[Gary Huff]

[Tom David] “My understanding of Prores LT is that it’s data rate of 100mbps should be more than adequate to record a 50mbps HDSDI data stream with no quality loss issues – does anyone have any contrasting views to why this would be incorrect?”

ProResLT is 50mbps, not 100.

[Gary Huff]

[Shawn Miller] “Best of all, you can still run as many Macs as you want, it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing proposition.”

Exactly. I routinely switch between a custom built desktop Windows system and my MacBook Pro with no problems.

[Gary Huff]

[Franz Bieberkopf] “I’d encourage you to post your experiences with PPro when you’ve done a project or two – I’d be interested in hearing more.”

Seconded.

[Gary Huff]

[Joseph W. Bourke] “I don’t trust evangalists for either platform; they’re usually just trying to pick your pocket.”

I just hate the snide asides, usually dropping in some technical term being used in the wrong context to boot.

To be fair, I hear this far more from the Apple fanboys than the Windows fanboys.

[Gary Huff]

[Walter Soyka] “My intent here is not to start any flame war about computer platform, but rather to share my own experience with “the impossible” — daily creative work on the PC platform.”

I find it amusing the way you phrased this. My first thought was, “I’ve been doing the impossible since 1999 and I didn’t even realize it?!?!”

[Walter Soyka] “I am only suggesting that Danny consider the strengths and weaknesses of all his options as he makes his choice, so I’m presenting the strengths and weaknesses of the PC platform (and trying to debunk some of what are falsely considered weaknesses) for consideration.”

Absolutely. Both Windows/OSX are incredibly viable platforms for doing creative work, each has their pluses and minuses.

[Gary Huff]

[Eric Santiago] “Now since we are on the subject of creative options, Macs have outlasted our PCs in so many ways.”

That’s great! I’m still on the Windows desktop I built back in 2005.

[Gary Huff]

[Herb Sevush] “I’d like to live on your planet. On mine, however, after 3 Mac Pros a MBP and a mini, I would say hardware downtime is no better than HP or Dell, and hardware options are much more constrained. OSX software issues are fewer, especially viruses, but in order to get that stability you have way, way, way fewer software options. Pick your poison, it’s all pretty much equal. Except I do like color labeling my files – take note Microsoft.”

I’ve been PC since the dawn of my computing experience and a Mac for a year and a half now, and I agree as well.

[Gary Huff]

[Danny Finch] “Thanks for the input. Since our budget is still a little tight these days I’m thinking $299 for the jump to FCPX and another $49 for Motion may be more practical in the end.”

You’d still probably need new hardware to really be happy with the performance of FCPX though.

[Gary Huff]

[Danny Finch] “The system is still rock solid, but I’m headed toward more HD projects and want to do more with motion graphics. Wondering if it makes sense at this point to migrate to Premiere/After Effects. I’ve been reading more and more that it’s a pretty seemless transition.”

Are you planning on working with formats outside of ProRes/DVCPRO HD? At this point, if FCP Studio 5 is working fine for you, and you will primarily be working with HD formats that are compatible, I think I would recommend buying a cheap, used copy of After Effects and calling it a day.

That said, I’ve been a big Premiere/After Effects fan for a while, and CS6 is quite a substantial improvement.

[Gary Huff]

Does it seem like a worthy upgrade? I’d like to get it if the updated features are nice and it doesn’t break FCP7 or Adobe CS6.