Apple Laptop durability/ruggedness question for P2 acquisition purposes?

S

Steve55

Active member
Apple Laptop durability/ruggedness question for P2 acquisition purposes?

Okay, I've decided to get an Apple laptop to go with my P2 card for use in the field. I'll use P2 card, then take an 8 minute break when I'm dumping to laptop.

Question is about the ruggedness and durability of the Apple models and how they stand up to knocks in the field.

Apple do two models and I want to clarify the differences in build quality. I'll compare the old and replacement models and would appreciate feedback.

Old Powerbooks are all made from titanium right?
Old iBooks are all made from plastic.

If I go for second hand, which of the above will be the toughest and stand knocks and been used in the field?

New Apple laptops.

MacBook Pro's are all made from titanium right?
MacBook's are all made from plastic.

If I go for new (so far looking at cheapest MacBook - plastic), which will be the toughest and stand knocks and been used in the field?

My workflow will simply involve none-removel of P2 card; instead I'll simply plug USB from HVX200 into Mac, then format card in HVX200 menue after dumping to Laptop.

Can I also confirm that I can attach a Firewire or USB external Hard Drive to laptop and when I dump footage from P2 card via HVX200 USB lead, it will dump straight to external HD and not internal laptop HD?

Thanks guys.
 
Old (recent) powerbooks and the new Macbook Pro are made from aluminum. As far as duarbility goes, it's simple: drop any of them from four feet and you're screwed. Don't drop them, and they'll work fine.

I would get one of the more recent aluminum 15" powerbooks, you can pick them up used (or new refurbished models at places like Tekserve) for a decent price. I'm using a 1.67 15" now, and despite a few instances of the computer not recognizing the P2 cards when they're inserted, it works great for transfers in the field. And even if you say you'll go firewire from the camera for transfering, it's nice to have the P2 slot there in case you want to pop one in. That said, if you're really only going to use the firewire transfer method, the price/performance on those new little 13" Macbooks is hard to beat.

And yes, you can copy the files from the camera to an external firewire drive connected to your computer. The camera mounts on your desk top just like another drive.

Good luck,

-Gary
 
Thanks for that. As my Kata case (for HVX200) only has space for new 13inch MacBook or old 12inch iBook, I think I'll go for one of the latter.

Can I ask, will a iBook G4 1.33GHz with 512 RAM be enough for P2 transfer from HVX200, or will it take an age?

Finally, when you plug HVX200 into Mac, it shows up on desktop, is it simply a case of dragging files across to external firewire HD that is also on desktop?

Then do you simply format P2 card from HVX200 menu or is there an easier way to format P2 card ready for re-use from the iBook desktop after dragging files across?

Thanks plexi
 
Remember that neither the MacBook nor the iBook has a PC Card slot if you intend to use it to transfer the footage from the p2.

Both have only one firewire bus and no way to add a second. So, if all you are doing is transferring to the iBook or MB to later be used on a desktop, you really don't need an external drive.

Also, Apple does not support FCS on the MB due to the shared RAM video card.
 
First things first forget the ibook/ Macbook.
As for the titanium that has nothing to do with the material only the colour. / Not true it is due to material.
I stand corrected.

I would suggest you pick up the all conquering Macbookpro "17" 7200rpm.

In addition, all present Mac's have a motion sensor fitted to the hard drives so that in case of a drop. One does not miss or destroy data. IMO the durability and ruggedness of Mac's is first class.

Do also keep in mind HVX via USB to Mac is not recommended.
Hvx via Firewire 400 is the way to go.
As recommended by Panasonic.
Find a way to work with a Macbookpro, capture to that then dump when you return to HQ.
Eliminating the P2card all together.

Kind regards
THE HONEST LIAR
 
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Thanks honest liar,but I can't go for 17" as it won't fit in my HVX200 Kata case so it will have to be Macbook 13" screen version with 5200 HD. Will this be okay?

When you say capture via Firewire 400 from HVX200, do you mean as streaming video, or as drag and drop of files?

David S, When you say PC Card slot, is this the PCMIA (whatever ) thing that is getting long in the tooth; well except for Panny that is ;)

Also, you say "MB", what is that? and what is FCS?
 
Hi there Steve55
Listen l here rumors that Final cut works on the Macbook.
However apple says it does not support FCP on the Macbook.
Some apps run slow like motion.
Even if you still have your heart set on the Macbook you should install a internal 7200rpm hard drive which is very easy.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8c6ckjy-gdY

As in regards to the streaming question.
Panasonic say if you are streaming from the HVX to a mac you should go via Firewire 400. And if you are doing the same to a PC go USB.
Apple are now finished with PCMIA card slot, they now have express 3/4 or what ever its called. You can now purchase adapters.

Kind regards
THE HONEST LIAR
 
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Thanks for that. I'm not interested in running Final Cut, only using Macbook as a cheaper P2 store; that's it. Will 7200 drive speed up dumping process?

Still don't know what David.S meant by FCS in his final line? or was that a typo; should be FCP for Pro?
 
Not quite sure Steve what you want to do?
Is it just file transfer.
And from what l understand the difference in speeds between 5400/7200 rpm is not that great but it helps in playing back HD footage. And the 7200 rpm will grind down your power.
Depending on what drive you install.
Even so it should be fine even with the 5400rpm hard drive.
However if you wait till after summer apple should have upgraded their Macbookpro line to the Merom Quad processor.
And there'll be a trickel down.
FCS is just short for Final Cut Studio.

Kind regards
THE HONEST LIAR
 
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Why spend the money on a laptop that won't let you cut in the field? Cheap in not always the way to go and if you are limiting yourself to the fact that it won't fit in your Kata case, you're also wasting your money and your time.
A fifteen inch powerbook with even 1.25 ghz allows you to do all of the above without straining your wallet. You can get one refurbished for a song. You can have your cake and eat it too...
 
Guys hold on here, I really don't have any interest in editing in the field. I have a dual 2 gig G5 tower in my office for that. I want to buy a Laptop as I think a P2 store is a total rip off for what is basically a 60 gig hard drive enclosed in a so-called tough rubber (emphasis on the word rubber, rubber is expensive stuff) case. I figure if I buy a Laptop it will do the same as a P2 store and I also get a fee Apple computer thrown in for even less money than P2 store. I will only ever use the Laptop for dumping footage too. I will then go home and transfer it to G5 tower. Maybe I will use laptop for typing up documents on occation. But that is all I want it for.

I only want a small 12inch screen as I don't need to lug around an extra large laptop as I won't be editing on it, I won't even be playing back clips, nothing, just a desktop do dump P2 cards to; nothing else; period.

If Apple did a 5 inch Laptop, I would buy that and put it on the Hotshoe of the HVX200 instead of a Firestore. I hope I'm now being totally clear about what I want a Laptop for.

Again, Laptop instead of P2 store. You can't edit on a P2 store can you, well, I don't want to edit on a Laptop. I need a desktop and a hard drive and a Firewire cable. No FCS, No clip playback, No DVD player.
 
All clear.
Your best option is to buy a secondhand g4 laptop "15" (a refurbished model from apple) that way you can use your P2 cards.

Kind regards
THE HONEST LIAR
 
Steve,
Don't say you will never want to edit in the field. I have a dual dual g5 in my office as well, and I use my powerbook to dump to in the field. I use my powerbook a firewire 800 drive and transfer my p2 files to that. Only one transfer. The powerbook is just a conduit. Then all I have to do is plug the firewire drive in to my g5 in my office.

I have had clients ask if I can put something together in front of them and have the ability to do so. It just seems like a waste of time to buy a laptop that you can't use for other things or whatever. Besides as I said a refurbished powerbook is wayyyy cheap. $1299 from the Apple store today.
 
I use a 17" Powerbook (last model made) in the field to edit with an external firewire drive. I love it. Not as fast as my tower G5 Quad, but works just great! P2 cards, FULL have never taken more than 4 minutes to transfer.

I'd never work with anything smaller for editing, you really do need the screen space.
 
Okay guys. I'm in the UK so your Powerbook won't be any good for me Richard; thanks though. Honest Liar, I'm checking out UK Apple store for refurb Powerbook.

Thanks agian.
 
Okay, checked out UK Apple store refurb section and the Powerbooks are barely 10% off new price, but older with crap specs. I'll go for an eBay one instead, which seems to be half the price. I've just seen a Powerbook 15" 1.5Ghz with Superdrive and 768 RAM go for £625. (about $1,100).
 
Steve55 said:
Guys hold on here, I really don't have any interest in editing in the field. I have a dual 2 gig G5 tower in my office for that. I want to buy a Laptop as I think a P2 store is a total rip off for what is basically a 60 gig hard drive enclosed in a so-called tough rubber (emphasis on the word rubber, rubber is expensive stuff) case.
Click to expand...

The P2 store is what it is. Some shooters need the P2 store as there is no other alternative. And if you are shooting for yourself then I guess not editing in the field is viable. You should look at a PC then, the P2 viewer is free and you would be able to check footage as you go. The MAC is a good way to off-load if you have FCP installed.
Without it you are blind unless you buy the $700 MAC P2 viewer software.
If you do any shooting with clients they are going to want to watch the footage! Unless you PB all clips in camera, once you off-load and format you would have no way to review footage.
 
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