FCP X and Education

[Chris Jacek]

It’s very frustrating to hear so many people say that “a few weeks is no big deal” or “the software is will evolve.” It’s not about the cockadoodie software!

This is about how Apple has willingly put educators into an uncertain situation. This is not a case of getting their sea legs with a new product. This is a case of a company that flippantly decided to instantly gut their existing licensing system with ZERO lead time, and offer NOTHING in the way of replacement, and NO INFORMATION regarding if and when they ever will. These is not the actions of a responsible company.

I challenge all the people who accuse us of “knee-jerk” reactions to provide one example of any other company that has done this. Or should I say, provide an example of another company that has done this without suffering dramatically.

You know what? If someone hits you on the knee with a hammer, jerking IS the most appropriate reaction.

Professor, Producer, Editor
and former Apple Employee

[Owen Wexler]

The first thing I thought of after hearing about the lack of volume licensing and the new barriers to project portability (moving projects from one computer to another) was “how on Earth is a school supposed to use this program?” When I was in school I don’t think I ever worked on a project on the same workstation twice, and they definitely used volume licensing.

Cinematographer – Editor – Motion Graphics Artist – Colorist

https://www.owenbwexler.com

[David Roth weiss]

[Chris Jacek] “I challenge all the people who accuse us of “knee-jerk” reactions to provide one example of any other company that has done this. Or should I say, provide an example of another company that has done this without suffering dramatically.”

Well Chris, although I am simpatico with your premise and the feelings you’ve expressed, I have to tell you, Discreet (now Autodesk) did the same thing just about 7.5 years ago when they “end of lifed” their excellent NLE they called Edit*. That ruined many well-established businesses in the blink an eye, exactly like Apple is doing now.

Though a consortium was formed to acquire the code, so development of the product could be continued, the deal was nixed without explanation. And, Autodesk essentially just told everyone to get lost. They even issued a cease and desist letter to Ebay, forcing them to stop allowing Edit* users to sell their software licenses online.

Though the incident had dire consequences for many editors and many small businesses, it wasn’t even a blip on Autodesk’s radar.

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
https://www.drwfilms.com

Don’t miss my new tutorial: Prepare for a seamless transition to FCP X and OS X Lion
https://library.creativecow.net/weiss_roth_david/FCP-10-MAC-Lion/1

POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™

Creative COW contributing editor and a forum host of the Business & Marketing and Apple Final Cut Pro forums.

[Bill Dawson]

>Is there a solution?

Yes, buy Avid. We now find ourselves teaching a dead product.
Does FCP 7 still work? Yes, but our students will graduate a year
or two from now. Will FCPX be “fixed” and ready for professional
use at that time? I have no idea. However, I do know that Avid is
ready now and it’s a safe bet it will be ready a year from now.

School budgets being what they are (use it or lose it) and with the
budget year clock ticking, we had to make a decision…NOW.

We bought 24 copies of Avid.

Bill

[Chris Jacek]

[David Roth Weiss] “Though the incident had dire consequences for many editors and many small businesses, it wasn’t even a blip on Autodesk’s radar.
“

That is a good example. And when I think about my question, I also realize that Apple will certainly not feel dire circumstances overall. Much like Autodesk, I doubt that it will be a blip in Apple’s radar. I do, however, expect that it could significantly hurt Apple’s educational market.

I guess the real question is whether Apple cares.

Professor, Producer, Editor
and former Apple Employee

[Jim Townley]

Go to the Apple Education/mac page and you can scroll down and see the pro applications section where they tout students editing like pros. And the picture is still Final Cut Studio and the blurb below for FCS shows the Old box. But press the link and you go to FCP X.

Jim Townley
Television Production
Chattahoochee Technical College
Marietta, GA

[Steven Gonzales]

I’ve done these tasks with every other version of FCP right after that version came out.