Macbook vs. Macbook Pro??

[howyalivin2]

Newbie here getting ready to purchase an HV20. Also want to get a Macbook. I was planning on the black Macbook (since it's cheaper than the Pro and I didn't think I needed the extras on the Pro), but now am reading that FCPS only runs on the Macbook Pro. Considering I am getting the HV20 primarily for 24p, which Mac should I go with? Is FC Express HD an option (running on the Macbook)? Thanks in advance.

[CJDaniels]

You can run FC Express on MacBook without issues. FCS2 cannot be run on a machine with an integrated intel graphics card. That being said, FCP will run on a MacBook but not all the programs associated with FCS2.

[brandonesquire]

You can run FC Express on MacBook without issues. FCS2 cannot be run on a machine with an integrated intel graphics card. That being said, FCP will run on a MacBook but not all the programs associated with FCS2.

I have a macbook and run FCP 5.1 just fine. I'd been wanting FCS2, just for FCP 6. You say that FCP 6 will run on a macbook? Just not, like, Color and Motion?

[skinnyboy]

The Black MacBook is a bit of a ripoff. You pay about $150 for it being black. Better to make the white one match the specs of the black one.
That being said, the black is pretty spiffy looking.

The question is - do you just want to edit on the laptop or do you plan to do other more intensive things? If you are just going to edit, you can use a MacBook, if you will do other things (Motion, Color, lots of rendering) you'll need the MacBook Pro.

[howyalivin2]

I appreciate the quick responses! Thanx.

[scsz]

How much slower would the Mac Book be for rendering vs the Pro? Also any problems running an external monitor with the Mac Book?

[tiloprobst]

The consumer books are usually locked to mirror mode but there sure is a way to hack it to screen extension mode.

In terms of rendering the MBPs will of course be faster, but not too much. There are a lot of benchmark sites out there but I guess they do not test FCS on consumer hardware. Remember that raw CPU power is only one factor to speed up editing and rendering, RAM and hard disc speed are equally important.

Other then that, I'm pretty sure that all apps of FCS2 can be used on MacBooks. Sure the Apple installer will deny the installation, but software like Pacifist sure can do a force install - at your risk of course. But I am rather sceptical on the rendering performance of Motion and Color on integrated graphics Macs.

Why do you want to work on mobile hardware anyway? OK, if you are forced to stay mobile ... But the 24" iMac is a great HDV editing machine and is due to a rumored update soon.

[scsz]

I do not know about 'howyalivin2' but I would want a portable Mac for quick editing at times when I am not at my desktop PC.

[neocastillo]

How much slower would the Mac Book be for rendering vs the Pro? Also any problems running an external monitor with the Mac Book?

I've owned both. I sold my Pro to get a Macbook for size reasons. I do not regret the trade what so ever. And to be honest the render times are pretty similar. What you are really paying for on the Pro other that then screan size is the dedicated graphics card that allows you to use Motion etc.

[Sherb]

The consumer books are usually locked to mirror mode but there sure is a way to hack it to screen extension mode.


All Macbooks since the Core Duo have mirror and extension mode standard - no hack required. There is even a button specifically to switch between the two views - the F7 key. I am writing this on a Macbook with a 1680x1050 external screen as we speak, and I think it supports up to 1920x1200. Dual screens are great.

[monkeyboylee]

I have a macbook and run FCP 5.1 just fine. I'd been wanting FCS2, just for FCP 6. You say that FCP 6 will run on a macbook? Just not, like, Color and Motion?

Brandonesquire - I have a latest macbook - love the portabillity (more important to me than anything else) but now want to upgrade to using hdv.

I'm happy that my macbook can handle hdv editing but my new concern is that I only have about 55GB spare (after I've totally stripped it down) and that 1 hr of footage is 40GB through AIC. When using rendering on FCE this creates (I think) and an additional equally large file too and then there will be exporting to h.264 file too afterwards?

So... what is the maximum length of video I can reallistically capture and edit at a time.... 30 mins? I'll be getting an external HD too but any advice on workflow with a macbook to increase this is greatly appreciated before I spend the cash...

Noob for HDV so sorry if I have stated anything thats wrong!

Cheers,

Lee

[neocastillo]

MonkeyBoyLee,

I would never recommend editing video on the same hard drive that your OS is on. It is highly recomended that you buy a USB 2.0 external HD so edit your video on.

[monkeyboylee]

MonkeyBoyLee,

I would never recommend editing video on the same hard drive that your OS is on. It is highly recomended that you buy a USB 2.0 external HD so edit your video on.

Thank you.

Yes, I will be getting an external hard drive so will do it like that.

Last question then its time to get the credit card out!. I have read tests that on macs the usb2 only hits about 60% of the firewire 400 speed so probably going to get a firewire 400 one, is this fast enough to edit with?

[skinnyboy]

Definitely go with Firewire over USB 2.0.

One more advantage the MacBook Pro has over the MacBook is a Firewire 800 port. That's the ideal external connection.
Well, eSATA is the ideal, but hard to get on a laptop.

[24andcounting]

Hi everyone. Some good discussion here.

I too am considering either the MB or MBP for use with video editing on the HV20. I realize this may not be ideal, but it seems workable, and the portability for me is also quite important. Cost is a factor for me, which is why I'm leaning towards the MB.

I could use some advice on what to do with only one FW port? The camera obviously needs this, but I am giving up alot by using USB 2.0 for my external hd? Should I get a firewire hub?

Thanks in advance.

[skinnyboy]

USB 2.0 is not as fast as Firewire, but should be OK if that's all you can get.

I've tried capturing with a camera daisy-chained in through a firewire HD and had trouble, so you probably want the camera going right in to the FW on the computer.
A hub may work - it would be worth a shot.

[xsf18cdf]

You can eSATA II w/the expresscard/34 on MBP.....just a thought....G

[Pom16/10e]

If video is important in the buying decision, then there's no way one can buy a macbook over a macbook pro :

get the low end macbook pro with an express card eSATA adpter and a pair of eSATA external drives.
I currently use such a setup, plus an external firewire 800 drive to boot from.

It just blows away our 2X 2Ghz G5 tower.
What the macbook pro has the macbook will never have is this : the express card adapter slot that allows you to turn it into a real desktop-class editing bay.

[neocastillo]

The reason I recommend a USB 2.0 drive is because the mac laptops come with only one fire wire bus. Therefore the footage goes from the camera to the computer at the same time the footage is being saved from the software to the firewire drive. This can sometimes "clog" the firewire line. if you use a USB 2.0 drive this won't be an issue.