12" Powerbook with FCP?

insanityfw

insanityfw

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Hello all. Just wondering if anybody has used FCP on a 12" Powerbook? I just bought a 12" and no that the screen real estate is small (to say the least), but I will start learning Final Cut and want to be able to run it while on planes and such. I can't see any reasons that it wouldn't work, but I'm new to editing and dv in general.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you.
 
Re: 12" Powerbook with FCP?

You can absolutely run FCP on a 12" PB. Just be sure to assign another drive as your scratch disk. You don't want to store your raw media files on your main HD (where FCP resides).
 
Re: 12" Powerbook with FCP?

Thanks for the input. I have been hearing about scratch disk and such, but have yet to dig in to the program. Lots to learn, but ready and willing.

Thanks again,

Jason
 
Re: 12" Powerbook with FCP?

I got my Powerbook 12" in April 2004. I've been using FCP HD 4.5 on it since June. I've completed many projects with it and it works great. Of course more screen area would be nice, but I'd trade that for the go anywhere-edit anywhere flexibility that this little computer gives me.

I started with computer based editing in 1999, when Firewire first hit the scene on the Macs (I used Premiere before I got FCP). I am totally aware of the conventional wisdom of using separate hard disks for capture vs. the disk with the program. HOWEVER, with all due respect, I've captured  and edited many projects (about 26 to be precise) on G3 and G4 Powermacs, a G3 iMac, a G3 iBook, and my new Powerbook G4, all using a single disk (on my G4 desktop I have two hard drives). On these computers I've used four editing programs: FCP, FCE, Premiere, and iMovie. I have yet to have a problem with putting my captured video files on the same disk as my system and FCP program. In fact, I've churned out multiple projects, including over an hour's worth of multiple camera wedding video and have yet to hook up an external drive to my Powerbook. When I ordered mine, I chose the option of getting the 80 GB drive rather than the standard 60GB, and I selected the 5400 rpm drive rather than the 4500 rpm. But folks, even on my old G3 iBook with a 4500 rpm 10 GB hard drive, I churned out projects in FCE, FCP 1.2 (under OS9), and iMovie, never using an external hard drive. Anyway, that's my story. I've used too many single HD macs with too many video programs for too many years to feel that getting a separate drive is a necessity.

My guess is that in the early days of computer based editing, particularly before Firewire, when you had to use a digitizing card, and programs weren't as well developed, there were all kinds of problems and the external drives were a necessity (especially because back then, a 1 to 5 GB HD was standard so an extra drive was needed to handle all that digital video. I think the "conventional wisdom" is still floating around from the old days - perpetuated by sales staff that want to sell you more hardware.

Now if you like to keep many projects going at the same time, and your drive is of modest size, certainly get a bigger one or an external drive. But otherwise, I wouldn't run out and get a drive just to placate those extolling conventional wisdom.
 
Re: 12" Powerbook with FCP?

By the way, it's been seven months since I got my PB and the specs haven't changed! When I got my iBook (the first batch of white ones in June 2002), a month later, they doubled the HD capacity, improved the processor speed, improved the system bus speed, and cut the price $100. For once, I feel like my computer isn't obselete upon arrival!
 
Re: 12" Powerbook with FCP?

"I have yet to have a problem with putting my captured video files on the same disk as my system and FCP program." Just gotta say I've had pretty much the same results and I've been doing the same for years.
 
Re: 12" Powerbook with FCP?

It's great to hear things have been running efficiently for you guys.
However, I can tell you that I've had many customers (I work at Apple locally) who've had buggy issues that were being caused by using their main HD as their scratch disk.
It definitely can happen.
 
Re: 12" Powerbook with FCP?

Thanks again all. I've yet to start editing on the little thing, but it sure is beautiful and purs like a kitten. If I do run into problems I just received the Powerbooks grandpa in the mail today....a g5 Dual 2ghz...definelty not portable. I had no idea the G5's were SO heavy. I also bought a couple of 250 gig fw drives and a tiny 80 gig firelite that looks really cute hooked up to the powerbook. I'm in heavy, somebody pinch me. ;D
 
Re: 12" Powerbook with FCP?

You can totally edit out of a G4 Powerbook. I chop alot of sequences and do basic editing on a G4 PB with 512ram. And I firewire external HD.

BUT... that's only cutting the sequence and effects.

PLAYBACK or sending the footage to tape... well now that's a different issue. Don't think you can play back 10 minutes of footage with 20+ effects/filters without any problems. Because you'll drop frames.

Now as for exporting a digital format to DVD or quicktime? Sure no problem. (Just takes some time)
 
Re: 12" Powerbook with FCP?

I edit with a 15 inch PB 1.5 with 1 gig ram and really like the portability. I also use it with a second monitor and love the extra real estate. I have edited a 1 hr film on it with no issues.
System runs Maya and DVD Studio Pro 3 etc.

Really looking forward to the G5 Powerbook.
 
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