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Still can't decide...Pro or not?

T

taybone

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 29, 2006
57
0
Sacramento, CA
I've been reading these forums for a few months now and have been following Apple's releases closely. I am convinced to switch to a Mac. Reasons?...the usual: reliability(OSX), simplicity, and ALSO, final cut pro.

I'm looking into a laptop to become more or less my primary computer; I will use it for everything except my games. What will i be doing with it? Well, internet browsing, itunes/ipod, email, photos(including editing in CS2), and video editing in final cut pro.

Now, will the MacBook fit these needs? I'm concerned with the video editing...I know there are tons of threads on this, but i keep getting mixed opinions. I hear that Final Cut will run, but not well, but then i hear that video editing has little to do with the graphics card?...I need clarification on this.

Also, the MacBook Pro is attractive because of its larger screen, even though i COULD just plug a MacBook into my 17inch when at home. Although 15inches is just so nice...

Keep in mind that money is a definite factor.

So, the question of the month is being asked again; is the MacBook enough or do i need a Pro?

Thanks for your help, these forums are so informative!
 
Depends how crazy you get with Final Cut Pro.

Main limitation with the MacBook, is the lack of expansion for additional external hard drive Firewire connections. You can daisy chain, but that can lead to dropped frames etc with Final Cut Pro. I've started seeing this with my iMac using two external drives. You can now get SATA port expresscards for the MacBook Pro, which should be very nice.

If Apple were to release a 13-inch MacBook Pro WITH an Expresscard slot, I'd be all over it like a rash.
 
dmw007 said:
I say go for the MacBook Pro. As you have stated, there is more reason to go with a MBP over a MB than just the gpu. :)
Click to expand...

Yes thats a good point. After all, I get not only a gpu, but a larger screen, which is what is most attractive for me, and more expansion capability, not to mention a nice aluminum enclosure...although I don't know if that is all worth an extra 700 dollars for me.
 
It seems to me you have two issues.

1.real estate. Do you need that extra space? Personally, a couple days ago, in the apple store, and thinking about what to do, the macbook screens just seemed to small for me. I think in the case of a video editor, the real estate will be much appreciated.

2.Final cut pro. In real life, can you do with the macbook? How intense are your final cut pro needs? I get the feeling you use it on quite the regular basis. So you don't just need final cut to run, but to run well. I don't know if the macbook can meet this, but if it can, it'll save you a lot of money
 
I've been trying to decide the same question. I went to the Apple store today to figure it out. Now, I'm leaning strongly towards a macbook. Here's why.

1 Heat. The MBP is really, really hot on the bottom. And what's worse, it's unpleasantly warm on top, too, for typing. Unless I moved to the arctic or something, I wouldn't put it on my lap.

2 Aesthetic. I just don't like the looks of ithe MBP as much; the speakers next to the keyboard, the separated keys. The MB looks really sleek and good, but maybe that's just me.

3 Weight. The MBP is heavier. Quite a bit.

4 Screen size was a big issue for me too. In fact, I was thinking of going 20" imac just for that reason. Now, I figure I will buy a $300 20.1" widescreen from Viewsonic and use it at home, and it'll be great.

With all those disadvantages, and with speed not outrageously better, I just don't think it's worth the big extra money.
 
celebrian23 said:
It seems to me you have two issues.

1.real estate. Do you need that extra space? Personally, a couple days ago, in the apple store, and thinking about what to do, the macbook screens just seemed to small for me. I think in the case of a video editor, the real estate will be much appreciated.

2.Final cut pro. In real life, can you do with the macbook? How intense are your final cut pro needs? I get the feeling you use it on quite the regular basis. So you don't just need final cut to run, but to run well. I don't know if the macbook can meet this, but if it can, it'll save you a lot of money
Click to expand...

You hit my issues right on the dot.

I really do want the extra space, yet I can survive with a MacBook since I can use my 17" external monitor, especially considering I save so much money. Also, the resolution on the MacBook isn't all THAT bad. I mean its not far off from my 17" I am using right now, and plus, I am very effective with my screen real estate when editing; I can make 13.1" work. And portability is always handy...especially considering I will be carrying this laptop around to different friend's houses for different films.

I guess it really comes down to number 2; will Final Cut run well enough for me?...Let me explain what I will be using it for. I won't be applying numerous video filters or motion or anything like that, basically just a lot of slicing and dicing. Can the MacBook handle this large amount of footage? I imagine that with a couple gigs of RAM it would fly along....?
 
taybone said:
I've been reading these forums for a few months now and have been following Apple's releases closely. I am convinced to switch to a Mac. Reasons?...the usual: reliability(OSX), simplicity, and ALSO, final cut pro.

I'm looking into a laptop to become more or less my primary computer; I will use it for everything except my games. What will i be doing with it? Well, internet browsing, itunes/ipod, email, photos(including editing in CS2), and video editing in final cut pro.

Now, will the MacBook fit these needs? I'm concerned with the video editing...I know there are tons of threads on this, but i keep getting mixed opinions. I hear that Final Cut will run, but not well, but then i hear that video editing has little to do with the graphics card?...I need clarification on this.

Also, the MacBook Pro is attractive because of its larger screen, even though i COULD just plug a MacBook into my 17inch when at home. Although 15inches is just so nice...

Keep in mind that money is a definite factor.

So, the question of the month is being asked again; is the MacBook enough or do i need a Pro?

Thanks for your help, these forums are so informative!
Click to expand...

Hey Im from Sacramento too!!
 
it5five said:
Nice!

And don't worry about the MacBook not being "powerful enough". Somewhere on these forums someone posted a link to some bench marks for FCS, and the MacBook out-performs the 2.0 Powermac in quite a lot of tests.

In fact, I'm getting the MacBook also, and will be using final cut on it.

EDIT: I had it bookmarked, here it is

http://www.creativemac.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=43717
Click to expand...

Nice! Thanks for that link, makes me feel better about saving all that money by not goin pro.
 
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