Which Mac to buy?

[lordsmurf]

At the end of the day, a computer is just a tool. Apple tries to make it some sort of dumbass lifestyle choice. Microsoft is copying it with equally ridiculous "I'm a PC" ads.

From what I'm seeing so far, I don't think a Mac OS X based system is the proper tool for your desired task.

A Mac works great -- but only with certain tasks for which it was designed.

[rhmanatee]

I was put off by the whole lifestyle idea myself, but in the end, a computer IS supposed to be a tool. I prefer a tool that is well-made, with parts that actually work together. I do not want to spend more time fixing my tool than using it. Windows-based machines have served only as obstacles to accomplishing my desired tasks. If this has not been your experience, that's great for you, but I have not been so fortunate. Not only do I somehow manage to keep buying defective machines, the replacement machines are also defective (thanks Sony!). I hate waiting on hold for 30+ minutes for tech support only to be conveniently disconnected while my call is "transferred." When I call Apple, this doesn't happen. When there is a problem, I can enter their actual store, hand them my item, have them determine it has a problem, and leave with a new item or return the next day to retrieve my repaired item. With few exceptions, the Apple techs are knowledgeable about their products and able to at least pretend that they give a crap about helping customers. Where can I go for this kind of assistance with another manufacturer's products?
Nowhere I've found so far. And sure, I like to track down a solution and implement it myself from time to time, but sometimes I actually want to be able to do something with my computer besides try to figure out why it won't work and wait for virus scans to complete.
How can you say a Mac was not designed for video editing anyway? That's ridiculous.

[Nilfennasion]

I have had an iMac for about ten months now, myself, and for what it is worth, I would never go back.

Some Macs are better at editing video or other video-related applications than others. That is simply a fact. A Mac Pro with all the trimmings will edit together a ninety-minute feature or doco with less stress and processing time than your basic iMac. Your basic iMac will edit together the same feature or doco without grinding its hard disc into oblivion, which the Mac mini definitely cannot do. It is all a question of how much you want to spend and what you intend to do with what you get.

I have an iMac from September 2008 that I spent around $2800 on, mainly in order to get some options above the basic. About two months ago, I used it to edit together a thirty-second short from a collection of 1080I footage that I shot using an MPEG-2 camcorder at a university. A couple of editing flaws that are my own silly fault aside, I could not be happier with the results, and I know full well that there is no way I could have achieved said results on anything offered in PC land.

Am I put off by Apple's advertising and marketing? You betcha. Maddox hit the nail right on the head when he savaged Apple's advertising campaigns of the time. In fact, after managing to write off no less than fifty CD-Rs with Toast, I often despair at the lack of options made available to Mac users in many software categories. And when the system does not "just work", it is hard to find help that consists of more than vague, blurry suggestions on an Internet message board. Only fools believe Apple's hype that owning an Apple computer is all wine and roses.

Thing is, though, if you are looking to do work with real multimedia as opposed to just making clumsy cuts in a meat-cleaver style, doing so in Windoze land will require a far heavier cash outlay, and Linux is a total non-option. But you are setting yourself up for disappointment if you expect it to be cheap or easy. Lordsmurf is right about how one should give up now if they find simple computer operation traumatic. Even if you have so far found a Mac to not give you errors when you are attempting operations, the ability of video editing tools to draw out the worst from your computer is the stuff of legend.

Regardless of what way you slice it, what you are looking to do with the computer you purchase means you are basically diving into very murky, unclear water. You therefore want to get the biggest stick you can and poke around in said water as thoroughly as possible before you leap. I am mostly very happy with how my mid-level iMac has handled the video tasks I have used it for so far. But there is plenty I am unhappy with in the bargain.

[edDV]

Nilfennasion,

I'm a PC (Premiere and Vegas) and Mac OSX (FCE and FCP) user and I just don't get why you think an iMac is a superior video editing platform vs. an equivalent PC that more resembles a Mac Pro with multiple SATA hard drives, PCIe slots for I/O hardware and an updatable display card. The iMac suffers all the confinement of a laptop when used as an editing platform. Unless one is prepared to step up to the Mac Pro tower, I'd say the typical desktop PC is a superior hardware platform and more versatile for video work.

This where communication breaks down. "Editing" means many things. One needs to describe source formats, processing requirements, budgets and output goals. Even within the pro community, work differs for long form editorial, effects editing, compositing and animation, restoration etc.

Assuming you are talking about editing short features or long form from camcorder material, I'd argue that Adobe Premiere, Final Cut and Sony Vegas are in the same league. You can reach FCP/MacPro performance at half the cost and with more utility tool support in Windows. FCP has advantage as a standardized work environment in some circles. Premiere and Vegas have similar group loyalty as does Avid, Edius and others.

At the consumer level, I find iMovie a bit of a joke compared to entry PC apps. Again it depends on what you want to do. The lack of Firewire on recent MacBooks takes the joke to an extreme.

So I'd say at the mid level with the apps discussed above, the Windows PC and Apple MacPro are both able to get the work done. I'm not a fan of laptop editing on either platform.