which laptop for editing……..

[Mickavid]

i use an hp pavilion zd7310ca. hyperthreading, dual processor (3ghz), hd screen, etc. tonnes of in/outs and big hd.

mick

[Aanarav Sareen]

I use a Dell Inspiron 9300

Pentium M 2.0ghz
1GB DDR2 RAM
128mb x300 graphics card
60gb harddrive

This system is faster in performance compared to my P4 3.4ghz w/HT and I couldn’t be happier!

[Todd Gillespie]

This question, which has been asked many, many times before, is akin to asking someone if they should buy a Toyota or Honda?
Both are good cars, cost about the same, and can get you where you need to go. It just depends on what your preferences are.

I would definatly say that Apple’s FCP is a proven labtop edting work horse for many people. I have cut serveral 90min shows, straight from my G4 laptop, added titles and effects, and exproted straight to DVD with embedded markers- all worked faulessly. FCP is really good at adjusting RT features to your needs as well.

It looks like other users can say the same thing about working with a PC.
The only thing I would add is that you probably will get better performance with a PC then an APple for AE work. BUT for editing, go with what feels comfortable, the majority of your time savings will occur with how quickly you can navigate around your OS and Editing program.

Cheers,

Todd at UCSB
Television Production

[Matt Rogers]

[Todd at UCSB] “The only thing I would add is that you probably will get better performance with a PC then an APple for AE work. BUT for editing, go with what feels comfortable, the majority of your time savings will occur with how quickly you can navigate around your OS and Editing program. “

I am in the same market. I currently edit on Avid 11.x on a G4 at work, but want to purchase a laptop to furhter learn FCP and AE on my own time. I was looking into the new G4 laptops because of my familarity with macs. I am surprised to hear that a PC would be a better workhorse for AE. Any reasons why?

Thanks,
-matt rogers

[Todd Gillespie]

Hi Matt,
Don’t take my previous post as a mark against Apple laptops. Quite the contrary, I couldn’t be happier with mine (typing on it right now!). I also use AE, and lot of plug-ins, Camera work, etc, and have no problems. It’s nothing that I notice when working on my PowerBook. But from my experience, when I use a PC laptop for AE work, it’s like “wow, this thing can really move!” Also we have done some Invigorator tests in the past, Apple vs. PC, and the PC are about 2x faster for the same project file. AE is fun for some lite stuff on a laptop, but if your going to due anything serious, there’s not enough workspace with any laptop!! AE’s windows take up so much room.

I don’t want to start a Apple vs. PC laptop rant, but as a general rule, AE runs a little faster on PCs. With the new G5, the gap is much closer. I’m sure some Apple-file will be able to point to a website the has the latest test results, which put the G5 at the top. But that’s with a G5 tower, not a laptop.

For me, nothing beats FCP for laptop editing. FCP is one of the FEW programs that with each new release, more realtime effects can be performed with LESS hardware.

I would diffinatly get a PowerBook though (not an iBook), and load it up, faster HD, Better Grphx Card, Max out the RAM, etc.

Bought my over a year ago and it’s still has tons of power.

Cheers

Todd at UCSB
Television Production

[Matt Rogers]

Thanks Todd,

I appreciate the input. Know I’m leaning very hard (almost falling over) to getting a powerbook.
Thanks for the help.

[Mark Baird]

I think the important thing, performance wise, is to go with what you know. Benchmarks between apple and PC are close enough that the operator will be the deciding factor in how fast the system operates. If you know apple and FCP then you will definately be able to work faster on that. If you know PC and PPro then that is the fastest system.

Right now I have access to an apple with FCPHD on it and it is the slowest system I have EVER worked on. Why? Because something is wrong under the hood and I have NO IDEA what it is or how to fix it. If the same thing happened to my PC it would have been fixed long ago.

So my thought is the better you know a system, the faster it will be FOR YOU.

MB

[Charley King]

[Mark Baird] “So my thought is the better you know a system, the faster it will be FOR YOU. “

EXACTLY!!!!

[Todd Gillespie]

I couldn’t agree more. As I stated in my 1st post:
[Todd at UCSB]
BUT for editing, go with what feels comfortable, the majority of your time savings will occur with how quickly you can navigate around your OS and Editing program.

Peace

Todd at UCSB
Television Production

[Del Holford]

Just to toss in a hand grenade…I saw 1 Beyond’s 3817 at NAB and it is a powerful puppy. Supports Avid Mojo and external storage allowing support for HD HDV, uncompressed SD and DV footage. Uses a 3.8 ghz processor with HyperThreading. Costs anywhere from 3-6 large but handles Avid & Adobe software. If a laptop is what you want to edit on this one is built for it. I’m not disparaging Apple but showing an alternative.
Del