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Newbie needs Macbk Pro purchase advice
After many years on a PC Avid, I am finally taking the plunge into the wonderful world of Mac and FCP. Before disassembling my Avid desktop setup, I want to get a MacBook Pro to learn Final Cut.
What Macbook Pro with what specs do I need? Glossy or anti-glare? I will be using the latest software, and prefer a 17″ screen.
Thanks, (and hiya to all my ex-edit*or buddies!)
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7 Replies
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Hi Karina!!! Welcome back from the dark side.
Most editors dislike glossy — though I seem to recall all the new models are glossy.
MacMall (Santa Monica) still has that last generation 2.6ghz 15″ MacPro with the good graphics card and the non-glossy screen. That’s a good one, and at a great price too. Contact Philip or Dean at (310) 394-7779. The bricks and mortar store is called Creative Computer BTW, and they do the Ca. Post-production tax break thing if you press them.
BTW, I’m available for training and consulting…
Good luck,
DavidDavid Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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Thanks so much David. Just spoke to Phillip at Mac Mall. They have a couple left, but the clock speed is 2.5 gHz instead of 2.6. Is this a problem? He says it has the “better” Nvidia graphics card.
Also, should I upgrade to 4G of ram? It costs $125 extra there.
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That’s right, it’s 2.5, and that’s the one to get. Absolutely do boost the RAM to 4Gb. That machine is a very nice machine to learn on, especially if you look it up to a nice external monitor (24″ Dell Ultrasharp for example) and a nice external FCP-capped keyboard, such as the Bella Pro model, which they also have at MacMall.
I’d also advise a G-Raid for your media drive. Philip knows the one.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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And is it ok if it has the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT ?
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Yep, that’s the one with 512gb memory I think. Verify with Philip just to be sure, but I’m pretty certain.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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Thanks for all your guidence David. I am now a happy member of the Mac Club!
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Congrats Karina, that’s great.
There is a lot for you to learn, but I’m sure you’ll wrap your brain around FCP fairly quickly. You will find a few things rather confusing initially, as there’s a lot more under user control than with edit* or Avid. However, you will eventually come to appreciate the power that control brings. There are also a few downright dumb things too, such as the fact that changing the speed of a clip ripples the entire video track on the timeline, but that’s a whole different conversation.
Meanwhile, before doing anything else, may I suggest that you watch the very brief tutorial at the link below, which very clearly and very concisely explains how to properly begin new projects in FCP. As I like to say here to everyone, if you follow the instructions in this tutorial every time you begin a new project, you will go on to fame and fortune. Well okay, how about just a little fame???
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/biscardi_walter/realtime_sequences.php
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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