PC or Mac

[Dylan Reeve]

The Mac offers the advantage of being able to run FCP and Media Composer, which is pretty handy, between the two you should have the right tool for almost any job.

However at the moment there is the issue that all new Macs ship with Leopard, which Avid doesn’t yet support and the newer Mac Pros (Dual-Quad 3.2GHz and up) can’t run earlier versions of OS X, meaning you won’t be able to run Avid on one of those until v3 ships.

Macs are more expensive, but that can be mitigated somewhat by not buying RAM or hard drives from Apple.

Personally, and it pains me to say this, I prefer Windows XP to OS X (I like the principle of OS X more, but just not the execution). On a Mac Pro with Bootcamp you can run XP. Giving you the option of FCP/Avid on OS X, and Avid on Windows (the same dongle will run both the Windows and OS X versions).

It sounds like I’m falling on the side of Mac, but I’m not really sure – I don’t like FCP that much. If I decided I didn’t need FCP I’m pretty sure I’d go with a Windows PC.

[Bobby Calautti]

PC is much more stable than the MAC and I think traditionally, Avid applications perform much better on a MAC. Updates are easier for Avid to do on a PC than MAC. There are much more users on PC than MAC as well.

PC’s seem to be much more flexible in the configurations. For example, what version of QT you can have etc.

[Jeff Bernstein]

As to Mac vs. PC, ever since Adrenaline, Avid has purposely made the PC version with more features and stability. In a unique twist, Avid announced that starting with 3.0, the Mac will no longer be a 4th Class citizen at Avid.

Thus, if you are contemplating an Avid purchase, I would wait for the new hardware platform and 3.0. As mentioned earlier, you will be able to dual boot between Avid and FCP, assuming the new 3.0 works with the latest Apple boxes.

Jeff Bernstein

Digital Desktop Consulting
Apple Pro Video VAR
XSAN Certified
MetaSAN Master Reseller

323-653-7611

[Michael Todd]

Stop spreading your propaganda. Avid wasn’t purposely making the Mac an inferior box…Apple was. And I guess you think the only reason for Apple to switch over to Intel was because IBM couldn’t keep up with demand! Stop drinking the Kool-Aid!

[Kevin Monahan]

Most media professionals that I’ve come into contact with, however, use Macs. The exception would be 3D artists. I may be biased, however, as my observations come from SF Bay Area creative companies (game companies (EA, 3DO), web design, post-production houses, VFX, Pixar), all I see in these places is a sea of Macs (some PCs here and there).

If you grew up using PCs, I can understand why you might want to stay in your comfort zone. Personally, I get LOST on a PC ’cause all I’ve ever used was Macs.

My hometown, however: Cupertino, CA.

My advice: You should use what you feel most comfortable with that provides the tools you need.

Kevin Monahan
http://www.fcpworld.com
Author – Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro

[Jeff Bernstein]

Hmmm. Professional response. Everything I stated was fact with the exception of the humorous 4th Class Citizen. The term Avid personnel used at the unveiling was 2nd Class Citizen.

Is the lack of feature parity Apple’s fault? Is the instability of the Avid software Apple’s fault?

Apple moving away from PowerPC has to do with the inability of IBM to create a processor that has a low power, heat, and size footprint.

All facts. No propaganda.

I will stop drinking the Kool-Aid as soon as you put the Crack Pipe down.

Jeff Bernstein

Digital Desktop Consulting
Apple Pro Video VAR
XSAN Certified
MetaSAN Master Reseller

323-653-7611

[Dep Kirkland]

For those of you not interested in the slinging of kool aid / crack smack downs but, rather, interested in the topic itself, suffice it to say that there are AVID systems out there running on MAC’s and on PC’s that perform quite well. AVID, actually, has no interest (my understanding, please correct me if in error) in becoming the salami in a PC/MAC debate sandwich. It’s an editing program. Pick your platform.

Happy cutting to all.