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fcp macbook pro vs powerpc mac for P2 import.
what is the fastest Mac laptop that has a pci card slot capable of importing the files from the Panasonic P2 cards? I would love to get a brandnew intel based MacBook Pro but they are running pci express so they can’t read from the P2 cards. Because it essentially makes the $3000 laptop $4200, I’d rather not get a P2 store even though this would allow me to bring in the media via firewire to a new intel based macbook pro. I don’t really plan on editing with it, I simply want a FCP Mac laptop on set to which I can either dump and backup P2 cards to firewire drives with or record straight out of the camera into the laptop with. So unless there is a converter card that changes the pci based cards to pci express I think for my desires out of the laptop the cheaper the better.
Chris Baldwin
Shoulder High Productions
Media of the World; For the World!
https://www.shoulderhigh.com
ne*********@**********gh.com -
6 Replies
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[Chris Baldwin] ”
what is the fastest Mac laptop that has a pci card slot capable of importing the files from the Panasonic P2 cards?”Powerbook 1.67Ghz. I have that one, and for the exact reason you stated. To load P2 cards.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net -
[Chris Baldwin] ” I would love to get a brandnew intel based MacBook Pro but they are running pci express so they can’t read from the P2 cards”
Only the second to last model of the PowerMac G5 had PCI-Express. Previous to that it was PCI-X. Now, all MacPro’s come with PCI Express (or PCI-E). No Powerbooks or MacBooks Pro’s have PCI-X or PCI-E.
The older G4 Powerbooks came with a slot called PCMCIA (or PC Card slot). When Apple moved to the MacBook Pro line they replaced that with the much faster, more robust ExpressCard/34 slot.
If you want to transfer directly from a Panasonic P2 card you need one of several things: Either a Powerbook G4 (any speed) or MacBook Pro with a P2 Store or 5 slot P2 card reader. Both those Panasonic products cost more than $1600. You could also record to a Firestore and transfer directly via Firewire.
There is a company called Duel Systems that I spoke with last week that is very close to shipping their PCMCIA to ExpressCard/34 adaptor. It’s being beta tested. The Windows version is working fine, the Mac version has a few MacOS bugs that need fixing. No shipping date given, but I think it would be safe to say expect this at NAB.Michael Alberts
Ambidextrous Productions, Inc. -
Thanks for all the feedback today Shane.
So how long does it take you to transfer a full 8gig card to your G4 laptop?
Chris Baldwin
Shoulder High Productions
Media of the World; For the World!
https://www.shoulderhigh.com
newsletters@shoulderhigh.com -
About a min a gig…so about 8 min.
Get the P2 Genie…it automates this process, making new folders as it goes along. VERY handy.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net -
oh great. so I looked over there site but didn’t find the answer to this question. Does the P2genie work with firestore fs100? and does it only work with P2 media or would it do its magic with QT files?
Chris Baldwin
Shoulder High Productions
Media of the World; For the World!
https://www.shoulderhigh.com
newsletters@shoulderhigh.com -
[Chris Baldwin] “Does the P2genie work with firestore fs100?”
NO clue…haven’t used the Firestore. Pop on over to the P2 Cow forum and ask there. I just use cards.
[Chris Baldwin] “and does it only work with P2 media or would it do its magic with QT files?”
It’s called the P2 Genie for a reason…designed to work with P2 media only.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net
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