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Laptop vs. Workstation
Hi all,
My first post to this forum. I’m getting ready to take the plunge into Media Composer 3.0 and need some guidance on a machine. Platform debates aside, I am trying to figure out whether I should go laptop or workstation. It would be very convenient for me to be able to take my editing station home with me once in awhile but it is not that often that a situation like that comes up(maybe once every 3 months), but I know that you tend to get more horsepower per dollar with workstations. Up until now, I didn’t even realize you could even use a laptop for an Avid system. I just assumed Avid wouldn’t be compatible with laptops. But Avid has a list of certified laptops, so they should be fine, right? Would anyone advise against a laptop?
Also, would anyone share good sources for refurbished Avid certified machines?
I’m leaning toward PC, because out of all the arguments I have heard, the most reasonable one was that you should go with the platform you feel most comfortable with already. But I’ve worked on both and if I can get a great deal on a Mac I am not afraid to go that way either.
Thanks for the help!
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6 Replies
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Forgot to mention that my projects are all SD at the moment. So, I’m not planning on doing HD just yet. Who knows what the future holds, but I figure I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it…
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The biggest drawback I’ve found with a laptop is the keyboard. Not having a number pad is very annoying, and slows me down. The lack of screen real estate is a drag too – but can usually be overcome.
Jon
“Jamming our heads full of figures and angles
And telling us stuff that we already know”Willie The Wandering Gypsy & Me
Billy Joe Shaver -
Thanks Jon, I agree about the number pad.
So I suppose if I got a 17″ notebook that would ease those problems.
Usually those come with a number pad and the screen is pretty reasonable, plus with a secondary monitor… -
Another thing to keep in mind is connectivity. On a laptop, USB and Firewire connections are at a premium. Any external drives will take up either a FW port, or you’ll need to get a card adapter for eSATA, SCSI, etc. The Avid requres a USB dongle – add the inevitble thumb drive for transferring graphics, maybe a wired mouse… You get the idea.
Finally, MAKE SURE you buy a laptop or workstation configured to Avid’s specification (clickey). There is nothing more frustrating than opening your shiney new software only to discover it conflicts with a video card or the motherboard. Better yet, find a local reseller. Online resellers are just a notch below local, IMHO (I only say that because of the hassle of sending it back through the mail, etc.) Yes, it will cost a little more, but if something goes wrong you have someone to take it back to. If you are serious about making money with your machine, its a worthwhile investment.
“Jamming our heads full of figures and angles
And telling us stuff that we already know”Willie The Wandering Gypsy & Me
Billy Joe Shaver -
This is all great information to think about Jon.
FYI, the post link you provided had been taken down.I think to summarize the bottom line is that a laptop is a laptop, not a desktop. Avid is more suited for desktops, because of the inherent hardware complexity it brings.
Although laptops may be limited, I bet you could figure out a solution, with some extra peripherals to make it work pretty good even with a mojo and external monitor(s). Sort of like a docking station.
It sounds like the real solution here is not either-or, but both. I should probably have a tower setup here in the office for everyday editing, capturing, previewing. Then I should have a laptop just for cutting on the road or at home.
The next problem to solve is where to find the money for both…
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The link I posted was to Avid website and the certified desktop / laptop configurations – why it went to a COW page is odd…
If you want to see the page, go to https://www.avid.com/products/Media-Composer-Software/specs.asp
and click on the specs tab.
Jon
“Jamming our heads full of figures and angles
And telling us stuff that we already know”Willie The Wandering Gypsy & Me
Billy Joe Shaver
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