[Jeff Carpenter]

I’m not a fan of the Preview program either, but if you’re looking at the icon view of a folder (not a list) you can hit Apple-J to bring up the prefrences for that folder. Use that to turn on a preview mode of images and then drag the icon size as large as it will go.

[Jeff Carpenter]

But, FCP was open when I repaired.
====

Not a good test, then. Get your OS X CD out and put it in. Re-Start the computer while holding the “C” key until the Installation screen comes up. Don’t re-install OS X, but instead go up to the menu and get to the “Disc Utility” THERE. By running it off of the CD you can examine all of your system, not just the parts that aren’t busy.

I don’t know if that will fix your problem, but that’s the best way to do this. You should give it a try.

[Jeff Carpenter]

Watch the news sites all next week. The NAB convention starts this weekend and runs through next week. Lots of people think FCP5 will show up there. Even if it doesn’t, there will be lots of new things from Apple I’m sure.

This is a good Mac news site:
https://www.macobserver.com

They focuses on news as opposed to rumors. If it shows up there it’s something that’s already happened, not something that might happen.

Of course, checking Apple.com next week will also fill you in on what’s happening.

[Jeff Carpenter]

Go outsie Final Cut and try to open the file with the Quick Time player. Then export it from there as the type of video that your sequence is. That might work better. I’m not sure, but it’s the first thing I’d try.

[Jeff Carpenter]

Probably not now. Wait until you see a reason you like. For example, a new version of an application you use may require it. (It’s rumored that FCP5 will require it, for example.) But until you actually have a reason like that there’s no reason you have to upgrade.

I am going to enjoy the new features it comes with (like Spotliht and Automator) so I’ll be getting it when it comes out. But if you’ve looked at them and decided you won’t use them much, well, then wait until you have a better reason like I mentioned above.

[Jeff Carpenter]

Nothing to worry about. Your applications will still be running in 32-bit modes because of the G4 chip but there’s no strange “emulation” mode or anything. This is no “OS 9 to OS X” kind of switch. You’ll be fine with Tiger on a G4 and you’ll be fine with 32-bit applications with Tiger on a G5. You don’t have to worry about that at all.

[Jeff Carpenter]

Here’s the 3 ways to do it:

https://www.apple.com/macosx/upgrade/

Version #3 is what you’re asking about. #2 is close but not quite the same. Whichever you pick you should back up all of your information, just to be safe. If you go for #3, back your info up, upgrade, and then put your data back where it belongs.

I have heard (but never tried) that you can copy your system drive to an external firewire drive, then use option #3 to upgrade, and then finally use the setup assistant on the new system and tell it that the firewire drive is your “old” computer. It will bring all of your data over because it thinks the drive is your old computer you’re upgrading from.

I plan on trying that way but only AFTER I burn my files to DVD as well as the firewire drive. That way, if the setup assistant plan doesn’t work out, I can still get my data off of the DVDs.

[Jeff Carpenter]

I forgot to mention…I realize you’re talking about HD cameras, but my point is that we could easily move to a HVR-Z1U and use it for what we’re doing now. We have no reason to do that now, but I’m certain that such a move would give us sufficient quality for training films.

[Jeff Carpenter]

We use our DSR-390 for all sorts of training films in a way that would be considered EFP, not ENG. These products are meant for DVD to be shown to classes of new employees. We certainly don’t need anything better than that for what we do.

I’d imagine that MOST corporate EFP work is done with sub-$100K cameras.

[Jeff Carpenter]

I forgot to mention…

TEST this first! I’m working from memory here. I haven’t done this in a while and I’m trying to remember the differences between iDVD 4 and 5. I THINK everything I’ve told you is right, but you should run 1 minute of your video tape and try my idea with THAT first. See if it all works out before you spend time on the entire thing.

I’m pretty sure I’m right, but I wanted to let you know that my post was all from memory.