[ecking01]

I could get either a 17" iMac with 2GB ram or a 20" iMac with 256mb vram with it's stock 512 ram.

Which would you get for overall and home FCP Studio use?
I'd be editing native HDV at home but would be finishing on a better machine anyways.

Also since the UB Shake 4.1 can work on an iMac do you think that means a Core Duo with 128mb vram or just the 256mb model?

I wouldn't be doing any if much Shake work at home but I would just like to know out of general curiousity or just in case.

TIA guys

[freakboy2]

20"

put 10$ away each week until you can buy it more ram.

[hickey]

I concur^^

save some money for like a month and see if you can spring for the 20incher with 256Vram and a gig of RAM. the more RAM the merrier.

[mduell]

As soon as you say FCS, I say the 20" 256MB VRAM. You can never upgrade the VRAM, and you'll appreciate it in Motion and Shake (and possibly the next version of Final Cut, you never know).

System RAM is relatively cheap and will only get cheaper. You can upgrade to 1.5GB dual channel for $150 in a few months when you have the money. Then go to 3 or 4GB if/when your projects get more demanding.