[Stefan Delanie]

Thanks Mark, what you said was exactly what I was looking for. And I wasn’t looking for help breaking through. Apple is a very different and special company from Dell, IBM, and Microsoft but they aren’t much different when it comes to issues like this.

Thank you for the analysis of the Final Cut licensing. That is exactly what I wanted to get confirmation on. It is a little insane that the only upgrade path is to pay $900 for 3 years of upgrades which, given the release history of the product, will probably translate out to $450/upgrade.

At the point I am certain of what I’m looking at in terms of cost/benefits of a VLA vs cost/benefits of a retail-box solution, it seems like a retail box solution is probably going to work out better (as the other posters said but did not offer reasoning for) since the price of all that licensing elegance I spoke about earlier is now about $800/seat. FAIL.

Thanks again!

[Stefan Delanie]

Actually, there is. It’s a minimum of five. Here is the link to the Apple Store’s page for it.

https://store.apple.com/us_smb_78313/product/MB648ZM/A

Also, before anyone mentions it, know that I called Apple following this information on the page:

“Customers wishing more details should contact Apple Store at 1-800-747-7483. Option 2.”

Option 2 is for education customer which is NOT what the listing on the Apple Store was classified under in the first place. Option 3 is for “business and government” but deadends immediately and tells you to call a different number which is for Government purchasers only and ever prompt is a total dead end. I tried option 2 and it took me to Education but no one knew anything there and kept telling me I was in the wrong place. So basically I am stuck in purchasing hell trying to figure out information about this product Apple offers for people like me who need more than 5 copies.

Yes, I realize I can buy five boxes like probably 99% of people here do. But I don’t want to and there seems to be a product Apple offers for corporate purchasers like me and can help me understand all the implications of going the VL route. I’m just trying to find someone who has experience VOLUME LICENSING Final Cut. But all help and comments are appreciated. Thanks

[Stefan Delanie]

Thanks, David. I appreciate you replying to my thread.

I understand your thinking on the matter and that may well be what ends up happening but I am looking for a slightly more direct answer to the issues I raised. It may well be true that for my organization it isn’t a hassle but let’s assume it is a hassle and that adherin to a non-retail licensing model is important within my particular organization.

I would love to hear from someone who has direct experience licensing Final Cut that can answer my questions about the program.

[Stefan Delanie]

Thanks, Nate. I will add him to the list. I like the idea of an individual to work with on design, but having a company around for post-implementation issues and future help also has some advantage. My idea of how this would go is that whoever integrated the solution would be around to help with support, etc for the long term. Not saying he wouldn’t, but more things can happen to a single person than an entire company. But for design, he may be just fine.

I figure the SAN portion itself should be about what you said. The more expensive parts will of course be the 5 or 6 FCP systems w/ software (estimate 10k per system for everything.) Then there’s the $10k Pipeline Quad box, MetaSAN server, etc etc. Adds up quickly. So for a budget of 100k or slightly more, that’s not an overbundance so I’m trying to be as efficient as possible without falling into the trap of cutting corners and turning into one of Bob’s poster children.

[Stefan Delanie]

Found a post where Bob was berating someone to call CommandSoft. Added to the list but will they work with you if you don’t want FibreJet? More specifically, will they work and support you if you want MetaSAN? (Yes, I have a phone.)

“Besides our FibreJet, StorDirector and Diskreet product lines, we also offer support, training, and design services as well as sell a variety of hardware including storage, switches, HBAs and Apple products.”

[Stefan Delanie]

I don’t expect to get very far as a new user on a forum where you are well established and respected by everyone (including me) but… Do you read the things people post or do you just scan for hooks to start grinding an axe? Because this is the second time you’ve wrote back saying things I already directly addressed in my OP. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the effort, but based on what you’ve said I just wondered why you even bothered.

I Wrote: “Again — I know I want a SOLUTION which means getting it integrated by pros, but prior to starting that process I wanted to see what some experts here think might work best for the situation I’ve described.”

I know I will need an engineer and a solution. I was merely asking based on existing information I gave what a SAN in a $20,000 to $30,000 range sounded *plausible* for the situation I described. I’m not trying to get something real for free (except maybe some informal suggestions here.) If you add up the money I talked about spending in the OP, it’s close to $75,000… (which may be the equivalent of trying to get something for free in the broadcast world, idk.) I’m in the information gathering phase of my project and am just filling in some holes in my knowledge prior to engaging the type people you speak of.

So: Can’t Answer, Can’t Answer, Can’t Answer, and Get a Pro? I honestly didn’t expect you to answer if you didn’t have anything to add. Of course, I would certainly have welcomed it had you known.

Thanks for taking the time to address me on this issue, though.

[Stefan Delanie]

Sorry Bob… wasn’t completely clear.

We are going away from Avid to a Mac Pro/FCP environment.