Whats the best Final Cut Pro system for under $1200?

[codycartoon]

I have about $1200 i am willing to spend on a apple to use for video editing my iBook just doesnt cut it performance wise for video editing(600mgz). I was thinking the iMac would be nice(700mgz). Im sure FCP would run fine on a iMac plus i really like the screen. What do you think would be a good setup for FCP thats under $1200?
thanks a lot
-cody

 

[LethalWolfe]

I'm assuming you already have a copy of FCP? If not yer budget just went down to $200 for a computer.

Not to sound like an @ss but just go to the apple store on line and see what you can get for $1200.



Lethal

 

[MacBandit]

Originally posted by LethalWolfe
I'm assuming you already have a copy of FCP? If not yer budget just went down to $200 for a computer.

Not to sound like an @ss but just go to the apple store on line and see what you can get for $1200.



Lethal

Go to the Apple store for Education online and you would see that his budget would still be $900 after buying FCP. Not to sound like an ass.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Originally posted by MacBandit


Go to the Apple store for Education online and you would see that his budget would still be $900 after buying FCP. Not to sound like an ass.

Gee, I'm sorry, guess I musta missed where he said he was a student...

BTW, if you can I'd save up a bit more $$$ and get the iMac w/the SuperDrive so you can burn DVDs if you want. iDVD only burns to internal drives so, for example, getting a Firewire burner at a later date wouldn't be an option (unless they upgrade iDVD to burn over firewire).

Lethal

 

[gozman]

Assumming that you already have FCP(You eluded to that when you said your iBook was too slow when running it) .....

An eMac with Combo Drive (Retail: $1100) + a 512 meg Memory chip($80 or less) gives you a good low-middle level FCP machine.

If you can get an education discount, the Education-only PM G4 867 Tower ($1250) would be a good option as long as you could scrounge a display for it(decent 17"-19" CRT displays run under $150)

My recommedation would be to spring for a $1299 OBR eMac 800 with SuperDrive(DVD-R) MacConnection has had them in stock recently. Just go to their site and type in Recon & search. They typically post them in the mornings and are often gone by the afternoon. This is a pretty impressive machine for the $$$$ even when compared to a PC with the same capabilites; Decent RAM, Lotsa HD Space, Bright, Clear Display, G4/800 and the ability to Read/Play CD's & DVD's as well as make and DVD's.

Good Luck!

gozman

PS: Ask for a 512 meg Ram Chip for the Holidays. You have been good, haven't you?

 

[Inhale420]

maybe you can get a good deal on an older dual? you would need something better than any xMac except the newer top of the line ones

 

[codycartoon]

Thanks for the Replies

It seems that the emac is a great buy. But is the screen nice? And it would be hard to upgrade later....i am kind of leaning towards a powermac. But how fast? i Could get an old G4(450-550) for like $600-$700 then could get a nice display ,videocard,and hard drive. But i do like eMac and iMac just worried about expandability. Does anyone have any of those systems and FCP? And yes i do have FCP 3 and i am a student.
thanks a ton guys
-cody

 

[arn]

Re: Thanks for the Replies

Originally posted by codycartoon
It seems that the emac is a great buy. But is the screen nice? And it would be hard to upgrade later....i am kind of leaning towards a powermac. But how fast? i Could get an old G4(450-550) for like $600-$700 then could get a nice display ,videocard,and hard drive. But i do like eMac and iMac just worried about expandability. Does anyone have any of those systems and FCP? And yes i do have FCP 3 and i am a student.
thanks a ton guys
-cody

The eMac is a 700-800MHz G4., so will be faster than the 450-500mhz G4 you are talking about. A 450Mhz G4 is probably going to be slower than your iBook.

Go for the fastest system you can afford. While expandability is nice... a 17" monitor is pretty reasonable, especially on a limited budget.

The eMac is a pretty good deal. In a few years, you'll probably want to upgrade anyway.

arn

 

[vniow]

Originally posted by codycartoon
It seems that the emac is a great buy. But is the screen nice?
-cody

I've seen it in person a few times and I was never impressed with the quality of it
My 15" HMD-A100 Sony looked better and my new Viewsonic definately looks sharper.

 

[codycartoon]

iMac vrs eMac

i am leaning more towards the iMac 15 inch LCD. For 1,100 i can get an iMac 700mhz cd-rw with 512mg (http://www.macmall.com/macmall/promotions/custom.asp?p=imac_cdrw_promotion). I can get a lacie 120 gig HD for christmas so i can have a whopping 160 gigabyes of space. Not to mention i could burn Cds and have plenty of ram(628mg). The emac is 100 less(http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/detail.asp?dpno=590858) but does not come with an LCD screen or with the extra ram. Will that be a good set-up for Final Cut Pro 3.
thanks
-cody

 

[edesignuk]

Re: iMac vrs eMac

Originally posted by codycartoon
(628mg)

Really? How's that? 128 + 512 = 640
Sorry, I know it's probably just a typo, but I couldn't resist
Anyway, back to the topic....that'd be a pretty sweet setup you'd have there; 700Mhz G4, 640Mb, 15" LCD, and all for $1,100 - that's brilliant!

 

[codycartoon]

Ha ha ya 640 is what i meant

-cody