New iMac 24" as HVX Editing station...?

I just asked across on Apple's iMac forum - Kappy who knows his stuff replied.

"Nothing implied. Apple has provided that information on most recent models, although it may have only been in the Tech Specs.

The bus power has been the same ever since FW was included on Macs. Each port can provide 7.5 watts or one port 15 watts if nothing is connected to the other port. There are similar limitations on the USB ports. "

So nothing earth shaking there.

I'm going to give it a couple more days to a week before making a decision - Dell are due to release Merom in notebooks on the 14th so Apple should be the same or not long after - well, you'd think so.
 
Well, with alot of it based on the price difference for the Mac Pro and a Apple Cinema Display 23" inch display being over 3500 after a custom config, and the iMac coming with what i mainly want (the 24" 1080p monitor) i just placed my order.

My real motivation was in celebration of my 1000th post though :)

Ill post how it goes when it gets here. Gunna take a few extra days though since i added the 7600 GT 256mb Video Card. Ill post in the hardware board when i get it.
 
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never a better reason to lash out and buy - onya !

Post back and let us know how it all plays together.

cheers, r
 
The sooner i buy, the longer the period that im not obsolete. LOL. but this should have a good resale value im sure even after a year or two.

I did get 1000 for my Dual G4 Mirror Drive door 1.25ghz. That was back in Feburary. I think the screen will be a good thing for this to keep its value.
 
I'm happy I came across this post. I was going to start a thread on the 24 inch imac too. I too was going to purchase a MacPro, but was hesistant to spend an extra $800 for a large screen. Then the 24" iMac came out, which saves me money on getting the screen.

I was afraid it won't run FCP smoothly, but from what I have read on the forums, it will run fine. Plus I'm just using it to edit SD.

BUT my other concern is this:

Will it run Motion or Shake smoothly? Or even run at all?
Plus Adobe After Effects, when the Universal version comes out.

What are your thoughts on this since I'm also deciding to purchase the 24" iMac soon?

The configuration I plan on getting is upgrading the Graphics card and ram to 2gb.
 
The big misconception with the iMac is that it is not a strong machine. If it wasnt fore the Mac Pro being a Quad Core and having a few other advantages in bus speed and what not, this is seriously one of the fastest macs EVER! The upgraded video card is an amazing addition, but even on the x1600 w/ 256mb video card in my Macbook Pro, i get amazing results running Motion 2.1. It runs smoothly in HD 1080 and 720. Final Cut Pro runs so smooth its wonderful, all in DVCpro HD 1080 and 720.

Now, based off of that alone, the iMac is 50% faster than my Macbook Pro 2.0ghz with the x1600. The video card is better, the processor is 50% fastter, the ram is the same speed blazing speed. It is a true power house based on the specs. Dont worry, it will run everything amazingly.

And like i said before, its not like the HD that we edit from our HVX's is going to somehow need more processor power anytime, ever really. So if it screams on my Macbook Pro, it will be more screameriest on that for a LOOONG time to come, theoretically forever right?
 
Thanks for the info. I'm SOLD!

Now, if only the iMAC had a dvi port in the back so that I can use it as an external screen in the future when I get a MacPro.
 
It has a DVI port in the back , but unfortunatly it is OUTPUT only, youll need a 20 dollar mini DVI adaptaer from apple to hook up a second monitor.
 
Firewire ports are daisy chainable, so one FW400 port is enough for me. I havnt found the need for eSATA yet, so i personally dont feel im missing something here.
 
Previously I mentioned that the Quadros wouldn't be for the Mac Pros (because they aren't Xeon processors). Well, I guess I was wrong. I read a story today about how they put two Quadros in a Mac Pro to test it out. Apparently OSX read the two processors fine, and showed 8 cores total.
 
Cynic821 said:
Firewire ports are daisy chainable, so one FW400 port is enough for me. I havnt found the need for eSATA yet, so i personally dont feel im missing something here.
Click to expand...

So you'll run the FW drive out the the single FW bus, and then daisy chain your HVX200 to that?
 
Youve lost me. I guess i could see how its possible, but as far as the HVX and the P2 goes, on the iMac i would never have to use the firewire port to capture any of our footage. Unless its on DV of course, but i will probably never find a use for the DV Tape mode on the HVX.

The only time i use the Capture Now in FCP is on the Macbook Pro in the field when shooting some longer segments like 20 to 30 minutes. And in the field, well i dont need all my ports, just one USB 2.0 for a capture drive, and the firewire for the 1080 output.

At home, the HVX will never need to be connected to the firewire port on any of my computers.
 
The iMac has no (HiDef) Video inputs. That was a big dealbreaker for me because I would have wanted to use the display for other stuff too like highdef movies. I would have bought the iMac 24 inch if it would have had highdef-inputs for that beautiful display.

Only having one FireWire 400 port might also be a problem to some.

It´s all a question of what you need.
If it has all the features, you need, then I see no reason not tho choose the 24 inch iMac over the MacPro as you described it. It sure is a lot cheaper!
 
David S. said:
There are a bunch of us recording straight via firewire to FCP.

Especially in interview settings.
Click to expand...

You bring a desktop with you to shoots? I have my Macbook Pro and use that when capturing longer shots like interviews and instructional stuff. It only has 1 firewire port, i still dont know what you would need a second port for.
 
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