[MacDV] the new iMacs

[Dominion Market Research]

Ian,

About three weeks ago I got one of the "maxed-out" iMacs and can say 
I am very happy with it. I choose to get the minimum ram from Apple 
and upgraded via Crucial. I understand that the internal drives 
cannot be upgraded by mere mortals, so get the largest you can afford 
at the time of purchase. However, the promise of Thunderbolt means 
that large external drives will someday be available. I have not done 
an A/B comparison, but rendering and exporting video files is MUCH 
faster on the new Mac.

A couple of "issues" I encountered with software...

I used Migration Assistant to move files from my old G5. However the 
Apple pro apps (Final Cut, Soundtrack, etc) apparently don't do well. 
iMovie and iDVD did just fine. I had to reinstall and use Software 
Update to get things back to where I was. You can use the latest 
discs you have to reinstall as long as you have your original serial 
numbers.

I had similar issues with some Adobe software. I needed to run a 
"cleaner" utility from their web site to get rid of any vestiges of 
old files and then reinstall. A pain, but it worked.

And I had to replace my camera Firewire cable. The old one was a 
Firewire 400, but the new Mac has a Firewire 800 port, and just one 
of those. So, when I want to connect the camera, I have to eject the 
connected Firewire external drive.

As for your second question, my issues with having to reinstall 
software from original discs does raise the issue of reinstalling App 
Store software. I hear that there is a way to may a bootable disc if 
you have to reinstall Lion. I'd feel more comfortable if the same 
were true for other App Store purchases...such as FCPX.

Final Cut Pro X is a 1.33 gig download. Once that's done, there are 
additional files that can be downloaded to enhance the program.

Ross Hunter
Orange, VA

>Thanks for that Patty.   I kicked off this thread and all of a 
>sudden it went pear shape!
>
>I have had great value from this List over the years, particularly 
>when I was starting with FCP.
>
>First question :- How large is the new FCP package download?
>
>Secondly:-  Are you able to back FCP up to disc (or some other 
>recording medium), or will you have to re-download it any time you 
>want to re-build your computer?
>
>Thirdly:- My Intel Mac Pro is now 5 years old and I am considering 
>going for a new, maxed-out iMac  to replace it.    Any thoughts?
>
>In relation to "2" above , I wonder how people not on Broadband; 
>can't get Broadband , or live in remote areas are going to get on?
>Apple has said you can go to one of their stores to receive the 
>download, but here in Adelaide , Sth Australia,  with a population 
>of around 1.4 million people,  we do not have an Apple store!
>
>In closing, let's keep the List going and keep our questions and 
>comments to Digital Video.
>
>Regards to all,
>Ian Tucker

-- 
Dominion Market Research-mailing services for Central Virginia
309 Madison Road
PO Box 791
Orange VA 22960-0464
USA
1-540-672-2327   1-800-328-2588   fax: 1-540-672-0296
http://www.dmrmail.com
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

Go Green !  Print only as needed.