Mac or PC

[kramericaman]

I am in the market for a new laptop to use for novice video editing. Is the MacBook Pro 15" a better purchase than getting a Sony Vaio or Dell with an i5 processor, 6 mb of ram and a dedicated graphics card. Saw a Sony Vaio at Best Buy with an i7 processor, 6 mb or ram, 500 gig hard drive, blue ray player (not a burner), HD screen and a dedicated graphics card. This was $1300.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[edDV]

What format is your camcorder, or what files do you want to edit?

Mac is more expensive to start and then you face software cost on top. If iLife won't cut it for you, the Mac gets very expensive fast.

iMovie is OK for DV or AVCHD/HDV*. iDVD is lacking so at least add Toast to your budget.


*Both are converted to Apple Intermediate Codec, or downscaled to 960x540p.

[kramericaman]

I just shoot the kids sports to have for them and also to use as aid for instruction and want to do basic editing with some music, script and smooth transitions and be able to burn them to DVD or eventually blue ray. The camcorder I use is the new Canon Vixia HF M31 and I shoot in MXP or FXP.

I just want a laptop that will operate very smoothly and allow me to view as well as edit the videos smoothly.

Appreciate your input.

Thanks.

[Noahtuck]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CrQjfgvqJQ

[plundstr20]

Well... if youre were going to spend the amount of money that a Macbook costs then you might just as well get a Sony Vaio or Lenovo PC laptop. Also Windows 7 is great...

[edDV]

IMO iLife (iMovie+iDVD) is not adequate for serious editing+authoring. You would need to add at least Final Cut Express and Toast (~$300). Others may be happy with iLife but you won't get Blu-Ray.

On the Windows laptop side, you could buy a more powerful laptop and add Vegas Pro 9 for about the same money as a stock 15" Macbook Pro. An equivalent laptop plus Vegas Movie Studio Platinum or Adobe Premiere Elements would be much less than a stock Macbook Pro. Budget an additional $129 for Cineform Neoscene in any of these senarios if you are using an AVCHD camcorder.