I need a new computer for video editing and am trying to decide whether or not to make the move to Mac. I take at least 3 things as a given with regards to Macs vs. PCs:

1. Hardware is more expensive
2. Macs are more stable
3. Macs are more secure.


Those being taken as a given, is there any substantive difference to the actual use of video editing software between these two platforms? It looks like Mac people use Final Cut whereas PC people can choose from a variety of software titles. I need to find out if it is really worth plunking down more money at the outset for hardware.

Thanks to all who reply.

1. Hardware is more expensive - true
2. Macs are more stable - false, you won't believe how often I crash the mac at work, but in the general sense you are corect.
3. Macs are more secure - true

My recomendation (if it is for home movies) is to buy the MAC. the built in IMovie/IDVD is all you need to get started with editing. Final Cut Pro is very much a professional application and it your situation not worth the extra cost.

Hell my old boss managed to learn how to use IMovie for a small commercial project so any have intelligent being shoudl eb able to use it with ease.

Serriously I've had so many issue these past two weeks with my PC bassed editing station I nearly went otu and bought a IBook just for my DVD production.

Mac vs. PC used to be an issue but in the past few years there have been some truly excellent video editing suites released for the PC. They are as good or better than what is available on the Mac.

There are many reasons for choosing one over the other but availability of superior editing software is not one of them.

Good luck.

Dennis

Thanks Dennis. I read some of your other posts and you seem to be a fan of the Sony software, which I picked up on sale. Do you have experience with Macs or are you coming from a PC-only background?

If you're firmly invested in buying a new system (as opposed to the possibility of upgrading your current one), either will work very well for your purpose.

1. Hardware is more expensive -- True. But hardware problems are also less frequent, because Apple puts a lot of effort into making good hardware. That might be a worthy trade off.

2. Macs are more stable -- Sadly, not true. My school Macs (iBooks and eMacs) crash far more often than my home computer, running Windows XP. Given, though, I take pretty good care of my home PC.

3. Macs are more secure. -- True, to an extent. It takes more effort, but you can run a pretty tight and secure Windows platform. Between hardware and software firewalls, and anti-virus and spy-ware protection, you're fairily safe. But you are right in that "naked" Macs are more secure.

I'll give you an opinion, though. The film camp that I volunteer at has been running for 10 years now, and they used to run Mac edit suites. Today, they run Windows (XP largely, some machines were still on 2000, but they're upgrading still), and have never looked back. Not to say the Windows machines haven't caused trouble (there was lots with the newest edit suite...), but they cause fewer problems than Macs.

To end... you probably have more software options with Windows. Not only video editing, but everything else as well. That might be worth staying with Windows...

Thanks Demos, I am leaning towards a PC after reading some articles and your and Dennis' posts. I am definitely going to build a new system rather than try to upgrade my current one and since I plan on using it for video editing I am not going to go cheap on the components. It does not look like I will be loosing any functionality on the software end which is what I was worried about.

When you compare equal parts in the equation, the price difference isn't as great as one thinks. Since so many configurations exist in the PC world, users will typically compare apples to oranges (no pun intended).

When I think secure, I think Linux/Unix. Guess what? The new Mac OS is based around the Unix core. For the true geeks, you can even access the command lines and type your heart out. For those less technically inclined, the Mac OS makes it so easy that grandma could use it. True, with enough firewall, junk mail, etc. filters you can run safely on a PC. Of course, the fact only a few virii exist on the Mac platform compared to the hundreds of thousands on the PC makes me feel alot more safe with a Mac. And again it goes back to the matter of the technical expertise of the user. Not everyone knows how to make their PC run safe. Macs do it from the box.

I think stability is another issue that depends on the end user's ability to monitor and keep their computer running healthy. Out of the box I think Macs are much better, but I run an XP machine and I would say it is just as stable. Mind you, that is after lots of tweaking for the XP system. But if you aren't running 2000/XP, then don't walk but run to buy you a new Mac. It is far superior to the older versions of Windows. Even the old Mac OS 9 is better than anything prior to Win2k.

As you can tell, I like Macs alot. I have used alot of different OS including DOS, Win 3.x, Win95/98, WinME, Win2k, WinXP, Mac OS 9, Mac OS X, Yellow Dog Linux (Mac), Red Hat Linux, Mandrake Linux and most recently Knoppix Linux. My current system is a Dell P4 2.53ghz and the primary OS is WinXP. I went this route due to economics (I got the system for $200 after rebates). I want to get either a PowerBook or iBook in the near future, and I doubt I'll ever run just one OS. I don't believe that one OS provides all the answers at this point, although I feel Macs are probably the closest.

Thanks logixrat, my main concern was with the actual application of video editing rather than the OS. I have used PCs for many years, know my way around them, and have had very little problems with stability and viruses. I think with a PC, much depends on the user where with a Mac the user is not as much of a factor. I have done the homework and to build a PC with as much processing power as a G5 dual would cost about half what Apple wants, even with using quality components.

Wowsas....a savings of 1/2 the Mac cost is substantial. It's been awhile since I did price comparisons for myself, but they weren't that much different back then. Maybe $100 to $200 at most. One thing to keep in mind is that when using quality parts, make sure they are the same specs. For example don't compare a 64mb Radeon card to a 128mb Radeon card. Many times they aren't compared equal because we know that even though Brand A may have a 128mb card, I only need a 64mb card. I don't know if this is the case with your comparison, but it could be. It could also be that Apple just got their butt kicked in competition land...hehe.

Either way, at 1/2 the cost I would probably stick with the PC unless you want the enjoyment and ability to run the Mac OS. I personally find it more pleasurable and WANT a Mac for my home. If you don't want one, it will be hard to justify a reason for the extra cost.

As far as the video editing software, I am unsure which platform is better. I am just beginning to get into this field. But like you, I have only heard great things about Mac software for video/photo work. I think most the serious professionals use Macs. Being an amateur I am wanting one so I can use iDVD. It is raved about over and over again, and totally blows Windows Movie Maker out of the water. Of course, what doesn't blow M$ software out of the water these days (with exception to Office, and even that is arguable). While you may find an equivalent PC program, I have found that Mac programs are typically easier and make more sense especially when produced by Apple. I think alot of this has to do with the fact the same company that produces the hardware also produces the software. This is especially true with OS and one of the reasons I think it runs so smooth.

Ummm, just to point out you realy don't need a Dual G5 to do Home Video Editing on a Mac, a single G5 iMac would be more than enough.

Unless I missunderstood your term "Home Video Editing". I took it to mean editing home videos, but hwo realise you might have ment "professional video editing at home".

No, I did mean just doing some editing on home movies of xmas, sporting events and vacations. The reason I was comparing to a dual G5 is that from what I understand a single G5 compares to a lower level PC type processor and to compare to P4 3500 levels one needs to look at the dual G5s. My current shopping list of parts has me at about $1k - $1200 but the end result will compare more to a dual G5 rather than a single G5.

Hehe, have you actually used a Mac before? Don't let numbers fool you. Both single and dual G5 towers along with the new G5 iMac are all fast machines. I'd suggest going to a computer store that houses both Mac's and PC's and try out several different models. Try to find a PC as closely to the one you will build and then use both the single and dual G5 towers. I think you will be suprised. Around here, Best Buy and CompUSA houses both brands.

Later on I plan to pick up an iBook or PowerBook for myself. Both house the older and slower G4 processors. I have no doubts in my mind either machine will still handle the task of video editing with no problems. I hate to keep selling you on Mac's....but they are truly awesome machines. Even if you decide on the PC, be open minded and still check them out. Chances are the cool stuff you see in the OS or exterior will re-surface on a PC in a couple of years. Remember, Apple is the innovator, Micro$loth and the others are mere copiers.

I have not used a Mac, I was using info from some seemingly unbiased Mac users as a comparison point, and a recent comparison done by Video Editor Magazine. I may at some point in the future buy a Mac but right now I am trying to get something that will be able to cruch through video with ease and give me the tools to make some semi-professional looking DVDs, and it seems that Macs do not have a clear advantage in this area and that building a PC would in fact be far cheaper. For the extra money it would take to buy a Mac, I would need some compelling reason that it is far and away a better machine to do video editing on and no one seems to be saying that.

The point I was trying to make is that perhaps you don't need a dual G5 to match the performance of the PC configuration you had in mind. That is why I suggested you go to a store that has both and run both of them. Personally I think a single G5 tower, or even perhaps the G5 iMac would meet your needs. This makes the price point almost disappear.

I just haven't done any video editing on EITHER platform to say one is vastly better than the other. But you have to wonder why the majority of video/photo work is done on Macs if they don't have sufficient power. I have a buddy that is in a band, and their producers exclusively use Macs because the PC's simply don't have the "umph" to keep up. But that is audio, not video work. Still I have heard similar stories regarding video, just no first hand experience.

Either way, it sounds your mind is made up and I can respect that. I wish you luck on your journey. Report back sometime and let us know how it's going.

PC only.

Good luck.

Dennis