I want to buy a laptop that will do the job editing AVCHD

[kippard]

I'm on the Panasonic GH1 now. I want to buy a laptop that will do the job editing AVCHD - the perfect companion to my GH1 for editing, etc. Every time I have purchased something I have asked the forum for help and many times you guys have steered me to my next purchase. My GH1 was purchased with a direct link provided by a user to Onecall. Thanks again!

So what do you think I should go for? Money is the priority, but I probably have a few options, even with the cheapest candidates. I'm mostly a PC guy, cuz I'm so ghetto, but I could do MAC. I would probably go to Vegas if I stay with PC - I use Premiere now. I've used Final Cut a wee bit. So, what do you like for me? Direct links to reputable deals appreciated, but not necessary. Again thanks and love!

[edDV]

A good starting point is a Dell Studio with i5 or i7 processor. You will need the CPU power plus other key features like eSATA port for fast external drive and Express card Slot. The only thing missing is USB3.
http://www.dell.com/us/p/studio-1558/pd?~ck=anav

[kippard]

A good starting point is a Dell Studio with i5 or i7 processor. You will need the CPU power plus other key features like eSATA port for fast external drive and Express card Slot. The only thing missing is USB3.
http://www.dell.com/us/p/studio-1558/pd?~ck=anav

Sweet, ed. Thanks,

[edDV]

The nice thing about Dell is you configure many options to taste and budget.

[kippard]

The nice thing about Dell is you configure many options to taste and budget.

I was just running those options through my head. 'Should I just stick to my lowest-possible-expense approach, or kick it up a notch?' The bare-bones Studio will do the job, but...

I like the HDMI. I watch my TV shows and movies on a TV-out from my ten year old desktop now. I'll get a decent, but cheap HD TV and do the same with my new laptop. Anyone seen a steal for a TV lately? 15.6¨ LED is a decent size too.

When do I need the USB3? More thanks,

[edDV]

You should go for more CPU if you are going to be editing h.264.

USB3 will allow full uncompressed capture (e.g. BM Intensity Shuttle) and RAID interface for uncompressed editing. Not a big deal for h.264 editing. For that you need CPU power.

[kippard]

You should go for more CPU if you are going to be editing h.264.

USB3 will allow full uncompressed capture (e.g. BM Intensity Shuttle) and RAID interface for uncompressed editing. Not a big deal for h.264 editing. For that you need CPU power.

If I should get the CPU power, I will.

Wish they had one in white.

[kippard]

A 5200 RPM drive is optional for the Studio. Presumably, this is enough for video editing, as it is an option on a unit called "Studio." I would have thought the 7200 RPM was required, what's the deal? And thanks,

[redwudz]

Drive speed mostly equates to access time, not so much to data handling speed. You don't need a particularly fast hard drive unless you are working with uncompressed video. Laptops normally use 5200 - 5400RPM drives to reduce power consumption.

[edDV]

And if you will be editing native h.264, data rate is only 24 Mb/s max*. (less than 10% of drive sustained capability). However, if you give up on native editing (CPU intensive) and go for a digital intermediate (e.g. Cineform Neoscene), you will be pushing the internal hard disk more particularly as the drive fills. In that case, you would be better off using that eSATA connection to an external drive.

IMO, if you are going to be editing on a laptop, an eSATA port for that second drive is a must.


* Note that when you scrub the timeline searching for an edit point, this could increase the transfer rate up to 10x (240Mb/s) which would be close to max for the hard drive. Issue is the CPU would bog down much faster than the hard disk as it tries to decode the AVCHD GOPs so in the real world this isn't an issue.

[kippard]

Understood, guys. I need to decide if this Studio will be GH1/h.264 exclusive, or if I will use an intermediate someday. I'm covered with the eSATA and an external drive - the 5400 RPM doesn't matter, and saves battery life, but I still wonder if I should get the 7200 RPM. Appreciate your opinions and any other advice. With thanks,

[edDV]

Understood, guys. I need to decide if this Studio will be GH1/h.264 exclusive, or if I will use an intermediate someday. I'm covered with the eSATA and an external drive - the 5400 RPM doesn't matter, and saves battery life, but I still wonder if I should get the 7200 RPM. Appreciate your opinions and any other advice. With thanks,

7200 RPM pros
- slightly faster file copies and seek (the Windows "snap" factor).

7200 RPM cons
- battery consumption
- noise
- cost

[kippard]

7200 RPM pros
- slightly faster file copies and seek (the Windows "snap" factor).

7200 RPM cons
- battery consumption
- noise
- cost

The 5400 seems to be the better choice. I don't really lose any capability.

[kippard]

A good starting point is a Dell Studio with i5 or i7 processor. You will need the CPU power plus other key features like eSATA port for fast external drive and Express card Slot. The only thing missing is USB3.
http://www.dell.com/us/p/studio-1558/pd?~ck=anav

When I build the Dell Studio I like it's like $1,200. Would you say you like this as compared to the Dell: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220755 As good? Thanks so much!

[edDV]

You will find prices are similar for similar features.

The AMD processor won't match the Intel i7 particularly in laptop configuration. That Acer only has a 1366x768 screen. For Vegas you will want 1920x1080.

[kippard]

You will find prices are similar for similar features.

The AMD processor won't match the Intel i7 particularly in laptop configuration. That Acer only has a 1366x768 screen. For Vegas you will want 1920x1080.

It looks so bad too. Thanks,

[kippard]

ed! etal! I am ALMOST ready to buy the Studio. I was reading the customer reviews and it seems that if the thing doesn't overheat and punk out then people love it, but it seems to punk out quite a few times. It's curious because my old roommate bought a Dell laptop and I remember his epic difficulty and frustration when it punked out on him (it did actually punk out...my own roommate's) and he had to deal with Dell and the whole chore of trying to fix and sort it all out. I probably have no better option, but I'm hereby making one last solicitation for suitable laptop purchases. THHHAAAANNK YOOOOO!

[edDV]

ed! etal! I am ALMOST ready to buy the Studio. I was reading the customer reviews and it seems that if the thing doesn't overheat and punk out then people love it, but it seems to punk out quite a few times. It's curious because my old roommate bought a Dell laptop and I remember his epic difficulty and frustration when it punked out on him (it did actually punk out...my own roommate's) and he had to deal with Dell and the whole chore of trying to fix and sort it all out. I probably have no better option, but I'm hereby making one last solicitation for suitable laptop purchases. THHHAAAANNK YOOOOO!

These days Dell sticks close to the Intel design. Intel i series processors are far ahead for laptops. If you are going to be doing a lot of encoding, heat is always the issue. Use a cooling pad to increase airflow.

A desktop or tower is still the safe choice for heavy duty processing.

As for service support, Dell is average for the standard warranty and better than average if you pay for extended support.

Reliability depends on a particular motherboard design as much as the manufacturer. But 3rd party data puts Dell in the middle of the pack for historical models.
http://lifehacker.com/5524704/laptop+reliability-study-highlights-the-most-sturdy-laptop-makers

Personally I've had worst reliability issues with Apple. Two out of three failed at motherboard level within 3 years.

[kippard]

These days Dell sticks close to the Intel design. Intel i series processors are far ahead for laptops. If you are going to be doing a lot of encoding, heat is always the issue. Use a cooling pad to increase airflow.

A desktop or tower is still the safe choice for heavy duty processing.

As for service support, Dell is average for the standard warranty and better than average if you pay for extended support.

ed! I guess it's the best laptop-option. I will be doing a lot of traveling - tower isn't possible. I like a tower to work on (open up) myself and to do my work on instead of a tight-ish feeling laptop - it's just the difficulty of getting a tower from place to place for my travels... Thankie,

[redwudz]

kippard, I've changed your thread title to one that more describes your subject, as per our rules.

Moderator redwudz

[kippard]

kippard, I've changed your thread title to one that more describes your subject, as per our rules.

Moderator redwudz

Hey, I like it! Thanks!