-
Can new MacBook Pro handle HDV?
Hi:
I see the new MacBook Pros are out today (please see specs below). I’m in the market for a new system to edit HDV on FCP. Can the MacBook Pro handle HDV (obviously with external hard drives)? I’m producing a very low-budget documentary and the possibility of saving about $600 on the monitor of a desktop system is appealing. My thinking here is that I would just use the screen of the laptop and wouldn’t need an external monitor.
Thanks,
Brian17 inch MacBook Pro
2.33 GHz Intel Core Duo
1680 x 1050 pixels
2 GB Memory
160 GB Hard Drive
8 x double layer super drive
ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics w/256 MB SDRAM -
4 Replies
-
If you bought a dual 2.0 tower w/ 2gb Ram and a 160gb hard drive, and a 20″ apple display, it would only be about $300 more than the 17″ powerbook, and much more expandable (you could put hard drives inside, which are cheaper than hard drives in external enclosures and maybe make up the difference.)
Plus you could later add a video card such as AJA’s Kona 3 if you needed to finish the doc to another tape format.
-
Short answer: Yes. It can handle it.
You should either use Firewire 800 or get a SATA card for the express port for your external storage, however.
-
I edit on my 17″ PB when I’m traveling, but it is no substitute for a real
monitor. As a temporary solution until you can get a 20-24″ monitor,
it would work fine for HDV. The data rate is like regular DV.
Ed -
Unless you need the portability, the desktop will always be the better option in terms of money. The MacPro is $2,500 anda dell 20″ monitor run under $300 now.
-gl
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up