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Glossy or Matte Screen for FCP?
I think that I have decided on the 17″ MacBook Pro for our 3rd editing station. It has been a real difficult process in the decision between the 20″ Imac and the MBP. We already have 2 Power Mac dual 2.5 G5s and love them both. They all run 8 hours per day and have been rock solid. I wanted a system portable enough to take home in the evenings and on weekends to learn and experiment a little more with Final Cut Studio. During the day I never seem to have enough time.
My questions are
1. Should I order the matte or glossy screen if I choose the MBP?
2. Which drive should I order with it? I will use an external drive for the video footage, etc.
3. Am I making the wrong decision in choosing the MBP over the Imac? There’s about a grand difference in cost and the Imac is sort of portable.I will order eveything tomorrow so your input is appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Jonny Filsinger
Master Video Productions
Memphis, TN 38133
901-372-7012 -
16 Replies
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[Jonny Filsinger] “1. Should I order the matte or glossy screen if I choose the MBP?”
Matte. The glossy is just too reflective for me. I saw it at the Apple store the other day on the 13″ and it was like a mirror.
[Jonny Filsinger] “2. Which drive should I order with it? I will use an external drive for the video footage, etc.”
The biggest drive you can get.
[Jonny Filsinger] “3. Am I making the wrong decision in choosing the MBP over the Imac? There’s about a grand difference in cost and the Imac is sort of portable.”
If mobility is important to you, go with the laptop. If you want the larger 20″ screen, go with the iMac.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comDirector, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.comNow Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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Walter. . .just the man I was hoping would respond. As I have written before, I value your input considerably. I just did not want to order the wrong thing and then find out that the Imac could have done a lot more than the MBP. It will allow me to run Motion, etc.? Thanks..again.
Jonny Filsinger
Master Video Productions
Memphis, TN 38133
901-372-7012 -
Also, the MBP is a little more expandable than the imac. WIth the MBP you can have a firewire bus and another bus on the express 34 card separate. More and more express34 cards are being developed every single day. In an imac, you are held hostage by the one firewire bus.
Jeremy
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MacBook has a glossy finish. MacBook Pro does not. You want to get a MacBook Pro if you want to use FCP.
Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Director-At-Large
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group -
I vote for the matte finish. I’ve been reading that artists prefer them over the glossy. Glossy is too reflective
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[Jonny Filsinger] “It will allow me to run Motion, etc.?”
Motion will run slowly on an iMac. I’m not sure how well it runs on the MacBook Pro but I believe you can get an upgraded graphics card for MBP which will certainly speed up Motion. Remember, Motion relies on the graphics card moreso than the processor for speed.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comDirector, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.comNow Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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Thanks to all for the info. MBP with matte screen it shall be.
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[Steve Eisen] “MacBook has a glossy finish. MacBook Pro does not.”
That’s incorrect. The glossy screen is an option for the MacBook Pro.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comDirector, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.comNow Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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I need to get out of the edit suite! Usually I am up to dat eon the latest technologies! There certainly is an option (no extra cost) to have a glossy screen for the MBP.
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[steve Eisen] ”
I need to get out of the edit suite! Usually I am up to dat eon the latest technologies! There certainly is an option (no extra cost) to have a glossy screen for the MBP.”heck, no need to leave the suite. just go look at the Apple Store online. But if you DO want to know about the glossy screen, then yes, GET OUT of the edit suite and go to your nearest store and look at it before buying. And maybe take a shower while you’re at it….. get some new clothes….. I mean, come on, you’ve been wearing the same clothes since Star Wars Episode 3 came out last year…. you really need to take care of yourself man.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comDirector, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.comNow Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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