Forums Tag: Mac

Forums Tag: Mac http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Forums Tag: Mac en Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:42:00 +0000 birdcat on "External Hard Drive Recommendation?" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/external-hard-drive-recommendation#post-40627 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:12:47 +0000 birdcat 40627@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ I recently had a Western Digital MyBook500GB (USB & 1394) go bad on me. Although I have two others (USB only) I won't get a Western Digital again. Coreece on "External Hard Drive Recommendation?" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/external-hard-drive-recommendation#post-40613 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:31:48 +0000 Coreece 40613@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ These work great with macs... <a href="http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/">http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/</a> alohrey on "External Hard Drive Recommendation?" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/external-hard-drive-recommendation#post-40612 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:06:19 +0000 alohrey 40612@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ If I were you I would invest in the final cut express software to get you started. It is cheap, and actually pretty powerful software. As a beginning editor you will focus most of your efforts learning about basic cuts, fades, and the timing of editing. Final cut express will be able to handle all of the basics, and that way you won't be tempted to waste tons of time one things you don't really need to be doing right now. As for a hard drive, I too would recommend a lacie. I just picked up a 750 GB disc with eSata, firewire800, usb, and firewire400. I am currently using it on my macbook pro editing HDV in FCS2.0 and it works great. Keep up the hard work, your laptop will be a great editing system for you. Thanks ~Adam www.hdupdate.com robgrauert on "External Hard Drive Recommendation?" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/external-hard-drive-recommendation#post-40611 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:47:49 +0000 robgrauert 40611@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Well, your computer set up is fine. It's definitely good enough for DV and probably HDV too, although, i wouldn't jump into HD. It's too soon, theres no point, and it won't enhance your learning process of video in anyway. Learn the basics of video with DV first; save yourself the money. Since you are a student, you can get the student version of Final Cut Studio 2 for like, $700, which is super cheap. The only difference between that and the regular version is that it won't be able to upgrade to Final Cut Studio 3, which won't be for a long time anyway. To answer your questions about the external drive, I've had a 250GB LaCie drive since 2005, and have never had a problem with it. It would be a good idea to have 2 separate hard drives, however, I doubt you'll need a second 1TB hard drive for general school work and everyday things. I would expect 100GB to be plenty. mbeano on "External Hard Drive Recommendation?" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/external-hard-drive-recommendation#post-40608 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:24:10 +0000 mbeano 40608@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Hello everyone, I am a new film student (as of now I have only taken theory classes, and yet to take a production class). I am thinking of buying an external hard drive. It has been a really long time since I have touched anything in relation to film or video editing so I am pretty ignorant to alot of the technology as well as the jargon. I really want to get more into video editing. Unfortunately, due to lack of funds, I have to buy my system in stages, little by little, and cannot afford to have 1 system dedicated solely to editing (for now). So for the time being my laptop will be used for everday stuff as well as learning editing and fufute student video projects. Here are my computer details: Laptop - Apple MacbookPro 2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4G DDR2 SDRAM, and 250G Hard drive, running OSX 10.5. For now I only have iMovie, but eventually plan on buying Final Cut Pro. So for now I am looking for recommendations on an external hard drive. I know I want at least 1 terabyte of storage. I am also wondering If it is recommended to get 2 separate external hard drives - one for my media, and 1 for everyday stuff. In all I'd like to keep my costs down under $600. As I am new to all of this any comments on what I need or should be thinking about would be welcome, and all advice would be much appreciated Thanks in advance, Mike Ryan3078 on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39735 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 05:06:05 +0000 Ryan3078 39735@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Joe, if you go to <a href="https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=premiere_pro" rel="nofollow">https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=premiere_pro</a> and create a free account, you can grab a trial of PP CS3 and see how it works out for you. jerronsmith on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39717 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:11:48 +0000 jerronsmith 39717@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Â Attention Everyone, Can't we try to maintain a little civility here. Resorting to name calling and insults really doesn't help anything. Last time I checked we were all adults here (mostly). Can't we please act like it. Lets not have this devolve into another Flame war. If anyone is wondering why I care, If you notice underneath my name it doesn't say "Member" it says "Moderator". Ryan3078 on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39713 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:30:22 +0000 Ryan3078 39713@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ PP will install with the Mac OS fine so long as you have an intel chip. I had a similar question at school with After Effects, and it installed to the Mac OS without needing Windows. So you should be good to go - just remember to order the Mac version! DOn, I don't understand why you continue to take cheap shots at me and Adobe/windows users. Your immature slurs and insults aren't productive at all.Â You seem to be insecure enough to need to attack nonMac users directly. That's not a good way to get people to support the products that you vaunt about. I ask you to take your problems up with me on PM. Stop making a scene here. And just an FYI, my ignorant friend....it's spelled "premiere", not premier. robgrauert on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39697 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:26:06 +0000 robgrauert 39697@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ I would image it depends which version of PP you get. They make a Windows version and a Mac OSX version. Same goes for a lot of software. JoeLouw on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39695 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:06:09 +0000 JoeLouw 39695@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Just a question that came to mind now: If you own a mac (with Intel chip) and PP CS3 for mac, will PP install on the mac os or do you have to install Windows os on your mac in order for that PP CS3 for mac to work? Just note we are now talking about the NEW PP CS3 robgrauert on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39694 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:42:10 +0000 robgrauert 39694@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ hahaha...windoze. D0n on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39693 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:23:46 +0000 D0n 39693@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ if one likes premier on windoze, then one will like premier on osx. if one has never tried final cut, one should. if you're not sure, about what to do, then go with final cut on the mac. if you hate it, then boot up windoze from boot camp and run premier on the mac running windoze. Either way you'll have a better/safer/easier editing experiance. if you have any problems with final cut on a mac, there is only one company (who is responsible for both hardware and software) to call for help, and they will help you, as Apple is the highest rated company in the industry for supporting customers. so it IS about the software...one cannot seperate the software written by the hardware manfacturer, for the hardware, when deciding. Final cut is the final answer. you have only to carefully read this thread to see how far in the sand Premier user have their heads, to see how hard they try to defend an inferior product, because they bought it. One person who I won't discuss any further typed premier pro crashes, then "premier pro crashes", both times came back calling me wrong, when he did and does still refuse to type in "adobe premier crashes". Easiest to lie to oneself. The best liars are those that lie to themselves, believe thier own lies, then try to fool others. A simple search reveals that "Adobe premier" users experiance "Crashes" one thousand to one compared to "final cut crashes" when the market shares say apple has ten percent of the market share then Apple should've had a one to ten ratio on that search, not one to one thousand.... Ryan3078 on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39682 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:03:04 +0000 Ryan3078 39682@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <blockquote> I wouldn't expect numbers to add up for you. Seem to be unable to read, or comprehend simple english or to be capable of following simple instructions. I said key in "final cut crashes" and "adobe premier crashes". The way you typed it, includes both amature and pro versions of final cut while excluding the amature version of Adobe premier. (which more people use). Since you're smart enough to spell "google", I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt, and assume you're just trying to mislead people into thinking you're right. I'm not going to waste anymore time on you. </blockquote> DOn, I'm honestly not trying to pick a fight with you, but I think you're trying to cause a conflict with me. I don't appreciate being insulted, when I'm trying to figure out where you're coming from. I am trying to get the thread back on track to comparing the programs, while you seem to be bent on insulting me, while at the same time focusing on MAC rather than software. If you want to take this argument into PMs, then by all means do so. I'm game. But I don't think this bickering is helping the original poster with his questions about software. I think because you're an Apple fanatic, that you're trying to mislead people into buying MAC. I use both, and you don't see me on my soapbox promoting PCs. I'm promoting SOFTWARE, because that was the orignial focus on this thread. Again, I am not trying to mislead, nor cause conflict, and I'll try not to take offensive at your remarks, sir. Can we please get back on track? robgrauert on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39658 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:41:04 +0000 robgrauert 39658@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ hahaha. D0n, you're funny. D0n on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39657 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:38:41 +0000 D0n 39657@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ "JUST GET A MAC" Well said. There are four kinds of people in this world. Those that learn by reading. Those that learn by observing. Those that have to stick their hand in a fire to see if it really is hot. And finally, those that stick thier hand BACK into the fire to see if it's STILL HOT..... robgrauert on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39654 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:27:31 +0000 robgrauert 39654@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ LOL! JUST GET A MAC! D0n on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39653 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:24:01 +0000 D0n 39653@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ "Irregardless. In doing so, "final cut crashes" yielded just under 400 hits, while "premiere pro crashes" yielded just over 800. That doesn't correspond with your 1000 "premiere problems" to 1 "final cut" problem, nor does it correspond to the fact that there are 9 PC users to 1 MAC user. The numbers just don't add up for me!" I wouldn't expect numbers to add up for you. Seem to be unable to read, or comprehend simple english or to be capable of following simple instructions. I said key in "final cut crashes" and "adobe premier crashes". The way you typed it, includes both amature and pro versions of final cut while excluding the amature version of Adobe premier. (which more people use). Since you're smart enough to spell "google", I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt, and assume you're just trying to mislead people into thinking you're right. I'm not going to waste anymore time on you. Ryan3078 on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39640 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:26:22 +0000 Ryan3078 39640@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Irregardless. In doing so, "final cut crashes" yielded just under 400 hits, while "premiere pro crashes" yielded just over 800. That doesn't correspond with your 1000 "premiere problems" to 1 "final cut" problem, nor does it correspond to the fact that there are 9 PC users to 1 MAC user. The numbers just don't add up for me! But I digress. Program crashes have lots more to do with your system setup than the program, so let's turn back towards the pros and cons of the software rather than opinions on which hardware cause more crashes! robgrauert on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39629 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:38:44 +0000 robgrauert 39629@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Yea, you gotta put quotes around your search or google will search each individual words. But anyway, I'm surprised how much you guys talk about your computers crashing. I've had my Mac Pro for almost a year now (I got it in Sept 07), and I haven't had any crashes. The only time I'm not sitting at my computer editing is when I'm at school or when I need to take a break for an hour to two. For the most part I edit every day. I don't really have a point. I'm just stickin up for Mac and FCS2. :) D0n on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39628 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:01:24 +0000 D0n 39628@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ put the quotes around the phrases to weed out results like: <a href="http://defamer.com/366670/creative-hulk-differences-make-norton-smash-norton-crash-norton-bash">The Incredible Hulk: Creative 'Hulk' Differences Make Norton Smash ...</a> 11 Mar 2008 ... Norton Crash! Norton Bash! norton.jpg ... legendarily exacting Norton has been locking horns with the Marvel Studios brass over final cut: ... defamer.com/366670/ creative-hulk-differences-make-norton-smash-norton-crash-norton-bash" you need to understand how search engines work and what using quotes does to narrow down inaccurate results. Ryan3078 on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39627 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:46:06 +0000 Ryan3078 39627@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ I must disagree with you, sir.Â For your claim to Premiere users having 1000 more problems than FC, was that directed towards a search on this site, or a search engine?Â My response was directed at the quote of people having troubles with their platform, not the program. And if you disagree with what I found with a standard google search referring to program crashes, I direct you towards these screencaptures as proof to clear up this silly misunderstanding! <img src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z173/Ryan3078/ScreenHunter_04.jpg" /> <img src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z173/Ryan3078/ScreenHunter_05.jpg" /> D0n on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39625 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:30:27 +0000 D0n 39625@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ you didn't read back far enough in the thread.... a quick search shows that the ratio of premier users having problems, to final cut users, was over a 1000 to one. not ten to one. you didn't use quotes to isolate the search to specific parameters. you just proved the word, "Final" got more hits than the word "Premier" Ryan3078 on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere/page/2#post-39624 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:17:56 +0000 Ryan3078 39624@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <blockquote> scout these forums and do the math...how many people asking for help with thier pscs vs how many asking for help on the macs, then check what kind of help they're asking for...creative/production, or tech support. </blockquote> Don't want to get too off topic here, but also keep in mind that if there is a 9-1 ratio of people asking for help with PC vs. Mac, that's because 9 out of 10 (or something very similar to that) readers use PCs.Ã� So of course there will be more people asking for help for PC! Personally I've had about 10 PP crashes for the 3 years I've been using it.Ã� About 4 crashes so far on FCE for the year I've been using it. So it's about even. But let's keep it to how the software works rather than personal program crashes we've had. That depends as much on how you've set up your computer and how many resources it has more so than which company created the OS. It sounds to me like you're leaning towards PP, since you're already doing well with Photoshop. So if you're more familiar with, and have a good experience with, Adobe products then why change? That's my two cents. <blockquote> Here's an intersting experiment: google "adobe premier crashes" see how many hits you find. now google "final cut crashes" see how many hits you find. now we all know that apple has about 5-10 % of the market share of the pc's, so I'd guess that 5-10% of whatever number of hits you get for premier would be a fair expectation, if both platforms crash equally..... I got 354 hits for final cut and 420,000 for premier..... It seems that the numbers would indicate that premier crashes at over 100 to 1, even if you factor market share into the equation.... But math never was my best subject.... lol </blockquote> I just did that search... Results 1 - 10 of about 625,000 for <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&oi=dict&q=http://www.answers.com/premiere%26r%3D67&usg=AFQjCNGQgad3lyrlMAPrpY6FIWscsoWlLg">premiere</a> <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&oi=dict&q=http://www.answers.com/pro%26r%3D67&usg=AFQjCNHoIYgs86Hqh2BI6hMiK4MmbLqR1Q">pro</a> <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&oi=dict&q=http://www.answers.com/crashes%26r%3D67&usg=AFQjCNHJcA8VZ8MOtyeybC7LgYN_RMOVjA">crashes</a>. Results 1 - 10 of about 1,200,000 for <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&oi=dict&q=http://www.answers.com/final%26r%3D67&usg=AFQjCNFVGJa_RHRvElNZqVJpggr3tIfYQA">final</a> <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&oi=dict&q=http://www.answers.com/cut%26r%3D67&usg=AFQjCNEDK8deiVgTUDXca3I9Rqk3HVxU_Q">cut</a> <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&oi=dict&q=http://www.answers.com/crashes%26r%3D67&usg=AFQjCNHJcA8VZ8MOtyeybC7LgYN_RMOVjA">crashes</a>. D0n on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere#post-39620 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:42:53 +0000 D0n 39620@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ The problem with the whole pc/mac and final cut/premier arguments is this: Some people ask pros for advice on which is better, then get upset when the pros recommend and defend what they (the pros)already bought, instead of what they (the person asking the question) were planning to purchase. They see a good deal on something, and just want to be told they're right. People fail to recognize that pros are by and large using top of the line (at time of purchase) equipment. So a pro tells you that pc's don't crash any more often than macs. That is like asking Jeff Gordon how to drive. What car is best. Then taking what he tells you and going out on the streets in your beat up old Chevy. Any off the shelf mac will run fce just fine with very few crashes (you'd have to load up a project with tonnes of clips/effects/filters etc to over tax the system to the point it crashes). the same can't be said for any off the shelf pc. You max out the ram on a mac, and as an off the shelf video editing station, your average project, and even most big ones, will not crash. Since I started learning video, and then added video to my wedding photography business, I have not had a single crash. I've had macs running video projects getting used 6-10hrs/day four or five days a week for four months straight, no down time. scout these forums and do the math...how many people asking for help with thier pscs vs how many asking for help on the macs, then check what kind of help they're asking for...creative/production, or tech support. Why final cut? because it was made by the people that made the hardware.. plain and simple. But I already bought macs, and use finalcut express....so what would you expect me to say? havalilsi on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere#post-39619 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:11:56 +0000 havalilsi 39619@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Had to weigh in on this thread. I've been using Premiere from 6.5 to PPCS CS2 and now CS3. I learned PP CS by watching a friend of mine while he was editing on a Mac, so I guess they are similar. As far as crashing, I usually crash once or twice a week, but I've seen another friend on mine crash enough times with FCP on his Mac also. My CS3 suite came with a tutorial DVD which is pretty good. And most of the tuts are actually done on Macs. There are alot of tuts out there for Adobe products, but you already know that since you're using Photoshop. Personally Photoshop was one of toughest programs I ever tried to learn.After watching my friend on FCP for 10 minutes, I was able to tackle Premiere Pro. In addition to the tuts I got with the CS3 bundle, I'm able to do pretty well. D0n on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere#post-39605 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:21:14 +0000 D0n 39605@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Here's an intersting experiment: google "adobe premier crashes" see how many hits you find. now google "final cut crashes" see how many hits you find. now we all know that apple has about 5-10 % of the market share of the pc's, so I'd guess that 5-10% of whatever number of hits you get for premier would be a fair expectation, if both platforms crash equally..... I got 354 hits for final cut and 420,000 for premier..... It seems that the numbers would indicate that premier crashes at over 100 to 1, even if you factor market share into the equation.... But math never was my best subject.... lol jerronsmith on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere#post-39602 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:03:45 +0000 jerronsmith 39602@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ >>People bring up all the other Adobe products working "better" with PP, but I've never had a problem using Photoshop and Illustrator alongside with FCP, and since it's been brought up, I'd like to know what the problems people have with Photosop/Illustrator and FCP. Honestly, I've never had a problem<< Rob, I think that when most people say that the other programs from Adobe work better with PP they are talking about the support for Photoshop and Illustrator's native file formats (PSD and AI). I think that is all it has over FCP in integration. I know that FCP can import PSD files but I don't think it does that for AI. It can also import unrendered After Effects projects. I actively cut and teach with both PP and FCP. I think that while the logic behind some of the things they do is a bit different, they are pretty much very similar programs. There are certain areas where Premiere Pro is superior to Final Cut Pro and vice versa. Not even the guys on the Premiere Pro development team like to get pulled into a direct feature comparison with FCP because the programs are very similar in most regards. I believe that whichever you have it it less the tool and more about the person who uses it that determines whether a project will come out well or not. I have used PP on both the MAC and Windows operating systems and from personal experience I believe that on the MAC side it was a bit unstable for me. It crashed about six times in a two day period, which the PC usually crashes once or twice during two days. But this is just personal and depends on the computers configuration. Ryan3078 on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere#post-39566 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:52:15 +0000 Ryan3078 39566@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <blockquote> Overall though, I think you'll be satisfied with both programs; they are very similar. In a thread that I read in the past, someone brought up a good point. They said people always argue for the program that they use, and it's because it's the first one they really got good at. Lets face it, no one likes change. So if I learn on FCP, I'm not going to like AVID. If I first learned with AVID, I won't like FCP. So the point is, you're going to like whatever you learn. AVID, FCP and PP I feel are all very good programs. I don't think one is really better than the other. </blockquote> I agree with that :) I started out on PC with PP, and then for school had to work with FCE on a Mac. Personally since I am used to to PP that will obviously be what I recommend. I'm not a big fan of FCE, although like all editing programs they do the same thing (edit!) just fine. One big issue I have with FCE is that there is not scene capture. For example, in PP using DV the program will automatically make a clip each time the timecode cuts when you turn your camera off, then turn it back on for your next scene. In FCE it captured the whole tape as one very looooooong file, which I had to go back and review and edit, which was time consuming compared to what I was used to with PP. But again, you get what you pay for, and whether you choose FCP or PP, you'll have plenty of power to do whatever you want. robgrauert on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere#post-39550 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:39:52 +0000 robgrauert 39550@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <blockquote> "AVID, FCP and PP I feel are all very good programs. I don't think one is really better than the other."</blockquote> I take that back. When it comes to FCP and PP, I think you get more for your money. AVID is expensive if you want all the bells and whistles. robgrauert on "FCP vs Premiere" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/fcp-vs-premiere#post-39549 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:35:48 +0000 robgrauert 39549@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Don, Sounds like you're life is pretty dialed. Joe LouW, I know this is off point from Premier Pro, but you said you can't use AVID on Mac, but you can use AVID on Mac. We have that program on our computers at school, along with FCP and PP. All 3 on all computers...for the video kids at least. Of course, no one bothers using AVID, but the point is you can still use it on Mac. Back to the point of the thread though...I don't see any reason why people would be anti PP. FCP and PP are very similar. People bring up all the other Adobe products working "better" with PP, but I've never had a problem using Photoshop and Illustrator alongside with FCP, and since it's been brought up, I'd like to know what the problems people have with Photosop/Illustrator and FCP. Honestly, I've never had a problem. As far as a selection of effects, what effects are you looking for. It's not about which program has more effects to choose from, it's which program provides the effects you need. In my experience, FCP has everything I need, but then again, we may have different styles of editing. I don't like to be all fancy with effects. I basically only dissolve, and do color correction where it's needed, and maybe a few other things. In my situation, FCP has more effects than I need. So think about what you need as opposed to which has "better" effects. Overall though, I think you'll be satisfied with both programs; they are very similar. In a thread that I read in the past, someone brought up a good point. They said people always argue for the program that they use, and it's because it's the first one they really got good at. Lets face it, no one likes change. So if I learn on FCP, I'm not going to like AVID. If I first learned with AVID, I won't like FCP. So the point is, you're going to like whatever you learn. AVID, FCP and PP I feel are all very good programs. I don't think one is really better than the other.