Going to college....MAC vs. PC...Premiere vs. Final Cut?

**Patriarch** · January 18th, 2003, 08:14 AM

Is it me... or was that reply extremely uncalled for?

4score. If you are using your new computer for gaming. Dont get a MAC. If you are used to windows, then getting used to the mac operating system can be anoying. Thats ALL im saying. Its all facts.

**Xendar** · January 18th, 2003, 10:29 AM

Here we go. The Mac vs. PC debate goes on. Knocking each platform is not going to help ChrisA make decision on which system to choose. So here are some facts.

PC
PCs can be more difficult to set up. This is because no two PCs are alike. You can have any configuration of graphics cards, hard drives etc. In general PCs are very upgradeable in nearly every aspect i.e. memory, CPU, motherboard etc. That is not say that you cannot upgrade Macs although you can't to the extent you can a PC.

There is also much more software available for PCs, although like Machead has said in previous threads, it's quality not quantity you want and there is a lot of rubbish out there. There is, however, a lot of professional and useful software for any purpose including audio production, video editing and production, desktop publishing etc etc. For video editing here are some examples:

Adobe Premiere 6.5 = PC & Mac
Avid Xpress DV 3.5 = PC & Mac
Apple Final Cut Pro 3 = Mac
Vegas Video 3 = PC
Pinnacle Edition = PC
Insync Blade = PC

As for capture cards, well, most people are using just DV through Firewire cards. Macs have Firewire built in. Some PCs do but most don't, but a Firewire card is relatively inexpensive and easy to fit. There are more video editing cards available for PCs which offer DV / Analogue in and out (there are some analogue solutions for the Mac such as Matrox RTMac), real-time effects & transitions and real-time MPEG2 capture & encoding. I believe there is more DVD authoring software available for PCs (I'm sure Machead will tell me if I'm wrong) and most capture cards come bundled with some sort of DVD authoring software.

Macs are more expensive than PCs.

I work for a NLE solutions provider and we sell both PCs and Macs, although I don't really have much to do with the Apple products. We sell 95% more PCs than Macs, but it is PCs we specialise in. In the UK the majority of people who are looking to go into video editing buy a PC.

Ok, so I've pointed out some facts. There is one thing that really does annoy me tough, and that is people saying PCs always crash and Macs don't. That is a load of c.r.a.p. If a PC is configured correctly it will hardly ever crash. Admittedly, PCs can be a little more difficult to set up. Generally if a PC crashes it's because the user doesn't know what they're doing. So don't blame you're inexperience on the system. And Macs do crash too, and can sometimes be just as difficult to set up as a PC.

I deal with Tech Support as part of my job and I would say that most of the calls were because the customer didn't know how to do something in a certain piece of software. I've even had the following scenario:

Me the technician "Ok, now press the Return key"

Customer "er, what's a return key? Is it the long one at the bottom of the keyboard?"

These people would get stuck with software on a PC or a Mac.

So please stop saying "PCs always crash" because it just proves you don't know how to use one. My car would crash too if I didn't know how to drive it.

P.S. A Message to ChrisA. I would certainly recommend you go see a demo of the various systems on offer at a NLE dealer. At least you can get a good look at what's on offer before making your decision.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 18, 2003 06:34 AM: Message edited by: Xendar ]</font>

**machead** · January 18th, 2003, 10:53 AM

Christian Marcussen

I'm not here to win a popularity contest, If your the sensitive type then best we avoid oneanother.

Quote
"Thats ALL im saying. Its all facts."
actually your're sharing your opinion.

Quote "mac can be somewhat anoying"
Can you clarify to me what exactly you find annoying about a Mac. This has to be one of the strangest comment I've ever heard about a Mac

I don't mind people explaining to me how wonderful PC's are, or how great windows xp is. But when people start slagging off Mac's or make unfounded claims about what their good and not good at I get annoyed.

Remember this I've used both platforms, you clearly havn't.

4score if you want to play games get a Playstation.

**Patriarch** · January 18th, 2003, 11:08 AM

Im not sensitive... I just treat everybody nicely, and expect it to be returned. And yes.. lets avoid each other. If I start a post, dont reply, because Im not interested.

Now.. as for being anoying. READ WHAT I WROTE. Its a very simple point im making... If someone is used to Windows (which was the impression I got from his post) then it takes getting used to, if someone swaps. Just as the other way around. Seems you should try and read what people write.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">4score if you want to play games get a Playstation</font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>
Ok.. now who is making a fool of himself?

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I don't mind people explaining to me how wonderful PC's are, or how great windows xp is. But when people start slagging off Mac's or make unfounded claims about what their good and not good at I get annoyed.</font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>
And apearently you also get anoyed if people point out MAC are **** if you want them for games, and swapping from one OS to another is anoying. Get laid, and take it easy... have a smoke.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 18, 2003 07:10 AM: Message edited by: Christian Marcussen ]</font>

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 18, 2003 07:10 AM: Message edited by: Christian Marcussen ]</font>

**machead** · January 18th, 2003, 11:48 AM

Thankyou Xendar
an almost impartial opinion. You forgot to mention that unit for unit, the profit margin's are far greater on a PC, and you make more money with essential technical support.

The problem is people compare an iMac to a PC. If you want an upgradable Mac, you buy a G4 Quicksilver Power PC.

The funny thing is I don't even know what a motherboard is, that's what I like about Mac's you do away with the Techies. Macpeople are a different breed, I don't feel like I'm on a computer when I use my Mac, for example when I use FCP/FCE, the simple solution(there are about 5 diferent ways to put a clip into the timeline) and high workflow achieved are second to none, its like being in an editing studio. (I've tried Adobe Premiere, and found it clunky and difficult, its more like a computer trying edit)

As for PC software I'm not interested.
Save arguements like that for the playground. All your doing is comparing the technical spec's of computers, in theory a PC is a brilliant machine in practice they're awful,(that's my opinion)

At the end of the day, the question was Mac VS PC, FCP vs Premiere. I've used them all, I believe (don't want sound arrogant) my opinion is far way more valueble and informed, than Xendar's or Christian Marcussen.

**machead** · January 18th, 2003, 12:06 PM

Christian Marcussen
I asked you to clarify what you find annoying about the Mac. You have not replied. This confirms to me that your ignorant of the Mac and should withhold from sharing your opinions in this matter.

**Xendar** · January 18th, 2003, 12:41 PM

Machead,

Any reply I post will always be biased towards PCs. That is because I have more experience with these than Macs, and are my preferred choice. The argument is not just Mac vs. PC = FCP vs. Premiere as Premiere isn't the only editing software for the PC, you have Avid (which is also available on the Mac) and Pinnacle Edition. Why is your opinion more vaulable? Are you saying the statements in my previous post are incorrect? I don't have enough experience with Macs to knock them, and as mentioned before, knocking each platform is not what this thread is about.

As for profit margins I don't know which has the greater as I don't deal with sales. And I'm confused what you mean about making more money with tech support. Every system and capture card/editing software we sell we give 1 years free telephone tech support on a normal call rate number.

**machead** · January 18th, 2003, 01:04 PM

Didn't you see Wacthdog investigation into PC telephone support, the phone bills incured were criminal.
I rang Apple on Wednesday about the missing manual for FCE. Got through straight away, they couldn't answer my querry and so they called me back later with the info. Turns out the manual is a pdf, and the DVD is a free training guide, so no printed manual is reqiured.

I pay more for a Mac, but it costs me less in the long run. My training video's are free, helplines are unneccessary, but when required are not an additional form of income.

**Xendar** · January 18th, 2003, 01:27 PM

I did see part of that Watchdog investigation. Yes, I agree some companies do screw their customers when it comes to tech support. Stuff like charging 50pence per minute and only talking to customers for 15 minutes maximum and then hanging up on them.

However, most of the NLE specialists in this country only charge the normal national rate.