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Activity Forums Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy Wow. Looks like the 2010 iMacs aren’t limited to FW800. esata solutions now possible.

  • Craig Alan

    July 31, 2010 at 5:50 pm

    If you are still using tape-based media and/or Esata external raids and you don’t need any PCIe cards, this could be a very reasonable low-end FCP choice. The big question is whether it voids the warranty. Bad idea to not be under Apple Care, particularly on an all-in-one.

    OSX 10.5.7; MAC Book PRO (EARLY 2008); Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30, Sony vx2000/PD170, Canon xl2; Pana, Sony, and Canon consumer cams; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

  • Zane Barker

    July 31, 2010 at 11:08 pm

    Problem is that modification would void your warranty from apple.

    **Hindsight is always 1080p**

  • Andy Mees

    August 1, 2010 at 7:18 am

    Excellent find … and for the do-it-yourself types there is always something like this:
    https://www.commell.com.tw/Product/Peripheral/PCI%20Express%20mini%20card/MPX-3132.HTM

    You can use it to replace the airport card in your iMac/MBP/Mac Mini etc (and use a usb wifi solution if needed instead).

    Haven’t had need myself but others use it successfully.

  • Walter Biscardi

    August 1, 2010 at 12:23 pm

    [Craig Alan] “If you are still using tape-based media and/or Esata external raids and you don’t need any PCIe cards, this could be a very reasonable low-end FCP choice.”

    iMac is really not a “low end” FCP choice anymore. We’ve been cutting on our iMacs over two years now for anything from short trailers to feature length documentaries. I’m planning to outfit four of our new edit suites with 27″ iMacs once we find out if the they have changed their ethernet controllers to support Jumbo Frames for our ethernet SANs.

    The 27″ iMac Core Duo 3.33 machine I picked up a few months ago screams through FCP renders, CS5 renders and pretty much anything else. It won’t render as fast as the newest Mac Pros, but I have to say, there is nothing “low end” about the iMacs anymore. Editing is very snappy and all other operations on the machine are very snappy. I think this is one reason they cut back on the Ethernet controller to keep folks like me from connecting directly to large storage arrays using this machine instead of having to purchase Mac Pros.

    As for the AppleCare warranty, has anyone written to OWC to find out what the actual status would be for this modification? They are and have been an authorized Apple reseller / repair center for quite some time. Would be good to get an answer directly from them on the AppleCare warranty ramifications.

    Walter Biscardi, Jr.
    Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
    HD Post and Production
    Biscardi Creative Media

    “Foul Water, Fiery Serpent” featuring Sigourney Weaver coming soon.

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  • Zane Barker

    August 2, 2010 at 12:10 am

    [walter biscardi] “As for the AppleCare warranty, has anyone written to OWC to find out what the actual status would be for this modification?”

    According to a friend of mine who works for Apple as a Genius, the modification does void any warranty from Apple.

    I did email OWC and ask if they are going to offer any warranty on the computer if they do the modification, they have yet to respond. Something like that is not without precedent companies like Colorware who modify devices thus voiding warranty offer a one year warranty on devices they modify.

    **Hindsight is always 1080p**

  • Craig Alan

    August 2, 2010 at 5:13 am

    Even if they offered a one yr warranty, that does not equal apple care for 3 years which I think is always worth getting. Though it would imply that OWC is standing by their mod.

    What do you think this mod would do to the heat/airflow inside the Imac?

    OSX 10.5.7; MAC Book PRO (EARLY 2008); Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30, Sony vx2000/PD170, Canon xl2; Pana, Sony, and Canon consumer cams; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

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