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Just beginning scenario
Hi to anyone who reads this. I’m interested in getting into film and video editing. I’m just getting started and need to buy some gear. My initial question is should I buy used gear that’s a little bit older to get my feet wet? I see system’s out there on Craig’s List, Mac G4 and G5s, some already loaded with Final Cut Pro or Final Cut Studio. I’m intersted in the Studio version so that I have all of the tools at hand. Or, should I just go buy the Mac Pro loaded with as much as I can load and start learning from scratch. My concern with using something that is used or older is not understanding how the programs are configured or where certain files are being stored, etc., dealing with a harddrive that is full and not knowing whether or not I can delete certain files. I’m currently a PC user and have used Mac in the distant past. Should I save “some money” and buy already used stuff and have to fork out money again later or should I buy brand new stuff and get started from there? I have about $3000-$4000 to work with. I know it isn’t much, but, I can probably buy the majors now and eventually, save up in the next month or two or three for some of the peripherals. Like the actual Final Cut Studio program. Another thing I’m interested in is getting Support from Apple in case something catastrophic happens.
Thanks for any replies.
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8 Replies
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I seem to recall FCE being $99 right now??? Can that be?
Look — buying FCP already loaded on a system isn’t good. Will they include the original discs? If so then it’s a good deal.
Don’t spend extra money for ‘having’ FCS loaded on the computer.
Buy a good solid mac. G5 would be nice, but a dual processor G4 will work for what I’m going to tell you.
Buy Final Cut Express!!! Buy FCE!!!
Everything you’ll ever know to LEARN how to edit is right there.
Start editing home movies… start editing friend’s parties… start editing band concerts at the HS… start editing dance classes… start charging people for things… rent a camera and do a wedding… or two
Go to school or classes for editing and FCP… check your local community college…
NOW – buy Final Cut Studio and a 3ghz Intel MacPro and a $5000 camera…
Or — Go to Film School and get a job working on someone else’s equipment.
Good luck — stay legal — have fun.
CaptM
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If they are including all the discs with the computer (which they should) you can simply erase the system hard drive and start fresh.
If they are not including the discs DO NOT BUY IT it is illegal so to just give some one software.
I had a boss once that bought a computer like that one and the guy did not include the discs, and it turned out that the guy that sold him the computer didn’t even own the original discs he had disc images of them. My boss didn’t care because the computer wash cheep, That not the only dishonest thing he did ether, good thing I no longer work for him, when your boss is dishonest to you you know its time to leave.
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Okay, here is something I found…
A 2005 Mac with 2.5 GB of memory, high performance 10000 RPM system drive (Raptor) and powerful graphics adapter capable of driving two cinema displays. Extra software installed!!
Specs:
PowerMac G5
Dual 2.3 Ghz
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM
Airport Extreme/Bluetooth/SuperDrive
Barely used Mighty Mouse (wired)
Gigabit PCI-X Ethernet Card (capable of Jumbo Frames)
NVIDIA GeForce 6600 w/256 MB of RAM
One 20-inch Apple Cinema Display (2560 x 1600) (No dead pixels)
250 GB HD (72000 RPM)Software installed:
* Final Cut Pro 5
* Creative Suite 2 ( Arobat 7.0- pro, Illustrator, InDesign,
GoLive,
ImageReady, PhotoShop )
* Mircomedia Studio 8 ( Flash, FireWorks, DreamWeaver )
* Microsoft Office Bundle (Word, Entourage, Excel, etc.)
* Toast Titanium 7.0.2
* ILife 06 ( IWeb, IPhoto, IMovie, GarageBand, Idvd…..)Person has the OSX CD and the Apple Care Protection, but no installation discs for the rest of the software. Asking price is ~$3000.
Sound like a good deal? I would prefer to have the install discs for the rest of this stuff, though, so I could wipe the harddrive.
Any comments appreciated!
Thanks! -
They saying that there are no install discs for all of that software, So ether no don’t have then which is Illegal and if you buy it it means that you are also using illegal pirated software.
I say DON’T DO IT IT IS ILLEGAL
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What about the specs of the computer? I could also go buy the software as well?
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You can buy this machine minus the memory for $1999 direct from Apple:
Plus $699 for the 20inch display:
So for the price… you’re paying too much just for the box. Seller’s hoping you will also buy for the included software and “I-want-it-now” factor.
Settle back and ask if indeed this is what you want.
My suggestion… buy yourself a new computer and FCExpress for $99
https://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wo/StoreReentry.wo?family=Moviedeal
THEN – after you start making good money move on to the best of the best.
Go Intel – go Legal. FCP5 had bugs and you’ll never be able to upgrade to 5.1 without the original discs.
You’ll get there for 3grand and probably less!! And you’ll be legal.
Good luck to you!!!
CaptM
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I would say that you are over paying for just the computer. You can get a brand new mac pro (2GHZ & 2GB Ram & a 20 ” display for only $200 more.
If that system was posted on creagslist or any other online listing I would report them for trying to sell Illegal software.
Where you are just starting out and you feel like you must purchase look into a iMac. I usually recommend not purchasing until you know what you need. Take a class first, decide what format of video you want to work with (different types of video formats will have different computer hardware requirements)
Basically educate yourself about what you need before you drop that much money on something.
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Thanks guys! That’s exactly what I’m trying to do. Educate myself a bit on what I need right now. I appreciate the feedback. That is sort of along the lines of what I was thinking as well. That, with the software, it’s a good deal. Without and without install disks, it’s an expensive computer. Okay, I’ll keep looking and keep my options open.
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