Laptop Computer - video editing

by **Rob Graff** on Mon Aug 21, 2006 4:16 pm

I'm seeking advice on laptop use/video editing/digital video cameras - we're going to try and do a bit more with Video at UMD this season, especially video of practice. Thus quick turnaround and ease of use is crucial

I've received some opinions I trust (thanks Adam G) that suggest MacBook Pro (2.0 Ghz w/lots o memory) with FinalCut Express would be a good system - anyone else want to weigh in on this question? Or have any opinions on the Apple v. PC debate for this type of use? What amount of RAM would you suggest (max at 2GB ? or is 1.5 enough?)

Also - any recomendations on a digital video camera that stores on an internal Hard drive that is Apple compatible?

Finally - I'd also use it for a multitude of word applications - anyone have a problem with the Universal Word program?

Thanks in advance.

Rob

**Sponsor**

by **Adam Gamradt** on Mon Aug 21, 2006 4:46 pm

Shhh.

Don't tell everyone I'm helping you.

We have to publically maintain our air of uneasy cooperation, our cat and mouse game of chance, played until one of us drops dead from exaushtion or a lacrosse stick in the back.

by **Rob Graff** on Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:01 pm

I'll tell everyone it was Col. Mustard in the study with a candlestick.

by **Sonny** on Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:07 pm

I don't have any specific tips Rob. But I would get all the memory you can afford (and then some). Don't go cheap in that department, esp. now that memory prices are falling.

by **DanGenck** on Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:08 pm

Rob-

I handle all of the technology for the Kent Football team. We use a program called "LRS Sports" which is the top dog in the football film editing world. I believe the program is expensive to buy in to but offers many of the valuable services that teams want.

Primarily, it gives us digital film that is stored on our laptop computer (and also an external hard drive). From there, we can not only break the film down by each play (or in lacrosse, by each stoppage in play) but we can easily put the plays on to DVD and easily tag each play for quick recall. For example, we can tell the program to find every "Gun Spread Left 119" from an entire season, or a single game, or 3 games that we choose, etc.

We have talked extensively about using this for lacrosse here at Kent as we could easily tag plays as "Man Down" "Fast Break" etc. Having this type of film access would be amazing and offer quick, digital replays for coaches and players.

*A word of caution, using these programs without the help of a technology department can be difficult. We decided to buy LRS' extended warranty which gives us 24 hour tech support, etc.

by **Rob Graff** on Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:30 pm

Dan - thanks for the tip - I have a feelin that the program you describe is out of the price range - any thoughts on Hardware?

Sonny - thanks for the tip!

by **Pinball** on Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:36 pm

Rob-
I have extensive knowledge about this little topic you speak of. I would recommend the Macbook Pro (GO FOR THE PRO) upgraded ram using Final Cut Pro HD. Yah final cut is a grand or so, but guess what you can easily throw it on a DVD or IPOD, write down the serial number and you are good to go. With probably an two hours or less (depending on your mac skills) I could show you your basic functions of Final Cut that far exceed any of those coaching editing programs.

So those fancy little video editing programs designed for sports are basically Final Cut or Adobe dumbed down for the meat head coach and considering you are are a Harvard man i wouldn't really put you in that category.

If your worried about mac/pc conversion no worries at all especially with your Microsoft office products (many schools offer an educational discount of around $10 for the whole suite). All of your old pc files will work on your new mac. If there is some PC program that you want to run all of the new macs come with an option called virtual PC. Its where you can run Windows XP on your new mac, its an easy and fun little thing.

I would also say to go ahead and get the 120gb hard-drive but also purchase the largest external drive in your budget. Its easiest and if you really dont feel like lugging it around you can just throw it on your internal and bring it over later.

I can pretty much walk you through most of this stuff so just PM me or call me. It is my job at school to help people through their computer woes.

My brother just got the mac book pro, my mom got the new intel mac mini and they are both loving them both.

For normal everyday computer use (surfing the internet, writing LARGE Invoices, listening to music, watching movies etc) the mac is far superior

Toss the PC PILE!!!

by **yourmom** on Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:11 am

DUAL CORE!!!!!!!!

by **Dulax31** on Tue Aug 22, 2006 12:22 pm

I heard Mac's kinda suck for gaming compared to the PC. Is this true?

by **Rob Graff** on Tue Aug 22, 2006 1:04 pm

From my limited knowledge, the primary problem is that there is not a wide variety of games for Apple computers. Others likely can express a more developed opinion.

BUt I was told that the MacBook (in contrast to the MacBook PRO) was a poor machine for any type of gaming, and in fact, would not play Civ IV, a game that is not too graphic intensive.

by **UofMLaxGoalie11** on Tue Aug 22, 2006 1:41 pm

Here's a little video for you to download about mac games.
http://www.roosterteeth.com/archive/download.php?id=499

"On the mac I can play plenty of great games that you just cant find on the PC now. Like Zorg, Breakout... Super Breakout...... Photoshop."

by **Champ** on Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:09 pm

Dulax31 wrote:I heard Mac's kinda suck for gaming compared to the PC. Is this true?

Correct

by **Pinball** on Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:23 pm

shouldnt you be working on your left handed dodge Fleck instead of gaming??

by **Dulax31** on Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:07 pm

Pinball wrote:shouldnt you be working on your left handed dodge Fleck instead of gaming??

Shhhh, dont tell everyone my secret

by **mholtz** on Wed Aug 23, 2006 6:26 am

Rob, one question that wasn't answered was your "word" question. The answer is that you can get MS office for Mac. That's your best bet. The other applications out there (open office is one) just aren't quite there yet, though open office is getting close.

I'd recommend for video editing, to be honest, that you avoid a laptop if you can. The reason being that laptop hard drives are notoriously slow, and when you are pushing and pulling all that data from the drive it gets to be slower.

I'd agree on the Mac. It's just a good choice.

I'd also agree that the most ram you can afford is a good idea.

I don't do that much with the video, but I do some and we use a simple windows PC and MS movie maker. It's really not as good as final cut though.