Now that I've got the HVX, I'm upgrading to a pro NLE. My cohorts in Austin are all on FCP, so I'm taking the plunge, and will buy a Mac for the first time. The Mac Pro I've spec'ed will do the job for HD, but a laptop would be nice.

Generally, lappys do not quite deliver the same capability, so if I go with a Mac Book Pro, can I get enough guts to HD? What would I be giving up?

Either a Macbook Pro or the Mac Pro... and then hope the P2 card readers (or cineporter) come out soon. Unless you can find an older Powermac with the PCMCIA card slot (the new Macbook Pros use express cards)... P2 cards work with PCMCIA slots.

If you're ever shooting in DVCPRO HD (which I assume you are since you got the HVX) you'll be grateful for the processing power the MacPro's going to have, not to mention all the hard disk space you can have inside it. Then there's the FW800 ports, etc., and if you get the 23" display the ability to watch your 1080i at full-res. You get what you pay for basically. Happy shopping.

You'll have a Mac Pro. Then that's ok. You'll only need a decent monitorsolution for color grading.

You'll nott regret getting thE macbook pro. Both machines have the power to run DVCPRO HD, but you canb buy an extra firewirebus (FW800) as an express card for the MBP, that way you can quickly unload your p2 cards and safely record directly to the mac on an external drive without clugging up the FW bus.

Remember to fill it up with RAM, either way.

Gunleik

good advice, thanks - I think the loaded Mac Pro is the way to go.