Need To Upgrade: Pc Or Imac?

[ramone_kalsaw]

I'm at a crossroads and would appreciate your perspective and suggestions.

 

The Situation

I just purchased a digital video camcorder which I will be using to shoot footage for a series of instructional videos. Given the processor and harddrive intensive requirements of dv editing, I think that I'm going to upgrade my computer to prepare for the upcoming computing demands.

 

The Problem

I own and work on both MACs and PCs and now need to decide which platform path to follow to meet my video editing and DVD authoring needs.

 

My Request

Considering this, I'd very much appreciate knowing what you know to be the pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages of going with the PC over iMac or iMac over PC.

 

Thanks!

[sigmadog]

Well, as a Mac user, I like the fact that the Mac comes with basic editing software for free (iMovie HD, iDVD) as well as music creation software (Garageband).

 

I don't work with the video editing software so much right now (I'm a print designer), so I can't really say if they have all the power you would need for your videos. Your level of experience in the field, and what you want to accomplish will likely be the determining factors there.

 

But if your needs match the Mac application's capabilities, that's a fairly sizable money savings right there.

 

You should look into whether the iMac is powerful enough to handle video editing. I know they market towards the casual / family user and if your needs don't rise much above that, then the iMac might work fine.

 

By the way, none of this is to say that PC's are bad (no flames from the Borg Collective, please) But my experiences are with Macs.

 

Good luck. Sounds like fun.

[Deverill]

You can find the PC/MAC stinks arguments all over the net so everyone let's refrain from that here...

 

Sigmadog has a great point though - at work we have marketing folks that use Mac's and one person got an Imac and had all kinds of problems - the info I got on the net was that anyone doing what this person was doing (just basic graphics for print and web) would be a fool to use an Imac and a G4 would be the least they needed. Now, this is specific to a particular issue and does not apply to everything but the point is that you need to make sure the machines are powerful enough to do what you need.

 

My vote would be to do what you feel the most comfortable with. From what I've seen any good software on the MAC can be found for the PC, or a reasonable replacement at least. Consider the programs you like and if they are available, which you are most comfortable with and the abilities of each, the cost of each and decide what sounds the best to you -- after all, you have to live with your choice.

[sigmadog]

My vote would be to do what you feel the most comfortable with.  From what I've seen any good software on the MAC can be found for the PC, or a reasonable replacement at least.  Consider the programs you like and if they are available, which you are most comfortable with and the abilities of each, the cost of each and decide what sounds the best to you -- after all, you have to live with your choice.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yep.

 

Another thing to consider is storage expandability. On an iMac that is limited to external drives. Personally, if I were getting into video production on a Mac, I'd probably go for a G5 tower with a dual processor. Of course, cost is always a factor, but the lifespan of the tower versus the iMac is something to think about: the dual G5 will be productive and expandable for a lot longer than the self contained iMac.

 

If you are close to an Apple store, you should visit it and take a test drive.

[TCH-Bruce]

You can find the PC/MAC stinks arguments all over the net so everyone let's refrain from that here...

One of the reasons I didn't offer an opinion. But most Sony PCs come with video editing software on them as well.

[cajunman4life]

Pfft, just use Linux (Dude, you knew that was coming)... actually I'm kidding. While I'm a Linux nut, I don't know what resources it has for video editing available (though I would imagine there are plenty out there).

 

While WindowsXP comes with Windows Movie Maker, it's pretty basic (but advanced for a novice like me). I like macs, but I don't think I'd get one now, seeing as how within the next year macs will include intel processors instead of IBM's powerpc. It's hard to say how long support for the ppc based macs will last after the transition (also, no flames here please... if you know more than I do politely correct me). Just my $0.02 (btw Sonys are pretty neat... especially the laptops).

 

Edit: I should add that I'm not an "intel basher"... I was merely pointing out the fact that Apple is transitioning from IBM to Intel as their chip provider... so no "Borgs" (still chuckling) from the Intel camp flaming me please.

Edited July 14, 2005 by cajunman4life

[Deverill]

I don't know much about the Macs, but for hardcore video editing I'd bet that there is no software that comes with any flavor of a WinPC for free that is up to the task so if you go that route factor in the cost of a production suite.