final cut express on MBA

[roslee7]

anyone using final cut express ver 3.5 or 4 on their macbook air first generation? i use that on my MBA and everything seems allright except takes damn bloody long for exporting to quicktime HD and rendering too.

 

[Scottsdale]

If you had the v 2,1 MBA with the Nvidia 9400m you would be much better off for these sorts of apps. The original MBA had the Intel 3100 at 20% of the power of the Nvidia 9400m. I would keep these sorts of apps away from the original MBA, personally. The original MBA might do the same stuff, but it will definitely work a lot harder and take a lot longer. Probably have to live with the extra time unless you're willing to upgrade.

It would be great if the capabilities were expanded with the next MBA. Another 25% gain in graphics powers with an Nvidia 310m would be wonderful, and we could get great battery life using Optimus to manage when the dedicated graphics get used.

 

[Cave Man]

Final Cut Express makes no use of the gpu. For it, cpu is all that matters.

 

[Santabean2000]

Final Cut Express makes no use of the gpu. For it, cpu is all that matters.

3.5 also comes with LiveType which I suspect does use the GPU.

I had all this on my PowerBook, so yes, I do think the latest MBA would cope. Just expect a little more waiting time than if sitting on an i7...