| Author | Message | ||
     Rick B Citizen Username: Ruck1977 Post Number: 719 Registered: 8-2003  |
I have come into a budget for a new PC and thought I'd put this out. I am going to get a Windows based system (XP or 2003) but have been doing some research on computing trends and where they are going. I have found that I can get a pretty powerful desktop for under 1000 that is pretty state of the art. However, I want to keep in mind trends in technology. for instance, video and personal video recorders, and their space requirements. Antyhing else I should consider? | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 6488 Registered: 4-1997  |
If you're interested in creating multimedia, get a Mac. This is the one area where PCs just can't compete. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 7030 Registered: 1-2003  |
Buy the computer for what you will do with it in the next six months. Do not pay for an ability that you will use farther in the future. The difference in price is great now but will disappear in that time. In other words, buy what you need, not what you think you will need. I'm about to buy a Mac or two, after owning PC's for 20 years. Yeah, they cost twice as much, but I think you get twice as much or more. Of course, if you can't fork up the extra money, it's out of the question. | ||
| AlleyGater Citizen Username: Alleygater Post Number: 358 Registered: 10-2004 |
I don't think the PC can compete in the OS arena or easy (and pleasure) of use categories either. Buy a mac. | ||
| kevin Citizen Username: Eloso Post Number: 35 Registered: 12-2004 |
To answer your question and not try to give you a sermon about computer religions, I’d say that almost any modern PC should be able to edit video. You will need to be able to connect your camera (USB or Firewire), have lots of disk space and a DVD burner and a lot of patience. It takes a lot of time to encode, cut and piece together a video. | ||
| AlleyGater Citizen Username: Alleygater Post Number: 361 Registered: 10-2004 |
Well...make sure that your under $1000 PC has Firewire cause most don't (all macs come with firewire). Also good luck trying to find a video editing package nearly as elegant and easy to use as the free iMovie. Add those on to your budget when you're figuring out how much your cheap your PC really is. | ||
| kevin Citizen Username: Eloso Post Number: 36 Registered: 12-2004 |
Even if one needed to add firewire to a PC and buy $500 profesional video editing software it would still be cheaper than the Mac. But you don't need to - because you could use USB and free windows software. Now, you might not be as cool or full of zealotry but most of us surive just fine without a Mac. | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 1098 Registered: 5-2004  |
Kevin, you obviously haven't learned about the new mac software that will edit your video for you. You simply connect your camera to the firewire port, put a DVD in the drive (no need for a DVD burner - that's how amazing it really is) and click the mouse (anywhere on the screen). Come back in thirty seconds, and your video is ready to go, including cool edits, soundtrack, and all the scenes you want with none of the scenes you don't. See how cool macs are, and why PCs suck? | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 6491 Registered: 4-1997 |
Now that there's a Mac priced at $499 that's mathematically incorrect.  | ||
| Mayor McCheese Supporter Username: Mayor_mccheese Post Number: 335 Registered: 7-2004  |
Rick- Don't listen to these posts. Get yourself a PC with windows because that is what 75% of software is made for. Everyone else has windows so these are no compatibility problems. Now, because you have said that you want a relatively inexpensive computer, you can probably find a great deal on a Dell for under $1000. Usually they have computers priced at $500 and up. If you send a little extra over the $500 minimum price you will be able to get a better video card with your system. Here is a list of the PCs that Dell offers. http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/compare.aspx/desktops?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s =dhs&~ck=mn You will find similar prices with compaq/HP or other main brands. | ||
| Rick B Citizen Username: Ruck1977 Post Number: 721 Registered: 8-2003 |
Thanks everyone for your input. I am fairly experienced in the "computing realm", but was just trying to get a handle on any trends or areas that may be new to computing. Most likely I will get a base system from Dell for 5-600 bucks without any upgrades, then purchase upgrades seperately (i.e. extra high capacity hard drive, and additional memory, perhaps an enhanced video card, or even instead an enhanced monitor). Other interesting things I have seen are these PVR (personal video recorders) cards that accept direct cable input into your PC (thus turning it into a TV and a TiVo). Wondier if I can hook up XBOX to it? Somthing we use at work is VMWare, which allows you to partition up your drive and load different operating systems in well defined containers (i.e. Windows XP, Win2003, Linux), however this is very expensive. In addition, each container will require certain amounts of RAM/Processor dedicated. Sorry, but I won't be buying a MAC, I should have stated that because I had anticipated many of you would answer that way. Its just not my bag...to be fair, the last time I used one was in college, about 7 years ago. I am sure they have made great strides. I am not concerned with ease of use, or OS stability, like I said, I am fairly computer savvy, when things break, I fix them, when holes are found, I patch em. Tom, I was curious as to what you meant when you said you get twice as much? Do you mean in terms of processing power, application packages, or something else? | ||
| kevin Citizen Username: Eloso Post Number: 37 Registered: 12-2004 |
Rick, Sorry I got sidetracked. I guess there is no argueing with those that have drunk the kool-aide. I too would look at Dell first and other vendors second. Although your strategy of buying a cheaper dell has benefits, I'd suggest maybe more mid-range. They tend to have more expansion room in terms of drive bays and slots. As for the PVR - I also got one of those. It's the Haupage 250. I thought this would be great - I won't have to pay for the monthly Tivo fee. But in the end, the technology isn't ready to replace your Tivo. It is also kind of a hassle to move the video to your TV. I don't know about you but since my TV is bigger than my monitor and is in front of the couch and is in the TV room - I end up watching TV on TV. As I'm sure you know you can use many different bootloaders (free or for pay) that will let you use many OS on the same machine. VMware is cool because you can run them at the same time. In fact Macs have made great strides lately. They finally have a modern OS (UNIX), use a standard networking protocol (TCP/IP) and they use standard parts (PCI,USB) but it has taken along time for that to happen. | ||
| kevin Citizen Username: Eloso Post Number: 38 Registered: 12-2004 |
Rastro, It sounds pretty micralous to me. Your telling me that if I have an hour of video on my camera it can be made into an edited DVD that I can send to my family in 30 seconds. If only I had a MAC. Instead of encoding the video in realtime like everyone else it would happen instantly. Instead of editing out where my kid starting crying – the MAC would automatically edit that part out. Instead of burning DVDs I would just have to wave my DVD next to the machine and it would automatically transfer? Would it take the DVD to the post office too? I wish I had such a computer! | ||
| kevin Citizen Username: Eloso Post Number: 39 Registered: 12-2004 |
Dave, You should know logic, facts and especially math have no place in a theological arguement. | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 6493 Registered: 4-1997 |
There's no comparison between Macs and PCs for multimedia. None. The reason is Apple's control over the software(Quartz)(H.264)(iMovie HD)/hardware integration of its products. Now, no one is saying you need to believe this. You can selectively tune out whatever you like and attribute my opinions to some kind of blind obedience to superior engineering. :-) | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 6494 Registered: 4-1997 |
Here you go http://www.apple.com/ilife/imovie/magicimovie.html | ||
| kevin Citizen Username: Eloso Post Number: 40 Registered: 12-2004 |
Dave, Thanks for the link. It says "after the movie has been imported, and the movie has been created, iMovie will send the project to iDVD where you can design and BURN your own DVDs." So I guess I'd need a burner afterall? And I'd have to import the movie as well? But Rastro said I didn't need to do those things. But maybe if I just believe hard enough it will be true. | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 6495 Registered: 4-1997 |
Macs burn DVDs. With The Automator you can automate the entire process. Other questions? Now that you've hoisted the considerable girth of your argument dangerously close to the precipice of certitude, will you teeter backwards into believing the difference is purely "religious" or perhaps edge forward and admit some sense of uncertainty in that you obviously don't own an OS X-based Mac and can't really make objective comparisons? | ||
| AlleyGater Citizen Username: Alleygater Post Number: 366 Registered: 10-2004 |
Look, I've been a Mac user since forever. I don't need to get into the religious argument. I ALWAYS recommend a PC to anyone who is familiar with using PCs cause I don't want to be bothered with the arguments. But I'm telling you I use a PC at work and it DRIVES ME INSANE. It really is a sub par experience. If your cool with it, that is fine. What I can tell you is that OSX is arguably the best OS on the planet on its strengths of what it can do and it's ease of use. If your a power user, OSX shines. If you a new user with little or no experience OSX shines. I don't care if you believe me, but you do need to update your thinking. Mac's are great. They aren't outrageously priced. And they work for tons of people. Maybe just not you. I'm cool with that. Also to address one technical point that someone made earlier. When doing Digital Video firewire (the DV standard for almost every digital video camera) is the way to go NOT USB. Firewire is NOT an Apple thing (although they did invent it) it's a video industry standard. | ||
| Rick B Citizen Username: Ruck1977 Post Number: 724 Registered: 8-2003 |
Mac 'rs, Please, dive a little deeper. Perhaps that could help me make a decision, even though I don't think I will change my mind, but what about the PC drives you crazy, and how is that different in your MAC? I know the argument that the OS is more stable, and some people even say its more secure, but can someone state any specific activities? Perhaps it is video editing? Multimedia is a very broad cateogry, are we talking about watching DVD's? Copying Music? Applications? Thanks. |
