Laptop suggestions? « Videomaker Community Forums

Shannon
Member

I'm buying a laptop soon and am trying to decide between the HP ZD7000, Sony GRT 290, and the Mac G4. Obviously I want the large screne (16"-17") and top speed and power. The HP and Sony offer 3.06GHz where the Mac is only 1.33GHz. Does this matter for the Mac? Prices are similar and are not of much concern (actually the HP is a $500-1000 cheaper so there is a nice + there,lol).

Another point to consider: I'm using the Adobe video suite. I've heard that I can run PC programs through Virtual PC for Mac.? I'm also using a Sony desktop which has served me well. What would you do?

shannonberry@655321productions.com

Posted 8 years ago #
nobody
Member

Shannon

If you plan to use the latest Adobe Suite, you have no choice. You must buy a Windows XP machine. Virtual PC for MACs "emulate" PCs in order to provide a measure of 'compatibility' with prevalent business software. The problem is that there's an extra layer of software running all the time, which translates between the native MAC operating system and Windows. This requires sacrifices in both available RAM and CPU time. This might work acceptably for word processing or spreadsheet software, but the 'translation' time and physical resources required for the emulation will not provide acceptable 'real-time' performance with Adobe Premiere Pro, which already stresses some flavors of PC, natively running Windows.

Besides, a 1.33mHz G4 (even without the extra burden of 'emulation') is no match for a 3.06 gHz P4 machine anyway, no matter what you might have heard to the contrary. This is the real reason why Adobe Premiere Pro is now available only for PCs (Apple claims it's 'sour grapes' from Adobe, because they can't compete with FCP 4(???) (LOL)).

I'd buy the HP if it's cheaper than the Sony. You'll end up getting a more powerful laptop and saving $1000.00. Use that money to cram all the RAM you can into the laptop and get a bigger hard-drive/DVD Burner, more software - or whatever you want.

Posted 8 years ago #
nobody
Member

Yea stay clear of the mac if your going with Adobe...

Check out http://www.dvline.com and http://www.pcnirvana.net They make great laptops made for video editing. You cna probally find a package deal that comes with an Adobe Package.

Posted 8 years ago #
nobody
Member

Personally, i would go with the Mac and Final Cut Pro. My powerbook g4 1.33Ghz is amazing. dont give into the Mhz myth. While its true that the 3ghz processor will outpreform the G4, its not neccissarily better. I've used Avid Express, Vegas Video, Adobe Premier and Final Cut Pro on various windows and mac systems and In my opinon, Adobe Premier is the worst of those four. I would buy Avid over Vegas, but i feel that Final Cut Pro is the best. If you can wait for a while, wait for Apple to come out with the G5 Powerbook (which can compete with the 3Ghz).

If you are already set with adobe (i'm sorry), i'd go with whatever computer is cheaper for the same specs. and use whatever money you save for extra hard drives/ram.

but you should seriously consider using Final Cut Pro 4. It is the best editing system i've used. Also, Macs have become much more integrated with the windows world. They work with all MS Office apps, networking is GENERALLY simpler. They can do everything your PC can do (except maybe gaming).

-Alex

Let me know you have questions.

Posted 8 years ago #
nobody
Member

I'd love to hear the criteria for why you prefer Avid Express to Vegas. I've also used both, and I can think of several reasons right now why Vegas is superior to Avid Express. If fact, I could extend this to FCP as well. Anyway...

Let's be honest. The fact that you've quoted the standard MAC talking points like "don't give into Mhz myth" and "They can do everything your PC can do (except maybe gaming)", means to me that you simply prefer MACs and you haven't seriously evaluated PCs. Current PCs are fast, reliable and overwhelmingly dominant in the home computer arena, so it won't fly to simply to declare Macs are better without actual proof. I can respect that you prefer MACs, but this discussion is about why a PC-based video editor should go through the bother of switching platforms.

FCP was once the top desktop NLE sofware. However, FCP is no longer demonstrably superior to the desktop NLE choices available for PC. The comparitive reviews I've read don't support this. Perhaps you could provide a review for us to study.

PC users know that Windows is just as reliable as any current MAC OS. That argument resides only on MAC user forums. We're way past that since we use Windows every day. The amount of available software titles for PC simply dwarfs those available for MAC. Almost all the 'high-end' MAC software (Apple software being a notable exception) is now cross-platform. A MAC may be able to run MS Office Apps in emulation, but it couldn't run high demand, real-time editing software like Vegas that way.

It seems to me that for video editing, there's every reason for MAC users to switch to PC, but no real reason for PC users to incur the expense and learning curve of switching to MAC.

Posted 8 years ago #