[cenutrio]

Hi guys,

A good friend of mine has to buy a portable video editing solution. It has to be a notebook since he is always in the run working in projects all around Europe. It has to be a PC.

He is planning to buy it in the States, but use it mostly in Europe. Probably, I'll buy for him and bring it during my Christmas vacation.

He is quite interested in the HP zd7000 top of the line with a Pentium(R) 4 3.2GHZ w/HT, 17" WVA WXGA+ (1440x900) screen, 60 GB 5400 RPM Hard Drive, Windows Media Center 2004 w/TV Tuner/Recorder, 128 MB_NVIDIA(R) GeForce(TM) FX Go5600 GPU, 1.0GB DDR SDRAM(2X512MB) memory, and a DVD+R/RW and CD-RW Combo Drive.

Overall a $3,000 system.

I have several questions:

Do you know of any web site to buy it besides the HP store? Of course cheaper...

How good is the Windows Media Center 2004 w/TV Tuner/Recorder? is it in the Final Cut Pro/iDVD league?

Just 60 GB HD seems way too small to me, any ideas or suggestions? (external FW HD, USB 2, etc).

The speed bottleneck should be avoided installing as much memory as possible and using the fastes HD available, right? The P4 should do just fine for the rendering...any other concerns?

What about the HP guarantee? Does it apply in Europe?

Mobility is a major concern, again, it has to be a notebook and the screen a 17".

An finally, it has to be a PC since he is from Barcelona and Mac systems are not that popular.


Still, I want to comment you that in the early 80s, he was involved in a major bank project (he was a code programmer) and he used an Apple Lisa to complete it!!!

He told me he saved weeks of work using it.


So, he has no hard feelings for the Mac.

In my case, I would go for a loaded 17" AluPB and Final Cut Pro express (overall, probably cheaper since I can get student discount).

[Axo1ot1]

yeah I get the sense that editing on a PC laptop is really more of a hassle than it's worth. Just because PCs are more popular doesn't mean he needs to get one.

[dialo]

Yeah, he needs FCP or FCE.

And what's the TV Tuner for?

There's really no reason I can see why he would not buy apple. In other fields, there are reasons. But when you are talking about a portable video editing machine, it's becomes stupid to buy anything else.

[Xaaron Swiftblade]

Originally posted by cenutrio:
How good is the Windows Media Center 2004 w/TV Tuner/Recorder? is it in the Final Cut Pro/iDVD league?

Maybe I misread, but the TV Tuner/Recorder to my knowledge is in a completely different "sport", let alone "league" as FCP/iDVD.

I don't think there's any real editing software included with Windows Media Center, if there is it might compete with iMovie... maybe.

Now, that's not to say you can't use a PC. Avid is available and is a bit more than FCP, and Premiere Pro just came out and is less than FCP.

But as far as price range goes, you might as well get a mac. Because you say they're not popular over there, does that mean you're worried about finding tech support if something goes wrong?

[cenutrio]

Originally posted by Xaaron Swiftblade:
Because you say they're not popular over there, does that mean you're worried about finding tech support if something goes wrong?

That's a good question, if I buy a Mac in the States, does the 1 year guarantee apply in Europe?

Does anybody know?

Thanks

[hadocon]

Originally posted by cenutrio:
That's a good question, if I buy a Mac in the States, does the 1 year guarantee apply in Europe?

Does anybody know?

Thanks

As far as I know it will work anywhere in the world.

Seriously though, it sounds to me that neither you nor the person that needs the portable video editing station knows that much about video editing.

That beeotch of a laptop you outlined above is not that portable when you think about it. It is huge, the CPU is an older power hog (where's a plug?), and the 60GB drive is absolutely puny for serious video. Why would you not opt for the available 80GB drive?

I don't see why he 'needs' a PC. Who is holding his arm behind his back? Bill Gates himself? Get him a gaddamn Mac and forget about it.

[NYCFarmboy]

Adobe Premiere is an option for PC's running on Windows.

I used to use it before Final Cut came out and clobbered it on the Mac platform.

I used it on a 500 mhz ibook to edit avi files which at one time imovie could not do...then I would reexport the clips from premiere back to dv which iMovie could work with.

I'd completely and totally recommend getting a Mac though... iMovie is awesome..then go to Final Cut Express..then upgrade to Final Cut Pro down the line.

Currently Mac/FCP is hands down the most elegant video editing platform....but if stuck on Windows then Premiere is a very valid option.

The 17" powerbook is a sweet video editing laptop...lots of screen space and a good size hard drive...

And...burning DVD's on a Mac is just soooo wonderful.

[The Jinx]

I'm buying 15" Al PB because of video editing! My office uses PC and I'm the only with Mac. I downloaded Virtual PC and it works flawlessly with PC especially in MS Office.

Maybe you want to recommend VPC to your friend?

Good luck!

Regards
sbw

[dlefebvre]

The only decent video editing option for the PC (sorry Premiere) is Avid Expres DV Pro, the other versions of Avid Expres DV are not that great. Especially the free one that is very limited. But Expres DV Pro is more expensive than FCP

[NYCFarmboy]

Originally posted by The Jinx:
I'm buying 15" Al PB because of video editing! My office uses PC and I'm the only with Mac. I downloaded Virtual PC and it works flawlessly with PC especially in MS Office.

Maybe you want to recommend VPC to your friend?

Good luck!

Regards
sbw

I'd really really really recommend the 17" for video editing. Thats really what that model is made for.

Of course I have a little 12" 500 mhz ibook..so what do I know. (grin) However as soon as I can find a reseller that sells a 17" powerbook with Panther preinstalled I'm going to buy one.

There are just way too many complaints about the 15" model for me to consider buying one of them now...(white spots specifically). They have a big quality control problem on the 15" model ..look at the Powerbook forum for more on that).

However the 17" models seem to be trouble free!

[Theodour]

I've heard Vegas Video is the best thing on a PC. Various forums say its much better than Premier.

I don't know though. I've never done that on a PC.

[tahoe3]

This is the wrong forum for such questions. You should ask the question at a pc forum or something (Ars Technica or digitalvideoediting.com).

But, I do edit on both platforms. If your friend has very basic editing needs, he should just download the free MovieMaker 2 from MS'website. It's pretty limited though on supported output formats.

If your friend wants to capture straight to disc with minimal effects or just basic menus, He can try the trial version of Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2 then buy it if he likes it.

If he wants effects and transitions, there's the trial version of Ulead Video Studio 7.

If he wants a very good intermediate editor, there's Vegas Video 4 which has since been acquired by Sony.

For a beginner though, the Ulead products should be enough. Both have their own DVD/SVCD/VCD/MiniDVD authoring functions built-in and supports internal/external DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW.

PS: As for portability, he really should go with a Powerbook. Is your friend looking more for a portable All-In-One which that HP is more of rather than a true portable notebook? It all depends on your friend's habits. Is he going to work out in the sticks or is he going to do a lot of video shooting and then edit them in the comfort of a hotel room?

As for that HP, your friend will have to pony up for a 7200rpm notebook drive if he wants to be assured of stutter-free DV captures. I read somewhere that PB's come with 7200rpm drives although I don't have any links to verify it.

[tahoe3]

Originally posted by Theodour:
I've heard Vegas Video is the best thing on a PC. Various forums say its much better than Premier.

I don't know though. I've never done that on a PC.

Actually, the Newtek VT3 (Video Toaster) is. But then, video-editing is just one of its vast array of functions... It's definitely a pro tool just looking at the price. But, among its peers, its a bargain.

Video Toaster 3

[sanity assassin]

Originally posted by tahoe3:
Actually, the Newtek VT3 (Video Toaster) is. But then, video-editing is just one of its vast array of functions... It's definitely a pro tool just looking at the price. But, among its peers, its a bargain.

Video Toaster 3

It wouldn't be any good on a laptop though, and even then, it's more geared for tv studios.

Centurio, have you had a look at Avid?

[cenutrio]

It seems to me that Sony vegas is the way to go on the PC. Although lately I've been using FCE and I'm super impressed. I have to tell my friend to reconsider the Mac.