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Upgrade conundrum. Snow Leopard+MP now or Lion+MP later?
I’m in a between a bit of a rock and a hard place. I’ve got a Mac Pro 1,1 I want to retire and was holding out until Thunderbolt MacPros were released but now that Apple is shipping them all w/Lion that throws a bit of a wrench into my plans. I figure my three options are:
1. Jump into Lion and hope my MP 1,1 can hold on until Lion becomes more established. Upside here is I have a tower w/Thunberbolt.
2. Buy a current high end MP and upgrade again in another 3-5yrs (which is my usual MO).
3. Buy a current middle of the road MP and upgrade in about 2yrs.
Argh. Life would be so much easier if Thunderbolt could be added via a card.
Thoughts?
-Andrew
3.2GHz 8-core, FCP 6.0.4, 10.5.5
Blackmagic Multibridge Eclipse (6.8.1) -
4 Replies
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What I always ask my clients is the following:
1) do you need a new machine right now? Does the new machine have a feature you need immediately?
2) does your current system not fulfill your needs?
3) if you are in mid production, do not pass go
If you answer no to either of the first questions or yes to the third, wait till the answers change. That way you get the latest and greatest but also don’t compromise your current situation.
It sounds from your post that your are upgrading cause of technology change (thunderbolt). Wait on the new hardware and software then. FCP7 runs under lion so in my opinion (it is just an opinion) hold off. Especially with FCPX still sorting out and since your on FCP6 might as well wait and see. Squeeze a few more jobs out of the current rig and save your money for a kick ass rig in about 3 to 6 weeks (allegedly).
Thanks for your time, hope it helps.
Bill Chrisite
Technical director
Bithurler Inc -
+1 for Bill’s post. I think that TB is worth buying if you are going to stay on Mac given the X issues we are all sorting out.
Alf
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Thanks for the +1!
Made me think of one thing to add in regards to FCPX.
With everyone in there brother offering discounts it’s not a bad idea to pick up the software now any way without the rig. Even if you are gonna stay in the FCPX camp. With Apple dropping the price like they have to 300 bucks and Avid especially offering @ 50% off. Why not keep your feet in both camps.
If you consider Final Cut Studio was $1500. For that same money you can get FCPX + Motion 5 + Compressor + Avid Media Composer. A complete tool box for 1500 bucks.
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Thanks for the advice, Bill. And the incidental reminder that I need to update my sig as I’m on FCP 7 now.
I got the Avid crossgrade discount and am just waiting on the UPS guy to get it to me. That’s also another variable in the mix. My original Mac Pro (which is my home office machine while the one in my sig is the Mac at my day job) looks like it barely meets the specs to run Avid MC 5.5 and I know it will be a bit before Lion gets stable and Avid supports it. I figure as long as my current MP can run Avid I’ll wait as long as I can before I upgrade.
Kinda like you said, if a good gig comes up and I don’t think my machine can handle it I’ll buy a new Mac then but if not I’ll hold out as long as I can. Only gonna get faster and cheaper, right?
-Andrew
3.2GHz 8-core, FCP 6.0.4, 10.5.5
Blackmagic Multibridge Eclipse (6.8.1)
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