs versus Mac Pros. All iMacs use integrated graphics chipsets, whereas Mac Pros have dedicated and upgradable graphics cards. If you don't have one, it's nice that the iMac includes/is a monitor.

Integrated in the sense that it cannot be upgraded, but not integrated like the MacBook with its "shared RAM" video adapter though, right? It looks like the iMac comes with a decent video card.

EggyToast

As far as if the macbook will handle Final Cut Pro, just call and ask them. Tell them you're considering to buy a desktop system and a laptop, and you're curious. They'll tell you if it works or not.

Vater5B

I use FCP on my MacBook with no problems... It's the rest of the Final Cut Studio (especially Motion) that will make you hate yourself for not buying a MacBook Pro.

$2000 for MBP
$1500 for iMac
$300 for RAM for the above computers
$1200 for Final Cut, Motion, Soundtrack Pro, Color, Compressor, DVD Studio all latest versions

If that's really what you want to do, there's no way to do it without spending $5k really. Personally, I would drop the laptop and use the freed up funds to buy a second monitor and a copy of Shake.

DeathPrawn

Fristle wrote: »

DeathPrawn wrote: »

The story is similar for iMacs versus Mac Pros. All iMacs use integrated graphics chipsets, whereas Mac Pros have dedicated and upgradable graphics cards. If you don't have one, it's nice that the iMac includes/is a monitor.

Integrated in the sense that it cannot be upgraded, but not integrated like the MacBook with its "shared RAM" video adapter though, right? It looks like the iMac comes with a decent video card.

I meant shared RAM, but was flat-out wrong. D'oh!

CailYoung

To confirm again, Final Cut Pro 6 (which is what you'd be buying now) will work fine on a Macbook of any flavour. The entire Final Cut Studio 2 will not; specifically Motion.

wombat

If you're getting a macbook pro, there's no real need to get an iMac as well. Just get a flat panel display, and hook up the MBP to that when you're home. They're relatively close in terms of power and speed, and this way you also forgo any data transferring you would have had to do.

tada

Shazkar Shadowstorm

wombat wrote: »

If you're getting a macbook pro, there's no real need to get an iMac as well. Just get a flat panel display, and hook up the MBP to that when you're home. They're relatively close in terms of power and speed, and this way you also forgo any data transferring you would have had to do.

tada

I agree with this statement. With the money you save by not getting an iMac + laptop, you could get a sweet MBP and a fucking sexy APPLE CINEMA DISPLAY?!!!!

Daedalus

DeathPrawn wrote: »

Fristle wrote: »

DeathPrawn wrote: »

The story is similar for iMacs versus Mac Pros. All iMacs use integrated graphics chipsets, whereas Mac Pros have dedicated and upgradable graphics cards. If you don't have one, it's nice that the iMac includes/is a monitor.

Integrated in the sense that it cannot be upgraded, but not integrated like the MacBook with its "shared RAM" video adapter though, right? It looks like the iMac comes with a decent video card.

I meant shared RAM, but was flat-out wrong. D'oh!

It's not even integrated in the sense that it's built onto the motherboard; it's an MXM card. Jury's still out on whether it can be upgraded, but it's theoretically possible maybe. Certainly it'd void your warranty and cost a lot more money than it should.

edit: Indeed it is. Notice the slot there that the graphics card is plugged into.


No upgrades are currently on the market, so don't count on being able to mess with it. But I mean, it's a Mac. Messing with the internals isn't what you're buying it for in the first place.

edit 2: apparently this only applies to the 24" model.

contraband

Shazkar Shadowstorm wrote: »

wombat wrote: »

If you're getting a macbook pro, there's no real need to get an iMac as well. Just get a flat panel display, and hook up the MBP to that when you're home. They're relatively close in terms of power and speed, and this way you also forgo any data transferring you would have had to do.

tada

I agree with this statement. With the money you save by not getting an iMac + laptop, you could get a sweet MBP and a fucking sexy APPLE CINEMA DISPLAY?!!!!

If you do this, consider the near-identical line of Dell monitors for a cheaper price.... Much better, in my opinion.

Shazkar Shadowstorm

contraband wrote: »

Shazkar Shadowstorm wrote: »

wombat wrote: »

If you're getting a macbook pro, there's no real need to get an iMac as well. Just get a flat panel display, and hook up the MBP to that when you're home. They're relatively close in terms of power and speed, and this way you also forgo any data transferring you would have had to do.

tada

I agree with this statement. With the money you save by not getting an iMac + laptop, you could get a sweet MBP and a fucking sexy APPLE CINEMA DISPLAY?!!!!

If you do this, consider the near-identical line of Dell monitors for a cheaper price.... Much better, in my opinion.

Good point. A point I should have made considering I own a Dell 20.1" widescreen. And it was not expensive.

wombat

Shazkar Shadowstorm wrote: »

contraband wrote: »

Shazkar Shadowstorm wrote: »

wombat wrote: »

If you're getting a macbook pro, there's no real need to get an iMac as well. Just get a flat panel display, and hook up the MBP to that when you're home. They're relatively close in terms of power and speed, and this way you also forgo any data transferring you would have had to do.

tada

I agree with this statement. With the money you save by not getting an iMac + laptop, you could get a sweet MBP and a fucking sexy APPLE CINEMA DISPLAY?!!!!

If you do this, consider the near-identical line of Dell monitors for a cheaper price.... Much better, in my opinion.

Good point. A point I should have made considering I own a Dell 20.1" widescreen. And it was not expensive.

although for video editing specifically, apple monitors are supposedly the best you can get (in terms of gamma and colors and brightness and stuff. I was told this by a professional cinematographer/professor, and I think a lot of it could just be personal preference. not to mention the good points he made were very nitpicky things that many people wouldn't really need to bother with)

EggyToast

Yeah from what I've heard, the Apple monitors are a step above the Dells. I don't know if the price difference is worth it, though.