[Darren Kelly]

“but that machine is NOT the same level of design or engineering or build construction as a Mac Pro or a Z series machine”

I’m not a design guy when it comes to my computer. First, I rarely see it, second if it makes the same color of money, it’s fine by me.

All I want to do is make the maximum amount of money for the minimum amount of $$ output. I know this machine will do it. If I’m wrong….. I’ll order a Z class, just to make you happy OK?

I’ve built my own PC’s between 1994 and 2000. I’ve maintained PC’s since 1994. This machine with the upgrades I have ordered will handle the job as well as anything. You’re comment about firewire, and the constant talk about Thunderbolt – is anyone around here remember how powerful FW1600 and FW3200 was going to be? What, they never made them!!! How about Fibre Channel. Apple swore by it, developed $12K raids – of which I owned one – now they no longer support it.

The industry has adopted USB3 and ESATA. It is still on the fence regarding Thunderbolt. Way easier to install a couple of drives and create a RAID, than using external drives. I’m coming from a standpoint of using SCSI, and buying my first 2 X 2GB drives for over $4K.

Anyway, I’m done on this thread. Keep arguing if you guys like. See you all in the Premiere forum sometime.

DBK

[Darren Kelly]

“Just so we are comparing apples-to-apples, so to speak, this is a consumer-level (or gamer) machine and really shouldn’t be compared on even footing with a Mac Pro”

Give me a break. Honestly. This machine is in the same class as any MacPro out there right now, with the exception of the 12 core, $6K machine. OOps, I didn’t buy something with FW 800. That’s a $10 card in an empty slot if I need it. Everything I have that connects also talks USB, and my external raid has E-Sata, which is also a $20 card in an empty slot.

One thing I never became was a Mac Snob. It isn’t better because Steve Jobs says it is. When will you stop drinking the Kool-Aid!

This system will do 8 or more layers in RT. You can do it on a Mac, provided you buy an Nvidia card off the list, and Premiere Pro. If I had a spare $4K sitting around, which I don’t, maybe I would have gone Mac, but my current feeling is that Apple has jumped from Computer and Software maker, to Consumer Electronics Company. That’s their choice.

This is how I responded to their decision.

DBK

[Darren Kelly]

One of my thoughts was that Apple will not be doing much with it’s towers anymore. There is an increasing amount of time between new releases, and their software is designed for the lowest level Mac.

Apple have stopped developing software for towers. No FCP8, No Logic, No shake….. Why would they need to build a tower anymore. Who’s going to use it?

Like I said before. All good comments. A good read.

DBK

[Darren Kelly]

This what I bought BTW.

HP Pavilion Elite AMD Phenom II Six Core 1045T Computer (HPE-500F): $399.00
AMD 6 Core@ 2.7, 8GB of RAM, 1.5TB hard drive(7200rpm) Windows 7 64

I upgraded the PowerSupply to a 700Wat: $58.00

Changed the Video card to a GTX 570: $339.00

Added 2 X 2TB hard drives on sale(7200rpm, 32 GB Buffer: $180.00

Total: $976.00

And for you boys down south, that;’s in Canadian Dollars! Find a Mac with this power for anywhere close to combination. Technically, it will be more than fine, more than powerful. I might downgrade the video card to save $200, as I am learning that CS 5.5 only uses a max of 96 CUDA cores.

I would have upgraded my Apple CS4 production bundle anyway, so it’s not a factor.

I edited going all the way back to 1/2 reel to reel tape(70’s). My first NLE was a Fast Video Machine – 1994. When I left the PC previously for Macdom, I lost multiple channels in real-time. I waited 12 years for Apple to see the light. This abomination called FCPX – that did it for me.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my Macs, iPad, iPhone, and the virus freeness of the Mac. It will remain on my desk for things including the internet, mail, etc.

I’m not saying jump ship to anyone. I’m just saying for me, The idea of 8-9 streams, with FX and transitions in Real-Time suggested I should try it. If I hate it, I still have my FCP7 set up and a decent i7 iMac.

Interesting read though

Thanks for the comments

DBK

[Darren Kelly]

“It might have been a good idea to wait and see what Apple has coming ”

I considered that we waited long enough for Apple to show it’s plans. By my count it was almost 18 months between 6 and the minor 7. Giving them more time will not make a difference.

DBK

[Darren Kelly]

Thanks everyone for addressing my question. I’m surprised – although not really – that Apple didn’t support this basic technique in FCPX. If I complained to 1 FCP engineer, I complained to them all over the past 10 years.

Especially after Premiere 5.0 supporting tons of layers with FX on them. I was watching a demo on YouTube today.

I know motion would do this, but I am a real After Effects fan, and did most of my complicated compositing in it.

I hate to join the haters on FCPX, but I guess I will move along.

Really disappointing. Very disappointed.

Thanks again

[Darren Kelly]

When I started this thread, I was thinking about how Fast eventually ended their company because of turning their backs on their loyal customer base.

Now, I know even if every video producer left Apple, as long as we continued to use the iphone, ipod, ipad and iwhat’snext, they will not be hurt.

They no longer need to create software that will entice customers to their computer platforms as the consumer electronics side of their business will do that for them.

I do wish though I had taken the Avid offer to switch to 5.5 for $1,000. Seems like that deal is dead now.

Oh well. Looks like Premiere. I’ll build a machine that will give me mucho RT. Plus I never did make friends with Motion as I did with AE

DBK