FCP and a notebook at DVinfo.net

Will Hayes · January 31st, 2006, 10:51 PM

Hey guys, for my birthday i was gonna ask for a cheap mac laptop to use with FCP. So can you guys recommend and cheap laptops that can run FCP?

Boyd Ostroff · January 31st, 2006, 11:31 PM

Well it's not exactly like you have a lot of choices.... the 12" iBook costs $1,000 and that's about it. Personally I don't think the 14" iBook is worth the extra $300. This will only get you a G4 processor however. It should run FCP OK (be sure to load it with the max possible RAM though (1.5GB)

But everything is in a state of transition in the Mac universe right now since Apple is switching to Intel processors. There are the PowerBooks G4's of which the 15" is possibly the most attractive at $2000. The screen is much nicer but still a G4 CPU at 1.67mhz (vs 1.33mhz on the iBook) so the speed difference will be pretty minimal. At twice the cost of the iBook it may not meet your criterion of "cheap". For the same price you can get the MacBook Pro ($2000) which should be much faster with dual Intel CPU's. It isn't shipping yet, but will be soon. Problem here is that not much software is Intel native yet. In fact, you'll have to wait until March 31 to get a version of FCP that will run.

Tough time to buy a Mac Laptop. No doubt there will be a line of less expensive Intel Mac laptops, but nothing has been announced yet. Apple has said they plan to convert their entire product line to Intel CPU's by the end of 2006.

So for now, the 12" iBook would probably be your best bet. Just be prepared to be shocked when Apple comes out with a faster, cheaper laptop with an Intel CPU in a few months :-)

January 31st, 2006, 10:51 PM	#1
Will Hayes New Boot Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 16	FCP and a notebook Hey guys, for my birthday i was gonna ask for a cheap mac laptop to use with FCP. So can you guys recommend and cheap laptops that can run FCP?

January 31st, 2006, 11:31 PM	#2
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	Well it's not exactly like you have a lot of choices.... the 12" iBook costs $1,000 and that's about it. Personally I don't think the 14" iBook is worth the extra $300. This will only get you a G4 processor however. It should run FCP OK (be sure to load it with the max possible RAM though (1.5GB) But everything is in a state of transition in the Mac universe right now since Apple is switching to Intel processors. There are the PowerBooks G4's of which the 15" is possibly the most attractive at $2000. The screen is much nicer but still a G4 CPU at 1.67mhz (vs 1.33mhz on the iBook) so the speed difference will be pretty minimal. At twice the cost of the iBook it may not meet your criterion of "cheap". For the same price you can get the MacBook Pro ($2000) which should be much faster with dual Intel CPU's. It isn't shipping yet, but will be soon. Problem here is that not much software is Intel native yet. In fact, you'll have to wait until March 31 to get a version of FCP that will run. Tough time to buy a Mac Laptop. No doubt there will be a line of less expensive Intel Mac laptops, but nothing has been announced yet. Apple has said they plan to convert their entire product line to Intel CPU's by the end of 2006. So for now, the 12" iBook would probably be your best bet. Just be prepared to be shocked when Apple comes out with a faster, cheaper laptop with an Intel CPU in a few months :-)