FCP 2 or 3?

[Walter Biscardi]

Since we have no word on when a Studio 3 might be coming out, just get 2. Snow Leopard is due sometime in Sept. so any updates to Studio would come out after that.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

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[Tim Wilson]

Regardless of anything else, always, always always stick with the version your school has. Otherwise, you’re in for project management nightmares that you can read all about if you search posts in this forum. You have enough going on – no need to add this to the list of things to worry about it, when the problem is so easy to avoid.

That said…

You’re also right about not being able to upgrade an educational license, Chris. This used to work out just fine…and still does for software that costs less than half the price of the full version…but if there’s even a vague possibility that you’ll use FCP outside of school at some point down the line, you’ll be way ahead of the game to just buy a commercial license.

Note that, fwiw, you’re not supposed to be using an edu license for ANY commercial work, including paying work done while still in school. So yeah, the commercial license costs a bit more, but it’s a whole lot less than buying an edu license twice…and you’d have to buy a full license down the road anyway.

This will also offer a chance for you to learn a little about managing your credit card debt. 🙂

Tim

PS. I would never, ever suggest this INSTEAD of FCP, but I recommend that any student learning FCP also pick up an edu copy of Avid Media Composer for $295. (Not a typo.) All the features are fully enabled, and Avid will convert it to a full, commercial license when you finish school.

[Two notes: don’t buy that Avid = Anti-Mac hype. Media Composer was designed on the Mac, for the Mac, and works great on Mac. Also, the edu version doesn’t include all the third-party software that comes with the commercial version…which most people live without just fine. :-)]

Keep your love and attention on Final Cut Pro if that’s where your devotion lies…but for a few hundred bucks, you can cover a whoooole lot of bases.

But you should look closely at starting with the full version of FCP. That’s almost certainly going to be the way to go.

[Ben Holmes]

Interesting dilemma – and an interesting response, Tim.

I was not aware that Apple did not allow upgrades from edu products. I think that’s pretty crappy, as the students are the future of any product. I can’t see how it harms Apple to allow an upgrade, as long as the purchaser is still a student when FCS3 is released.

I would note that Apple usually has some sort of ‘sliding scale’ for upgrades based on previous version and (sometimes) purchase near to the release of new products. Certainly, this was offered when FCS2 was released.

On that basis, I would be tempted to delay any purchases as long as possible, with an eye on an ‘up to date’ program working in your favour.

Ben

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[Walter Biscardi]

[Ben Holmes] “I was not aware that Apple did not allow upgrades from edu products. I think that’s pretty crappy, as the students are the future of any product.”

Nope, not crappy. Retail price is $1,299. Education price last I heard was $499. So they’re getting a great deal to learn the software. As part of that they cannot upgrade to full retail.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

Read my Blog!

STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!

[Tim Wilson]

[Ben Holmes] “I was not aware that Apple did not allow upgrades from edu products”

1) Don’t blame Apple — I’m not aware of anyone who offers upgrades of edu software. It doesn’t make sense from a business perspective. Selling one copy as a seed makes a bunch of sense, which is why so many vendors are so aggressive with edu pricing. But once you’ve decided you’re in it deeply enough to upgrade, the seed has taken root, so to speak.

I just checked, and the Final Cut Studio pricing is down a bit, now to $499. So, at that price, paying twice still puts you a couple of hundred bucks ahead of buying commercial and then upgrading…but once again, if you’re into it for $1000 at that point…and still can’t upgrade, and can’t use it commercially either during school or after…you’re now way WAY behind, because you spent $500 the first time, and STILL have to pay the $1150 (Amazon’s price right now) to get a pro copy.

2)I get the idea of being a student, and being hard up. I worked 2 full time jobs WHILE I was taking classes. My last year, I wasn’t even taking any classes — I was just working to pay down as much of my bill as possible before the student loan kicked in. I worked every angle I possibly could to get free food at receptions — you’d be surprised at how far you can go on a handful of cheese cubes and some raw cauliflower.

So what? If you’re in this for more than a hobby, start planning to pay retails for your software.

The good news is that the gap between the edu and commercial pricing is $550. Knock that out in a job or two…which you CAN do with a commercial license, and CAN’T with an edu license…at least not if you’re playing by the rules….which is good habit to get into. 🙂

[Ben Holmes] “I would be tempted to delay any purchases as long as possible”

3) Another very good habit to get into. 🙂 I recommend never upgrading ANY software — OS, QuickTime, browsers — until you absolutely, absolutely HAVE TO. Don’t do it unless it really truly solves a problem that you have RIGHT NOW. Because, as you read on these forums every time QuickTime or Safari or something gets a new rev, FCS breaks.

(Again, don’t blame Apple. That’s just the way the world works.)

I love software. I love new stuff. Twenty-plus years later, I vividly recall the pain of being ridiculously short of money. But if you have to spend anything, spend wisely. If you think you may be tempted to upgrade at ANY point, and if you think you may want to earn a few shekels at ANY point, do the smart thing and buy retail the first time.

On a credit card. 🙂

4) And having said ALL THAT, if the point is just to keep up in class, I stand by my first recommendation: never fall out of step with school, never get ahead.

Also, don’t worry if there’s a new version this year. Most schools have already committed their software buys, and aren’t in any hurry to upgrade major suites for exactly the reasons that NOBODY should be in any hurry to upgrade major suites.

FWIW, IMO, from the cheapest b**tard you may ever meet….which is why I heartily advocate buying right the first time. LOL