You should review the MacProvideo tutorials by Michael Wohl before dismissing it totally. This product has a lot more power that meets the eye. If you spent a little time with this product. It will surprise you.
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Former Shake Product Designer: Apple Doesn't Care About Pro Market
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This is what I call bad business.
There are "plenty of people" (read: millions) who are completely sunk in credit card debt across this country as well because they just charge charge charge on their credit cards and for whatever reason (business, personal, stupidity, or otherwise) can just never pay it back.
Most people's attitude toward money in our society is completely out of whack, even if the intentions are good.
CmonSon needs some CmonSens. And I say this not even being a so-called "Video Pro." Heck, I don't edit but home videos; but I don't use dumbed-down iMovie because it won't allow me to import files larger than 2GB. And even though FCPX may serve my needs (admission: I've not tried it yet), I am not so selfish to think that it should serve even a video pro in hollywood simply because some say "FCPX is the future." Although I've loved Apple since my first Mac 128k in 1984, I am not a blind follower of His-Steveness or his Chef, Tim Cook.
The fact is that Final Cut PRO was written for and has long catered to Pros. Therefore, concerning this particular piece of software, what Pros think matters most (which excludes most of us in this thread). But both Pros and non-Pros alike understand that had Apple positioned the codebase of what is now FCPX as "Final Cut Express," no one would be complaining and Apple could have rolled the new codebase into FC PRO at a later time when it was ready. The problem is that FCPX is half-baked in the eyes of the "pros" who have funded it faithfully these past 11 years and wish to fund it into the foreseeable future. "But Apple caters to the masses, not just 10,000 or so pros" you say? Poppycock! That's what iMovie is for.
So who is to blame on this botched FCPX debut? One cannot help but see the blame to fall squarely upon the shoulders of "the man who keeps the trains running on time," Tim Cook. (Since His-Steveness is on medical leave, we'll let him off the hook for now.) Mr. Cook a great corporate executive when it comes running a multi billion dollar business with over 70 billion in liquid assets, but he really only excels at one thing -- keeping those trains running on schedule. As such, Cook obviously told his engineers to kick out FCP "on time, no matter what." That's right, FCPX is half-baked because of Tim "Cook." Perhaps he should spend more time in the kitchen and make his name mean something.
Read this to get some real perspective on this FCPX update:
http://www.dvcreators.net/what-does...olution-think-of-the-final-cut-pro-x-release/
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Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead...
Almost all of Apple's 1.0 releases (regardless of their marketing number) have had serious shortcomings. This includes Mac OS X, Quicktime X, and the iPhone
. While Apple improves with each generation, their current "Damn the torpedoes" attitude has made this fact worst.
In the past, there was always an out if you needed what they were replacing. With Mac OS X, you could still boot into Classic, With Quicktime X, you could still use Quicktime 7, with dropping floppy disks, you could always go external USB Floppy. (I still use floppies for my job. I might only need them 3 times a year, but when I need them, nothing else works). This little detail is what Apple has seemed to miss recently. Dropping firewire from some Macbook pros a couple of years ago (They thankfully backed down and put it back in the following generation), the whole Matte/Glossy screen issue, removing Rosetta from Lion, and EOLing FCP7 before FCPX was up to speed.
This latest debacle could have been easily avoided with a simple spin. For example "Yes, FCP7 is EOL, however your FCPX license gives you downgrade rights. If for some reason you need to continue using the legacy FCP7 software, your purchase of a FCPX license will allow you to do so legally." This provides an out for the customer and costs Apple nothing (Kind of like what they did with the whole iMovie6 / iMovie08 outcry). The 10% who really nead a feature do not usually mind going through a few reasonable hoops.
I do not use FCP so this decision in itself does not affect me, however the general trend is alarming to me. Apple has had so many successful transitions in the last 10 years,they seem to have forgotten why they were successful and think they can move forward without any thoughts of "torpodoes". When you drop something, you should look at what will my customers that use this feature do when it is gone. While less then 10% might use a feature, sometimes that feature is the only way to get a job done. (See my floppy comment above as an extreme example of this).
Almost all of Apple's 1.0 releases (regardless of their marketing number) have had serious shortcomings. This includes Mac OS X, Quicktime X, and the iPhone
. While Apple improves with each generation, their current "Damn the torpedoes" attitude has made this fact worst. In the past, there was always an out if you needed what they were replacing. With Mac OS X, you could still boot into Classic, With Quicktime X, you could still use Quicktime 7, with dropping floppy disks, you could always go external USB Floppy. (I still use floppies for my job. I might only need them 3 times a year, but when I need them, nothing else works). This little detail is what Apple has seemed to miss recently. Dropping firewire from some Macbook pros a couple of years ago (They thankfully backed down and put it back in the following generation), the whole Matte/Glossy screen issue, removing Rosetta from Lion, and EOLing FCP7 before FCPX was up to speed.
This latest debacle could have been easily avoided with a simple spin. For example "Yes, FCP7 is EOL, however your FCPX license gives you downgrade rights. If for some reason you need to continue using the legacy FCP7 software, your purchase of a FCPX license will allow you to do so legally." This provides an out for the customer and costs Apple nothing (Kind of like what they did with the whole iMovie6 / iMovie08 outcry). The 10% who really nead a feature do not usually mind going through a few reasonable hoops.
I do not use FCP so this decision in itself does not affect me, however the general trend is alarming to me. Apple has had so many successful transitions in the last 10 years,they seem to have forgotten why they were successful and think they can move forward without any thoughts of "torpodoes". When you drop something, you should look at what will my customers that use this feature do when it is gone. While less then 10% might use a feature, sometimes that feature is the only way to get a job done. (See my floppy comment above as an extreme example of this).
I agree apple should continue peddling stripped down software for the masses.
If they want to do that at least provide the more thorough description of what the program is no longer capable of.
I am sure that small niche depends on the software and probably would be looking for an update to increase functionality and productivity.
Unless of course apple wants to drive away the "pro" customer
"Hay guise, I'm gonna like about having a couple million dollars in apple stock to try and get respect on an internet forum"
How in the world did you take that person's comment and turn it into a response about bad business and stories of credit card debt? Try as I might... I can't find where you got that.
Unless you happen to buy a mac because it was a high-end product by company who prided itself and heavily marketed itself on NOT being a common product for the masses.
[ Sorry, I think I quoted the wrong post. Oops!
]I am a Prosumer who still has FCP5. I don't make any bones about it. Just like I am a Prosumer photographer, and a Prosumer Designer. None of these things are my bread and butter.
Having said that, I trust the professionals in a trade. I hold them in high regard. Their opinion matters.
Apple touts the fact that Academy Award winning editors use their products. The professional editors will state clearly that they are using FCP7.
This carries a lot of weight with me. This is why pissing off 5,000 professional editors is not good. Apple's reputation and brand is being jeopardized. This isn't an iPhone 4 death grip where the relationship is between Apple and the consumer. This involves an industry. (And an industry who can throw together cleaver parody videos at the drop of a hat.)
This is a PR nightmare. It is not just FCP at stake here. This is really showing the flaws of the App Store. There are no trials; there are no refund policy for software; and the rating system really bites.
I'm sure FCPX is an excellent product, but ultimately this is a failed execution.
Having said that, I trust the professionals in a trade. I hold them in high regard. Their opinion matters.
Apple touts the fact that Academy Award winning editors use their products. The professional editors will state clearly that they are using FCP7.
This carries a lot of weight with me. This is why pissing off 5,000 professional editors is not good. Apple's reputation and brand is being jeopardized. This isn't an iPhone 4 death grip where the relationship is between Apple and the consumer. This involves an industry. (And an industry who can throw together cleaver parody videos at the drop of a hat.)
This is a PR nightmare. It is not just FCP at stake here. This is really showing the flaws of the App Store. There are no trials; there are no refund policy for software; and the rating system really bites.
I'm sure FCPX is an excellent product, but ultimately this is a failed execution.
Who says what pros say matters most? Because they make money using the program, they get ultimate say in what it should look like and how it should perform? Season ticket holders don't decide who the team trades, and drafts. Sorry buddy.
And you of all ppl should understand the move towards a friendlier interface that can be used by above average videographers frustrated with the constraints of iMovie (look in the mirror) and professional movie makers. If anything, it would be selfish to think otherwise. To think that final cut only belongs to the elite, and all the rest of the millions of ppl who dont make a living off of it must be confined to the constraints of iMovie.
Gimme a break. I guess logic is only for professional musicians with record deals.
I agree, my first post was sarcastic. If I was spending $299 I would expect a software package a little more advanced than something for the masses
Which would the completely opposite of the situation a decade ago where windows was for the mass consumer market and the Mac was for the demanding professional.
I did read the post and yes it is rubbish. That is not an accurate portrayal of Apple's recovery strategy nor the history of Mac usage.
Apple stopped the bleeding and shooting themselves in the foot. Killed the clones and Newton (which had its own clone offshoot spawning), simplified the product line up ( which already had elements targeted at the narrower markets you outlined from about '88 on. So it was hardly new), and got control of SNAFU'ed inventory. Additionally, the dumped/outsourced manufacturing. They also consumed an increasing share of the retail market for the product ( so nuked lots of "mac friendly" stores to absorb their revenue numbers). Finally they improved their financial image so were not on "death watch" every 6 months (i.e., fewer folks will buy computers from a company that is reported about to die). Additionally, they hit the iPod jackpot ( which was put on super growth by delivering the solution to PCs ; not Macs). [ While still at NeXT Steve Jobs said that if he returned to Apple he'd milk the Mac for what it was worth and move on the "next" thing. He did exactly that. Turned the Mac, not just the specific machines targeted to a narrow market... all of them, into a cash cow and leveraged into a new market. ]
Apple used to have over representation in the edu market from the Apple II days on through the 90's. That wasn't a lynch pin nor was it primarily driven by what higher end graphics designers were or were not doing.
Apple has always been about moving a volume of computers from the Apple I days. If not a top 5-7 computer maker they were screwing up. In the dark days folks like to create some mythos that Apple was about building custom stuff just for the niche "special people". Phfff. That's kool-aid drinking RDF talk.
Apple had a high presence on college campus because folks needed to write papers and use computers. They were easy to use and network. When Windows became more stable (easy to use) and easily networked (ethernet got cheap) then pushed out the Mac in many places because they were more cost effective. Not because colleges were closely watching designers for clues what to do.
He didn't say "value" he said "spec-wise" and he's right. If you compare hardware specs, you typically pay more for less with Apple products. "Value" incorporates a whole lot more factors than merely hardware specs. Perhaps you should read more carefully next time.
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It's not about caring,, it's about business. As a currently highly successful business I'm sure Apple are fully aware that the new FCP doesn't meet the requirements of the top end pros. However they have made the decision to go the route they've gone because they think that it is the best route to take for their business.
FCP isn't the only game in town and as disappointing as it may be to the pro users that it doesn't meet their requirements any more it isn't the be all and end all for them. If they had the previous version, this will still work, if they want to have new features they'll have to look at alternatives.
The use of emotive language such as 'don't care' really shouldn't come in to it. Its not about caring, its about business. Apple have made their decision and they will have good reason for it. The pros just have to make a decision now whether they are going to stick with Apple and their way of thinking or move to something that suits them better.
It's not about caring,, it's about business. As a currently highly successful business I'm sure Apple are fully aware that the new FCP doesn't meet the requirements of the top end pros. However they have made the decision to go the route they've gone because they think that it is the best route to take for their business.
FCP isn't the only game in town and as disappointing as it may be to the pro users that it doesn't meet their requirements any more it isn't the be all and end all for them. If they had the previous version, this will still work, if they want to have new features they'll have to look at alternatives.
The use of emotive language such as 'don't care' really shouldn't come in to it. Its not about caring, its about business. Apple have made their decision and they will have good reason for it. The pros just have to make a decision now whether they are going to stick with Apple and their way of thinking or move to something that suits them better.
Wake up, Apple
I have really started to hate Apple. They are doing just the wrong things since past two years. Firstly, they dropped firewire on my MacBook(pro). I played along. Then they crapped on iPhoto. Then, they ditched Xserve. OS X Lion Server is a joke. They destroyed MobileMe. And now this.
I'm not a video editor/pro, so this did not hit me. But it really seems that Apple has stopped caring for their old friends, who (still?) believe in them.
I have really started to hate Apple. They are doing just the wrong things since past two years. Firstly, they dropped firewire on my MacBook(pro). I played along. Then they crapped on iPhoto. Then, they ditched Xserve. OS X Lion Server is a joke. They destroyed MobileMe. And now this.
I'm not a video editor/pro, so this did not hit me. But it really seems that Apple has stopped caring for their old friends, who (still?) believe in them.
It always becomes an Apples to Oranges comparison.
Laptop A has a slightly faster CPU or larger Hard Drive but Laptop B has an aluminum chassis or that new whizzbang port thingamabob.
Again ...almost 4 million Mac users per quarter have looked at the specs and saw value in Macs which means that specifications are subject to the taint of personal evaluation as well. Some specs mean more or less to some people.
Have a read carefully enough for you this time Mr. Semantics?
I am guessing you meant "lie", not "like." Sorry to burst your zitty-faced bubble, but AAPL is about 20% of my portfolio. See, some people like to impale their pet companies for looking askance at their pet project, but in the real world, moving larger volumes of product to produce increasing amounts of capital is what makes the free market economy go 'round.
I am an investor first and an Apple user second. If Apple decided to produce an automobile next week, I'd be among the last to buy it but the first to suggest that others consider a purchase. See, thats the way that investors create wealth.
FCPX is such a minor revenue stream that it hardly registers on the quarterly reports. Folks whose businesses and livelihoods depend on software continuity should have been well aware of what they were risking if they went "all in" on FCPX. For an investor, it doesn't register a blip.
If you have the world's best answer for video editing software, I suggest you publish it and sell it for whatever price you feel it is worth. If I think you have a winner, you can count me in as having an interest in your IPO. In the meantime, if Apple feels it can make another billion over the next five years by producing FCPx, I am all for it. And, if 5000 "Pro" video editors take their $50 million elsewhere, so what... That seems like a great trade in a financial sense.
That's like saying "I believe in my hammer" A computer is a tool...nothing more nothing less. You're being highly emotional over an inanimate object which is a bit bizarre.
costs nothing? What "how to run a failed software company" book did you dig that one out of? All software has non zero support costs. Legacy software tends to run at an even higher rate per issue. Perhaps what you meant to say was that "Apple should eat the cost, they are rich anyway it won't hurt". Well one reason they are rich is because they don't eat other peoples costs. Even when they do ( occasional free Genius bar resolutions) they shave costs in other areas ( limited support lifetimes. )
Allowing a small limited number folks to use $999 software for $299 isn't a revenue building move either. They also radically changed the licensing terms too ( single employee can use on multiple macs assigned to them whereas the FCP 7 is much more limited).
Apple could allow volume seat holders to incrementally add to their coverage for a limited period of time through some not so public mechanism ( the way some folks can call up and get a Leopard copy if really need one. At least till Lion ships probably. )
One major problem with allowing FCP7 to live alongside FCPX is that it increases costs. You split your limited resources chasing two different code lines. Most of these shops screaming about legacy interfaces (EDLs ) are conservative shops anyway. Many of the were not going to adopt FCPX anyway if it wasn't radically new and a not so minor FCP 8-ish upgrade. The screaming is more about shuffling a longer period of time (since their product transitions are multiple years long anyway) on FCP 7 than anything about FCPX potential over the short term.
Second, it only serves to spawn a "keep the FCP 7 "code line movement. That train has already left the station so there is no reason to spend much time on that.
If you hate Apple, then don't use their products. However ...
Which Macbook Pro? I have a 2011 model, and its FW port is in use as we speak.
If you don't like iPhoto, try Aperture. If you don't like that, then once again: don't use their products. No one is forcing you.
What's wrong with OS X Lion Server? Have you even used it? I have a friend who's an IT guy/hobbyist developer who absolutely loves it.
And yes, they got rid of MobileMe, but: http://www.apple.com/icloud/
Almost everyone [myself included] who has used iCloud thinks its wonderful.
If you don't like Apple, then don't buy/use their stuff.