So I am looking at ordering a MacBook Pro with the following specs for using as a field editing machine and running FCP AECS3 and Vegas by way of bootcamp. Will this machine let me edit the EX1 footage without a hitch? I will be getting a Mac Pro as well but it will be about 90 dyas out or so... I like the idea of being able to run FCP and Vegas and AECS3 all on the same machines so I am sort of sold on the Mac right now. I am all PC at the moment.

Specifications for MacBook Pro

2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Accessory Kit
4GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM - 2x2GB
200GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 rpm
MacBook Pro 17-inch Hi-Resolution Glossy LED Widescreen Display
Backlit Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English


Here are the Specs on the Mac Pro which will be coming soon as well...I really do not have any doubt about the editing capabilities of this guy...

Specifications on Mac Pro

Two 3.0GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon (8-core)
8GB (4 x 2GB)
500GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
500GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
500GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
1TB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 512MB (Two dual-link DVI)
Two 16x SuperDrives
Apple Mighty Mouse
Apple Keyboard (English) + Mac OS X

Without a hitch.

I would buy 750GB drives for the Mac Pro instead of the 500s.

You can get them as cheap as $140/each from some suppliers. Order the Mac Pro with three drive bays empty.

Good call Eric...I will get the 750GB drives and buy them somewhere other than with the machine

RAM too. Don't buy that from Apple unless you enjoy burning money. You can save a ton buying it third party. Corsair and Crucial are excellent. That is pretty much the MacPro system I just bought and its great.

I've got the same setup with the Mac Pro & the MacBook Pro. No problems at all.

Thanks guys! Good suggestions....on the RAM.

double check with Bart, he has been helping editors for a long time. can not hurt to run it by him.
tito

http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=calicapula

Take into consideration the speed of the graphics card as that can affect the efficiency of the workflow if you ever use Apple Color or Motion.

Barts Ebay Store prices look very good for the Mac Pro... So a big question is on the Macbook Pro Is it really a huge difference between the 17" hi rez 1920x1200 display and the normal 1680x1050 because it will take 2-3 weeks to get the higher rez display and a 100.00 more or I can skip the high Rez display and have a machine tonight. For field work the lower rez would probably be fine and if I want when in the studio go DVI out to my 30" or 40" monitor. Can a 17" monitor really even truley fit a 1920x1200 image on the full screen... even my 24" Dell has an issue with that size for preview.

Any comments on the Rez difference?

1920x1080 is true HD resolution so that is an advantage. If you buy the 17" model, I would go for the highest resolution screen, without glossy. I truly do not like the reflection the glossy coated screens. I am considering buying a Macbook Pro as well and it will be the lowest 15" model or the highest 17" model. Everything in between does not make sense.

And like other people told you, get RAM and harddisks from 3rd party supplier. Apple is charging too much for those things.

Thanks guys, I will await the Macbook Pro with the hi rez display. Also ordered with 2GB ram and found this killer deal for 4GB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134605

Saved me over 300.00 from what apple wanted to charge.