[mikejaz]

OK...I'm looking to get into a new G4/500 dual processor system, to be used for video editing (FCP) and DVD authoring.

I'm dealing with the DVD questions elsewhere, so I'll keep my questions here generic.

1) Is it true that most, if not all, app software will have to be rewritten to take advantage of multi-processors? For instance, an Avid Media Composer salesman said that even though Avid has approved the G4/500 dual as a platform, the software does not take advantage of the second processor. Any info on this?

2) Specifically to Final Cut Pro, and other Apple software products: are they currently able to take advantage of dual procs, or is this dual proc thing a big marketing smokescreen? If software doesn't take advantage of dual-procs now, when will it?

3) What other pitfalls should I look for regarding these new dual-processor models?

I appreciate any responses!

[Evangellydonut]

depending on the application was originally written, some may need major re-writes while others will work with minor tweaks...but I think most of the applications won't be ready for MP for a while...Moto still has some time to refine their G4e for MacWorld SF release, and hopefully, we'll get rid of the MP machines by then...either that, or Apple manages to push the entire industry in MP, and by then, we'll see MP Athlons and MP Pentium4s for personal usage, which I highly doubt...

Anyway, you were correct in that most things don't support MP, the 2nd CPU is just a smoke-screen for the most part...at least 'til OS X and more things become MP aware.

BTW, this is also posted on the G3/G4/cube forum...which is the correct place where it belongs...so if someone will, move it to the appropriate forum, thx

[This message has been edited by Evangellydonut (edited 08-31-2000).]