Thinking of getting my first Mac - any advice would be appreciated!

[Reinhardt]

I'm really close to making the switch from the PC to the Mac. I want to get one for video editing (and some audio as well) - i want to use Final Cut Pro 2. I'm thinking of getting the Mac Pro with 4G RAM. Is this overkill for what I want to do? One of the things I like is the ability to upgrade down the road, something you can't do as well with the iMac.

As for monitors, how do you feel about Apple monitors vs third party ones? I'm hearing things about some of the new apple monitors being too glossy.

Any advice at all would be much appreciated!

 

[darthviper107]

Don't get a Mac?

Sorry, just have problems with Mac's

Get as much RAM as possible, especially for video editing it'll make it faster. Along with processor.

Check Newegg.com for monitors, and look at the customer reviews, if there's an unforeseen problem with a monitor you'll be able to find out there.

 

[automaton]

i love Mac... more memory the better... and do look into their monitors (they are worth the money).

 

[Reinhardt]

Thanks. Hopefully more people will respond. I would have thought that this thread would be filled with responses. I figured there would be more Mac users on this board. Please help if you are!

 

[Kabukiman]

4 GB isn't even close to "overkill" for serious video editing. That might be enough to get started, but once you get into After Effects and DVD Authoring, you might find you'd like a little more.

The MacPro (no matter what model you choose) is one helluva machine and will last you many years. Pound for pound, it's the best workstation you can get for what it sounds like you want to do.

As for Apple monitors, they're nice and all, but you can find the same quality for cheaper. Dell horror) makes some really nice ones. Do like darthviper says and shop around, you can probably find a deal for a nicely reviewed monitor somewhere. The only thing the Apple monitors can offer you is the Apple logo.

Also, as far as monitors go, get a matte finish. I'm not sure why, but glossy monitors are all the rage right now and they will screw up your work.

 

[Reinhardt]

Thanks for the advice Kabukiman. So, regarding the glossy monitors, how do they screw up your work??

 

[Kabukiman]

I find them very difficult to look at, I need a room to be completely dark before I can even look at them. Also, if you're working for accurate color (which is difficult to do with video, depending on how you plan to distribute), you're s-o-l. All the lights and color in the room will reflect off the screen and screw wreck it for you.

I honestly can't believe Apple makes matte finish a build to order option on their pro laptop line. Matte should be the default option, imo.

glare =

 

[Reinhardt]

Thanks so much. Are there certain requirements that the monitor must have to run on a Mac? Special connectors I need? Sorry for all the questions, there is just so much information out there that I am getting lost. Thanks!

 

[darthviper107]

Same connections, VGA, or DVI

The truth is--a Mac is a PC, you can install Windows on a Mac and Mac OS on a regular PC (although doing that is illegal according to the Mac user license).

 

[hairlesswookiee]

go for it. don't let the haters sway your opinion. if you live close to an apple store i suggest you go visit it a couple times before you purchase. all their classes are free and they usually have some good stuff in them. also, the turnaround time on repair is really short. the two times i had to take my macbook back for repair i got it back the same day without hassle. if you are serious about upgrading the ram i'd look into buying it from newegg or someplace like it. apple overcharges their ram like it was blessed by the Pope.

 

[darthviper107]

And they're computers. You're paying at least twice as much for the parts as what it'd be to just buy them from Newegg.com, but then you couldn't use the Mac OS.

 

[Kuzeh]

hey there,
I'm a designer so I use Photoshop, CAD software, and Render/animation software on a daily basis, at work I have a Dual Quad Core w/ 4 GB and it's a beauty!!
It works great!
The guys at the Apple store can indeed help if you're a newbie, but most of them aren't that useful once you know the basics...

 

[Reinhardt]

thanks everyone! this is great. I'm going to the Apple store tonight - although i've pretty much already made up my mind on one.

 

[occulum]

hey there,
I'm a designer so I use Photoshop, CAD software, and Render/animation software on a daily basis, at work I have a Dual Quad Core w/ 4 GB and it's a beauty!!
It works great!

what CAD software do you use?

 

[Kuzeh]

what CAD software do you use?

Vectroworks 2008 and Renderworks

 

[occulum]

Vectroworks 2008 and Renderworks

cool .. we had vectorworks for awhile, but ended up having to return it and we use Solidworks on a PC & still render in trusty ol Strata for now .... what do you build in vectorworks? what line of work are you in?

 

[Kuzeh]

I'm an exhibit designer,
I used to render on Strata, but long ago between 96-99, then I started using ArtLantis Render until last year, Renderworks is pretty good for what it is, and pretty fast!
I haven't tried flythrus yet...

 

[Eli26]

I have a dual G5 PowerMac steel tower and a MacBook Pro laptop. I was a PC user until converted back in 2000. Haven't looked back since. I prefer Macs over to PCs, and I am using Final Cut Pro, Maya, Illustrator, Photoshop, Wrangler, Videohub, After Effects, and Flash on a regular basis through my new media course.

So yeah, I highly recommend Macs. They are so reliable and dependable. Not to mention, pretty.

 

[darthviper107]

I have a dual G5 PowerMac steel tower and a MacBook Pro laptop. I was a PC user until converted back in 2000. Haven't looked back since. I prefer Macs over to PCs, and I am using Final Cut Pro, Maya, Illustrator, Photoshop, Wrangler, Videohub, After Effects, and Flash on a regular basis through my new media course.

So yeah, I highly recommend Macs. They are so reliable and dependable. Not to mention, pretty.

You're still using a PC

The only reasons to use a Mac for me is Final Cut Pro, and Shake--only available on Mac, but that's because Apple owns them.

And in my experience, Mac's are about as reliable as Windows-based PC's. At school we have a Mac lab and a PC lab, both crash just as often. In fact, we were working on Flash yesterday, and someone's Mac crashed and lost all their work.

 

[JinRoh]

hey there,
I'm a designer so I use Photoshop, CAD software, and Render/animation software on a daily basis, at work I have a Dual Quad Core w/ 4 GB and it's a beauty!!
It works great!
The guys at the Apple store can indeed help if you're a newbie, but most of them aren't that useful once you know the basics...

exactly.......