Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

bigcreek · Feb 20, 2003, 12:57 PM

Okay, here's the story: I am in the tech field, adept at Windows and Unix. Used a mac (among others) until 1995. Have studied the Imac since the 15" machine was released last year, and am interested in the 17 inch imac. Now, the real question. I want this machine exclusivily for media development (Making DVD's from my home videos). Why shoud I choose this vs. a fast P4 with a dvd burner and Vegas Video? Really struggling with the Pro's and Con's. Another question: I would also want to take excerpts of MP3's, edit them, and burn back to a CD. Does audio editing software exist on the standard imac, or am I looking at spending additional money on software? ( I have used Sound Forge and others for the PC). Take the challenge, convince me this is the way to go!

Mac Zealot · Feb 20, 2003, 02:29 PM

Macs have never come with useful software so you'll probably have to shell out for some overpriced programs..

Otherwise the imac should be able to do most of the things you've mentioned.

D'Espice · Feb 20, 2003, 04:02 PM

Convince you to switch? OK, here it goes:

DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT

There's really not more to say, if you need to be convinced to switch then maybe you shouldn't.

mysterio · Feb 20, 2003, 04:46 PM

I recently switched (typing from a 1ghz 17inch imac) and before was into moding pc's and having the fastest thing out there tweaked and all. I finally needed a change and after 12 years of using a PC for 8-10 hours a day I can say apple has them beat. The mac isn't going to win the gaming or speed crown at the moment but osx, asthetic appeal, ease of use, the best integrated apps, and a far superior OS all together on this stellar computer to leave me wondering why I was using a pc. Between iphoto for my pics, imovie and idvd for my home movies, isync for my cell phone (the list goes on and on). The point is not only do I know this is far and away the best computer i've owned but that's what everyone in my house is saying as well. Good Luck!

Corinthian · Feb 20, 2003, 07:01 PM

Another switcher for myself. Switched for 3 years already, and you wouldn't just believe that how quick you can fall in love with Macs, especially when troubles are around you.

Apps are more than plenty, though gaming is still urgh....other stuff, especially ease of use, I gotta agree with mysterio that it's just easy-piecey.

mdc · Feb 20, 2003, 07:31 PM

i'm also a switcher, i switched to an ibook, but still.

go buy the imac. you know you want to, or else you would not have put the (please) at the end of the subject now would you

you will wonder why you did not switch sooner.

slider · Feb 20, 2003, 07:38 PM

Hey, since you are looking for software alternatives more the Mac, I would suggest you ask this questions in the Mac OS X or Software forums. As far as I know there is no audio editing software on the Mac, and my sense is you know all about iLife suite of apps.

bradoesch · Feb 20, 2003, 11:04 PM

Unless you're really into games, I see no other reason not to switch. I left the dark side 3 years ago and never looked back.

superblue · Feb 21, 2003, 02:35 AM

I've been watching my boss switch all week - he's a Vaio user, but started playing with the new G4 in the office on Monday when it arrived.

Day by day he's using that Vaio less, and the grin on his face grows everytime he finds something new - the latest 'find' has been the ability to capture images of individual windows, menus, docks... I'll give the Vaio 1 more week!

Do it!

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 21, 2003, 03:11 AM

Originally posted by bradoesch:
Unless you're really into games, I see no other reason not to switch. I left the dark side 3 years ago and never looked back.

Not true. If you are in an office environment a PC is normally a better choice as just about all the joe shmo's out there use PC's and you want to make sure all your apps get along nice.

Plus, PC's have much higher acceptance in the CAD and 3D market.

CAD on Mac's is something I have never come across in the professional world. Maya is nice on OSX but large companies still use it on PC's.

Mac's are SUPER for home computers and Pro graphics and video work though.

wulf · Feb 21, 2003, 06:12 AM

Originally posted by slider:
<snip>
As far as I know there is no audio editing software on the Mac...
</snip>

Not quite sure what you meant to say there slider, but there certainly is a wealth of audio editing software on the Mac, I don't think there's anything useful which is free though. Also most of the good stuff is aimed at the professional bracket.

Bigcreek, for basic MP3 editing you could just use Quicktime Pro (a $30 upgrade from the standard QT). This works, but isn't very sophisticated.

If you want a fine level of control, do cross-fades or add effects then Bias Peak LE will do what you want (and more) but costs $99. 30-day trial version is available here.

scottiB · Feb 21, 2003, 07:53 AM

All new iMacs introduced in late January have Sound Studio included.

http://www.felttip.com/products/soundstudio/

bradoesch · Feb 21, 2003, 01:57 PM

Originally posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker:
Not true. If you are in an office environment a PC is normally a better choice as just about all the joe shmo's out there use PC's and you want to make sure all your apps get along nice.

Plus, PC's have much higher acceptance in the CAD and 3D market.

CAD on Mac's is something I have never come across in the professional world. Maya is nice on OSX but large companies still use it on PC's.

Mac's are SUPER for home computers and Pro graphics and video work though.

You're absolutely right. I should've made it more clear that what I said was directed to bigcreek, and not really about using Macs in general.

Rodster · Feb 22, 2003, 12:23 PM

I purchased my very first Apple Computer in 2001, I guess the Newton doesn't count. Up until that time I have been involved with MS-DOS and Windows based PC's since 1984. I was always hestitant of trying Apple because it looked different and I just could not relate to the OS coming from Windows PC's.

Over the years I have become very tired of the constant bugs, viruses, error boxes, and crashes of Microsoft products. And adding insult to injury the now infamous W.P.A. Licensing Microsoft has implemented into XP and XP Office. I have come to the conclusion that with Microsoft it's always an adventure. I have also gotten tired of the many 'huh WTF was that, I never saw that before'. Only to randomly re-appear sometime later.

When I purchased my G3 SE iMac 700mhz back in 2001 I immediately fell in love with OS X. Within a few hours I was very comfortable with the OS. Apples 3D User Interface was leaps and bounds over Windows XP. And guess what no more crashes, no weird error messages, and no more crashes.

In October 2002 my apartment was flooded out and I lost my iMac. I was recently issued a check for my losses and I do intended on buying another Mac, probably the eMac.

There are both pluses and minuses to using either Apple or Microsoft products. For me I find far less minuses and more pluses with Apple than by using Windows XP. If I want to do gaming I use my Windows XP system. For work I intend on filling that need with an Apple product.

slider · Feb 22, 2003, 12:42 PM

Originally posted by wulf:
Not quite sure what you meant to say there slider, but there certainly is a wealth of audio editing software on the Mac, I don't think there's anything useful which is free though. Also most of the good stuff is aimed at the professional bracket.

Bigcreek, for basic MP3 editing you could just use Quicktime Pro (a $30 upgrade from the standard QT). This works, but isn't very sophisticated.

If you want a fine level of control, do cross-fades or add effects then Bias Peak LE will do what you want (and more) but costs $99. 30-day trial version is available here.

Yes, you are correct, not very clear, my meaning was free and pre-installed, ie like the iApps. Thanks for the clearification

slider · Feb 22, 2003, 12:44 PM

Originally posted by scottiB:
All new iMacs introduced in late January have Sound Studio included.

http://www.felttip.com/products/soundstudio/

sweet!

Mac Zealot · Feb 22, 2003, 01:44 PM

ooh cool! sound app!

I want I want I want!

mbryda · Feb 23, 2003, 01:31 PM

Originally posted by bigcreek:
O(Making DVD's from my home videos). Why shoud I choose this vs. a fast P4 with a dvd burner and Vegas Video? Really struggling with the Pro's and Con's.

'Cause the P4 is garbage?

(Always been am AMD guy on the PC side of things!)

Actually, I went through 2 PC's built specifically for video before getting the new iMac last March. Best $1800 I've ever spent. In a week I'd edited more video than in 2 years on the PC. Made DVD's easily and just have been very satisfied.

The iMac sarted out as an editing machine. It has slowly replaced my PC and this weekend I put the (almost) final nail in the PC - I migrated my accounting stuff over to the Mac.

I was so impressed with the iMac I bought the wife a new 800Mhz iBook and she loves it and would never go back to a PC! (Which is fine by me - I don't have to play Support @ home!)

I'm a PC network admin by day and a couple people at work have got DVD burners, and it's interesting listening to their stories of trying to get them to work. With the iMac it was working from Day 1.

Just buy the iMac. If you don't like it, sell it on Ebay - you'll probably get like 95% of your purchase price back! (Try that with a new Peee4 or Athlon!)

To paraphrase Nike: Just Do It!