With no Mac, what PC tools does one need to create high-quality web video?

[xrave3]

Hey guys, I'm relatively new to web video production so wanted the opinion of web video editing buffs here

Here's the type of web-video I'm after:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_QNCtyw9fg&feature=player_embedded
(fun video introducing Groupon's features)

Millionaire Society (fun video presentation for work-from-home enthusiasts)


Let's assume I have no Mac.

Precisely what are the most cost-effective PC (Windows 7 or XP) tools you would need to produce video presentations of at least the same QUALITY as those - as if I had a Mac?

Any extra hardware that's needed beyond a simple microphone?

From some guys, I keep hearing that you need a Mac.

This is assuming you have all the still-image graphics needed ready.

Thanks so much for the insight.

[transporterfan]

I would suggest PhotoShop, or CorelDraw X5(+) for the artwork and SWiSH for the animation.

http://www.swishzone.com/index.php

Expect a high learning curve if you have never used these before.

[videopoo]

There are more tools available for PC

This is basic After Effects compositing.....once you know the tool.

Mac or PC has nothing to do with anything here. All depends which Platform you prefer

[sanlyn]

Let's assume I have no Mac.

Then for video, you're better off. 1984 was a long time ago.

[Hoser Rob]

... From some guys, I keep hearing that you need a Mac...

Nothing against macs ... at least they're linux based ... but don't take that too seriously. I've been told by several mac users that you can't run photoshop in windows either.

[deadrats]

Nothing against macs ... at least they're linux based ... but don't take that too seriously. I've been told by several mac users that you can't run photoshop in windows either.

Macs are not "linux based", Mac OS is "BSD based" in so far as parts of the OS X kernel are derived from Unix BSD kernel code.

and just so you know, Linux Is Not UniX

[Hoser Rob]

Nothing against macs ... at least they're linux based ... but don't take that too seriously. I've been told by several mac users that you can't run photoshop in windows either.

Macs are not "linux based", Mac OS is "BSD based" in so far as parts of the OS X kernel are derived from Unix BSD kernel code.

and just so you know, Linux Is Not UniX

Yes, they are linux based. They were originally planning on using unix but unix is not open source and it would have cost them a lot more. So they used linux.

I'm quite aware linux isn't unix. I was using unix at terminal level more than 25 years ago. Originally linux was basically "Posix compatible".

Linux may be "unix-like" but the percentage of people for whom that makes a difference is very small. I know a lot of real computer geeks ... not posers ... and it doesn't make any practical difference for any of them.

[JimmyS]

Nothing against macs ... at least they're linux based ... but don't take that too seriously. I've been told by several mac users that you can't run photoshop in windows either.

Macs are not "linux based", Mac OS is "BSD based" in so far as parts of the OS X kernel are derived from Unix BSD kernel code.

and just so you know, Linux Is Not UniX

Yes, they are linux based. They were originally planning on using unix but unix is not open source and it would have cost them a lot more. So they used linux.

I'm quite aware linux isn't unix. I was using unix at terminal level more than 25 years ago. Originally linux was basically "Posix compatible".

Linux may be "unix-like" but the percentage of people for whom that makes a difference is very small. I know a lot of real computer geeks ... not posers ... and it doesn't make any practical difference for any of them.

The OS X wiki backs up deadrats on this one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS_X

"OS X is based upon the Mach kernel. Certain parts from FreeBSD's and NetBSD's implementation of Unix were incorporated in NeXTSTEP, the core of Mac OS X. NeXTSTEP was the graphical, object-oriented, and UNIX-based operating system developed by Steve Jobs' company NeXT after he left Apple in 1985."

FreeBSD and NetBSD are open source variants of BSD Unix, AT&T Unix and others.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeBSD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NetBSD

And from Apple: