Macintosh/Apple question

[Sigarms]

Have a Sony DCR-TRV80 Digital video camera,

Want to transfer all mini tapes to DVD via computer.

Wife works out of the house as a systems programer, so the "office" out of the house is a no go for using the existing computer.

Looking at a Macintosh through talking with friends. Apparently supposed to be the best for video editing and graphic work.

Debating between a Power book G4 or an E-mac.

Figure can get the E-mac upstairs in another "hobby" room. E-mac lot less expensive than a powerbook G-4, although with the power book, it is VERY portable (being a laptop).

Will need a second computer either way for video work, internet access an option, but not really needed for video work (or so I think).

I am a computer idiot, so explinations don't have to be in depth /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Any comments on which way to go?

Suggestions?

Any input would be helpful.

Thks in advance.

 

[Sigarms]

Thanks bmac.

Thats what I heard, Mac is by far has the "easiest" video editing software out there. Since I need to actually get another computer (for video work), thought why not a Mac?

By far, the desk top version is a lot less money for what you can get. That powerbook seems "sweet" though, being able to do editing work "on the run" so to speak (say away to the family for vacation and so forth).

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I generally don't consider myself much of a computer person. Former Windows user, current PowerBook G4 user. I've also done video editing on the PowerBook with the included software and it is a piece of cake, my little 12" PowerBook has the DVD burner built in and it is easy to use. If you want to get fancy, you might want to plug in an external mouse for more precise control, at least until you get used to the pad. (want to buy a used mouse, I don't use one anymore but did for several months while I was getting used to the pad).

As for internet, get yourself an AirPort unit, plug your internet feed into the AirPort and you will have instant on internet every time you open up the PowerBook in any room in your home. I added one of their little AirPort extender units (don't remember the exact name of the thing) to give me more range, but is also gives me a printer on upstairs as well as one downstairs, all wirelessly.

The lovely Mrs_Bob uses a 14" iBook and loves it. She's a computer & business teacher at the local high school and they only use Windows computers at her school. She has no cross platform compatibility issues and can trade files between Mac and the Windows computers without any problems.

 

[ctc1111]

I have a mac G5 tower and 27inch screen. I bought it for doing mixdown in my recording studio and i love the mac system a lot easier and less prone to viruses, i know that will change soon since theyre becomeing more popular but for now its good. I would go with the mac g4 power book

 

[jeffinsgf]

I have been a "Mac" guy since about a week after the "1984" Superbowl commercial. That first one was too expensive for me -- my boss at the time bought one for all of us to use.

I do both professional and personal video editing on all three of my Macs. The oldest and slowest is a 1998 iMac DVSE. My 14" iBook is what I am writing this on while watching my Chiefs get hammered on MNF. I'm on the internet through an AirPort base station. My main machine is a 20" snowball iMac.

The eMac is sort of the update of my iMac DVSE. It would get the job done, but it would be a little pokey on big renders. In your shoes I would look at the new iMac or a late production snowball iMac. There is a wide range of available options between the eMac and a PowerBook. You're paying for the portability in the PowerBook. If you need it, then that is great, but if you don't you can get more horsepower in a "consumer" desktop than you can in the professional laptop. Also, as Bob said, don't overlook the iBook line. It is capable of video editing, even DVD authoring and burning, for a lot less than the PowerBook, albeit without the speed -- but even an iBook is faster than I am. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Sigarms]

Thanks to all the responses.

Nice to know that everyone who has a Mac speaks highly of it.

Will have to drive down to Charlotte to put my (and my wifes) hands on a couple and see which way we want to go (as far as which model).

 

[dmccarty]

Sigarms,

Do you have a preference for a Windoze or Mac system based on YOUR experience with the OSes? I might give your experience more wieght on which way to go.

I have been burning DVDs from a Sony as well but I use a XP. The software that came with the camera is ok. There are some usability issues but it works. The software I got with the DVD burner, NEO, seems to work well. You will need LOTS of disk space to do this though. I have to save the video from the camera and then do what little editing I want before burning the DVD. Burning the DVD takes hours on my system but I think that is because I am using USB to connect things. I suspect I'm at USB 1.0 not 2.0.

If you are familiar with Windoze I think you might be better off with it over a Mac. If you have no experience or already know the Mac then go Mac. Unless you want to play games. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later,
Dan

 

[getut]

I'll jump in as an obvious PC guy and say that that is a myth.

My wife and I also do desktop publishing out of our house. It is my wifes full time job and she came from the Mac world with the same belief. She is now sold on PC's.

Every application out there for MAC desktop publishing or video editing is available for PC and is feature for feature, click for click exactly the same and is file compatible with the MAC side.

The PC is beneficial for quite a few reasons. Macs still use memory differently than Windows PC. The same task can be done quicker with less RAM on a windows machine. The hardware is also cheaper and is definitely more open in the standards.

Going with the PC Intel/AMD hardware also let you get access to lots of OTHER packages that just flat don't exist for MAC.

Oh believe it or not based on my response above, I am not anti-mac for the heck of it. I think they are great but need to loosen up on their tight control of the hardware. I think their linux based OS-X might be the killer app for Linux. If they release it to open hardware standards and don't force it to be run on Mac hardware, it could eventually replace MS WIndows (a good thing).

 

[Sigarms]

Dan

I have no clue what you asked me /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Ok, I'll let my wife look at both (Mac and PC) and decide /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JPinnell]

I'm an IT Guy for a mid sized graphics agency in STL. I deal with Macs and PCs on a daily basis. Windows has it's place and so does the Mac. I prefer the Mac for a Desktop, and most of the time Windows for a Server.

Mac OS X is not Linux based. It is UNIX based (BSD, and MACH flavors) whereas LINUX is also another flavor of UNIX. You can get variations of LINUX (RedHat, SUSe, and YellowDog) to run on Apple hardware.

The reason Apple is tight and closed source on the hardware is it's much easier to tune your OS and gain stability if you know exactly what chipsets you'll be dealing with. Much of the "lower end" commodity hardware available for X86 can be of questionable manufacture. This leads to stability problems for Windows or LINUX running on it. If you build a comparable in quality X86 PC you'll come close to the higher price of the Mac hardware. Apple is essentially a hardware company that also provides an exceptional operating system to go with their gear. They make their money selling that hardware and that's what pays their R&D and covers the cost of Innovation.

As to the original poster:
The Mac is very easy to learn what you want to do and anything but a base model should come with a SuperDrive (DVD Burner) included. You can hook one up externally using a FireWire Case for about $100. I have a 12" PBook at home, a 15" PBook at work, and have probably used any model made in the last 15yrs. For home use I highly recommend getting a Laptop if you can afford it. The PBooks will let you hook up an external display which gives you more room to work when editing video. You can take it with you on Vaca, hook it up easier to the TV for showing Photos, or sit out on the deck and surf TBN. I've made a couple of DVD's on my PBook with no problems.

The eMac is a heavy beast and a rather old design. It's geared for the educational market and would do the job inexpensively. I'd look at a refurbed 20" iMac G5 for $1500 or so. Check out dealmac.com or smalldog.com for good pricing.

The Mac Mini might be something to consider. $499 to start and with an external LCD and some more RAM you'd have a nice package for less than $1000.

Good Luck

- JP