New White Paper: Preparing for Final Cut Pro X

[Craig Seeman]

Kudos for doing this.
There’s been claims that by Apple releasing FCPX through the App Store, there’d be no reason for VARs to sell FCPX systems. I think you prove otherwise.

[Torrey Loomis]

Thanks Craig.

I think if software goes the App Store route, we’d look at replacing that revenue stream with something else. It wasn’t even a thought when they started selling apps on the phones that way, but it slowly crept into mind that was where the market was headed when people started to talk about a similar model for OS X software.

I can’t fault anyone for pushing software distribution towards a 100% electronic model because it makes so much sense on so many levels (increasing speed of delivery, reducing paper waste, etc…) Our business model will have to change a little, but you still can’t download hardware!

Tor

[Craig Seeman]

It’ll be interesting to see how VARs work out new business models for FCPX. That some claim VARs will abandon don’t make sense because, as you say, one can’t download hardware.

The biggest hurdle is that FCPX should be purchased through one’s iTunes account. If the customer comes in to the VAR, that might not be a problem.

A VAR that does field installs could also have the customer do the FCPX software install on location.

I’m thinking one method might be if the VAR installs their own copy to build and tests the config. Then removes the copy and the customer would then install their own. Ideally if there’s specific FCPX setup config that can be saved and transferred that would help.

[Michael Kammes]

One idea that has been tossed out, is that if the only way is a download, that the VAR issue a app store ‘gift card’ for the cost of FCP X. Now, the VAR can be the purchase point, so to speak.

~Michael

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com
.: twitter: @michaelkammes
.: facebook: /mkammes

Hear me pontificate: Speaking Schedule .

[Torrey Loomis]

MK,

Hoping that Apple comes up with something like this. My Apple rep mentioned it was something that he had specifically brought to the attention of the “powers that be” but the final decision was obviously to be made much higher up the chain of command.

TL

[Kim Krause]

i hope this isn’t the case. in south africa internet useage is extremely expensive and very slow. for example a 5 gig per month capped service costs us around $60 usd a month. downloading fcp studio would use my whole monthly allocation of data and i wouldn’t have hardly anything left of my data bundle for normal monthly use! and at the price we pay it adds another 60 bucks to the price of the software. i wish apple would consider the rest of the world when it comes time to making software only downloadable. unlike america and canada and a few other countries, the internet is still a luxury for many! living in the cloud is not a reality for most of the world! we still don’t even have a proper itunes store available over here yet. actually there is a portal for downloading apps through itunes but not a real music and video and all that stuff itunes store……

[Torrey Loomis]

Kim,

That is a great point!

This is the kind of feedback from end users that Apple needs to hear:

https://www.apple.com/feedback/finalcutpro.html

Please take a minute to fill out that feedback form regarding the potential for releasing FCPX on the App Store. I agree with you that it doesn’t work for a lot of users in your situation and disc (or thumb drive) distribution is still a very valid way to get software out to a certain contingent of FCP users.

Torrey

[Rafael Amador]

Hi Kim,
I’m downloading the papers.
thanks in advance.

[kim krause] “i hope this isn’t the case. in south africa internet useage is extremely expensive and very slow. for example a 5 gig per month capped service costs us around $60 usd a month. downloading fcp studio would use my whole monthly allocation of data and i wouldn’t have hardly anything left of my data bundle for normal monthly use! and at the price we pay it adds another 60 bucks to the price of the software. “
I agree with you, and I think most people out of the “First World” are in similar situation.
Now I’m paying something like USA$20 per 1GB Internet Up/download.
Update packages are HUGE and just keeping updated System and FCS its cost a bunch of dollars.
I wish I’ll had the phone number of Mr Jobs to talk with him on this matter.
Well, I my try that link.
rafael

http://www.nagavideo.com

[Jerry Hofmann]

Hey Torrey!

Very nice indeed!

Jerry

Apple Certified Trainer, Producer, Writer, Director Editor, Gun for Hire and other things. I ski. My Blog: https://blogs.creativecow.net/Jerry-Hofmann

Current DVD:
https://store.creativecow.net/p/81/jerry_hofmanns_final_cut_system_setup

8-Core 3.0 Intel Mac Pro, Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D, AJA Io HD, 17″ MBP, Matrox MXO2 with MAX – Cinema Displays I have a 22″ that I paid 4k for still working. G4 with Kona SD card, and SCSI card.

[Torrey Loomis]

Thanks Jerry–if you have any feedback, we can incorporate it into the next revision.

Tor