[Ed Dooley]

So call it a reminder.
I want it to be a good product, and I want everyone to buy one (before me) so I’ll
know if it is. 🙂
Ed

[Ed Dooley]

And that’s what we do. The default for us is WMV9 (even though I like H.264 quality better) with buttons for QT and Flash. In our case, we have exact copies of the web page, same thumbnails, same everything except when you select a format you get that format when you click on a thumbnail.
Ed

[Ed Dooley]

It’s been discussed many many times on the COW. Enter that exact phrase in the COW’s search or Google and you’ll get lots of hits.
Here’s one of dozens of good ones:
https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93234

Ed

[Ed Dooley]

Do a search of this, the Compression Techniques, and Web Streaming forums. There are lots and lots of posts, and you’ll get far more than 3 different answers too. 🙂
Most of the world have PCs and Windows Media is the built-in format (QuickTime is the Mac built-in format). Anybody with a PC and iTunes also has QT, so Quicktimes (H.264 or others) will play on both platforms in that case. Flash plays on both platforms. For the best quality/market penetration I would still use the ON2VP6 codec for Flash. It now supports H.264, but not evey Flash user has upgraded.
For one format on both, I’d go Flash (ON2VP6 codec), for WMV use WMV9, for QT I’d go H.264.
Ed

[Ed Dooley]

“Employed for an edit” can mean so many different things. HD? DV? Uncompressed 8bit?
DV50? They’re all different.
Ed

[Ed Dooley]

Is your Pelican packed with form-fitting foam? If so, how can you convince your boss without going to a bomb-proof case? 🙂 I use a 1610 to travel with my gear all over the world, and never a problem.
Look for an ATA rating. These guys are just one example:
https://www.casesandmore.com/nobot/ATA-Rated-l87-c10406-A705%7E6590-A710%7E1194.html
Ed

[Ed Dooley]

Do a search for Gamma H.264 in this forum and the Compression Techniques forum. There are plenty of posts discussing it. It’s a well-known problem.
Ed

[Ed Dooley]

A clerk at an Apple store didn’t know that, I’m shocked! 🙂
Ed

[Ed Dooley]

And More :
>>>From Apple Insider:
NVIDIA readying GeForce 8800 GT upgrade for earlier Mac Pros
By Aidan Malley
Published: 04:40 PM EST
After owners of the first-generation Mac Pro desktop voiced frustration that they couldn’t upgrade to the GeForce 8800 GT video card, its creator NVIDIA is pledging an updated version that will work with both new and old Apple towers.
The graphics card maker’s PR director has contacted Engadget with word that an updated version of the $349 add-on kit will contain firmware that supports all models of the Xeon-based workstation.
Currently, the card on sale through Apple’s online store will only function with new-generation Mac Pro systems due to firmware that requires the new, faster PCI Express 2.0 interconnect standard, which was introduced for the first time to the Mac with the new towers. This has caused an uproar among owners of the initial computer, which has been limited to the now two-year-old ATI Radeon X1900 XT as their fastest mainstream graphics choice.
“I am afraid they don’t care and prefer forcing people to buy a new high-end machine just to have a graphics card update,” says one user from Apple’s discussion forums.
The restriction has also been unusual in the graphics upgrade market, as many video cards for Windows PCs that support the version 2.0 standard also include backwards compatibility for the outgoing format.
The new Mac Pro’s default video card, the ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT, is not available as an upgrade kit but has been successfully tested with older Mac Pro units, according to multiple reports.
NVIDIA’s press director has not said precisely when the company’s replacement video card will be available, only noting that the new GeForce 8800 GT for Macs will be available “in a few weeks” from Apple’s website.

>>From Tom’s Hardware:
Nvidia Releases GeForce 8800 GT Upgrade Kit For Mac Pro
12:40 PM – April 22, 2008 by Bestofmedia Team
Source: Tom’s Hardware – Category : Graphics Cards 1 comment
Nvidia has released a GeForce 8800 GT upgrade kit for the Apple MacBook Pro, priced at $279.
The Mac Pro originally shipped with the ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 back in 2006. In mid-2007 the Pro was updated and shipped with the NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT in 128 MB or 256 MB flavours; and in early 2008 that was upgraded to ship with only the 256 MB or the 512 MB flavours of the 8600 GT.
The upgrade kit can be bought in two flavours, one for Mac Pro’s pre-2008 and one designed for the slightly different configuration of Mac Pro’s after the 2008 update. The specs on both are the same, and they are available from the Apple store as well as other outlets.
Mac Pro users have been crying out for an upgrade for some time and hopefuls were cheerful when Apple initially launched the upgrade. However, a bomb was dropped for many Mac Pro users as they found out that the initial upgrade would only work in more recent systems with 64-bit EFI’s. With a huge uproar, Apple promptly halted the release of the 8800 GT until further notice.
Now, the new release is fully compatible with both recent and old Mac Pros. Initial feedback on performance figures don’t seem to point much to an improvement in some games however.

[Ed Dooley]

The possible answer seems to be all over the web. Early MacPro owners need a different firmware version than B Rev MPs:
https://store.apple.com/us/product/MB560Z/A?fnode=home/shop_mac/mac_accessories/displays&mco=MjU4NzY1#overview

https://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2008/04/16/apple-offers-geforce-8800-gt-upgrade-kit-for-older-mac-pros

Ever since Apple released the new Harpertown-based Mac Pros in February, one of the graphics card upgrades has been the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT. This is a bit beefier than the standard Radeon HD 2600 XT. Apple also launched an 8800 GT upgrade kit for anyone who wanted more graphics power, but unfortunately, the upgrade was only compatible with the Rev. B Mac Pros due to a firmware issue. Rev. A Mac Pro owners weren’t to happy with that situation, and bugged Apple for a fix. Now, several months after releasing the new Mac Pros, the glitch has finally been fixed, and the 8800 GT Graphics Upgrade Kit has been released.

There are now two versions of the 8800 GT kit, one for pre-2008 Mac Pros and the other for early 2008 models, so be careful when you order. The new kit works with all Mac Pro models, and provides a way to add a bit more graphics pep (or more gaming power) to older models without breaking the bank. Speaking of the bank, the first-generation upgrade kit will run you $279, the same as the kit for early 2008 models. The kit is available now and is shipping in three to five days, so a graphics bump is just a credit card number away, if you’re so inclined.