Expandable slot vs. Firewire – need an explanation

[Chris Tompkins]

Larger is always better when editing IMO.
If you are going to NEED faster thru-put then FW800, get the other for SATA connection ability to a RAID.

Chris Tompkins
Video Atlanta LLC

[Zach Blaesi]

But when I’m trying to balance capability against mobility (since this will also be a student laptop), and I can always connect the 17″ to an external monitor, I’m not sure the extra size is really worth it. The big issue for me is the expandable slot.

I don’t know if I need faster than FW800; that’s why I made this thread – I’m trying to understand how this all works.

[Ron Craig]

Faster is always better. Bigger (display, hard drive, etc.) is always better. Expandability and adaptability are always better. Your answer is clear from a video editing perspective: the 17″ is better. Period. But you are looking for a compromise computer; one that you can edit on and carry around for classes, etc. That’s understandable. But just realize that you really aren’t looking for what’s “best;” you’re looking for what is the best compromise.

Go with what works with your overall set of needs. Either computer will do the job for you. If you don’t want to spend the money for the 17″ and lug around its weight every day get the 15″. No matter which you choose, if you’re serious about editing, before long you’ll become frustrated with your machine and want a better one — whether you choose the 15″ or the 17″! All of us who have been doing this for a long time have been through a number of editing computers through the years.

[David Eaks]

Expresscard 34 is faster and can accept many different cards with varying connections, eSATA (3Gbits/s) for example. FW800 is FW800 (800 Mbits/s) that’s it.

The thing you need to figure out is whether or not you will even need faster throughput than you can get with FW 800 and an external HDD and/or whether you need the flexibility that Expresscard 34 provides. There are lots of different connections that expresscard 34 can give you, like more FW 800’s or a couple eSATA’s, Matrox MXO2 family, card readers etc. etc..

In my opinion go for the 17″, I did. If I went with the 15″ I would have been seriously screwed and would have had to loose money in the process of getting a 17″ with Expresscard 34. If your 110% sure that don’t need anything more than FireWire 800 and an external monitor via displayport, I’m sure you can get by with a 15″ but it is far from “future proof”.

Oh, speaking of displayport, I almost forgot about Tunderbolt. If your buying new with Tbolt then the 15″ is a little bit more attractive. Tbolt it will surely be taken advantage of in the future, killing the expresscard, anyway. I still say 17″ though.

[Zach Blaesi]

[quote]The thing you need to figure out is whether or not you will even need faster throughput than you can get with FW 800 and an external HDD and/or whether you need the flexibility that Expresscard 34 provides. There are lots of different connections that expresscard 34 can give you, like more FW 800’s or a couple eSATA’s, Matrox MXO2 family, card readers etc. etc..[/quote]

Maybe you can help me out with that. I shoot with a DSLR, and I’ll be editing the clips in FCP. Other than that, I’ll be using the laptop to work on NYU projects when I don’t feel like using their own editing rigs.

What else would I need the Express slot for?

[quote]Oh, speaking of displayport, I almost forgot about Tunderbolt. If your buying new with Tbolt then the 15″ is a little bit more attractive. Tbolt it will surely be taken advantage of in the future, killing the expresscard, anyway. I still say 17″ though.[/quote]

Yes, the 15″ will have a Thunderbolt port. This is what I’m wondering about. If Thunderbolt will open new options, isn’t the only real advantage of the 17″ the larger screen? Yet, most people plug the 17″ into a bigger screen anyway! So what’s the point of the 17″ when it’s a bigger and heavier laptop? I don’t see the point.

Thanks

[Zach Blaesi]

Thanks for all the help guys.

After much thought, I’ve decided to go with the 15″. If the need arises, I’ll just buy an external monitor. I think the increased portability of the 15″ is definitely worth it, and by the time I find myself needing powerful external HDD options, Thunderbolt will hopefully catch up.