Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.production,rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Video editing on a laptop, is it feasible, and what should I look for?

I need to buy a computer to edit a video documentary and it would be
easier if I could use a laptop. This will be my first documentary and
I'm still not sure what software or hardware that I'll use?
I've been reading about real-time pci editing cards such as the Matrox
RT.X10(0) and wondering how useful such a card would be? If they make
the editing process much quicker and intuitive, then I'll forgo the
convenience of a laptop and build myself a desktop.

If I do go for a laptop then I'm considering a Pentium M or Athlon 64
based unit. Any ideas on which of these would be more suitable for
video editing? I don't want a P4 based machine as I'd like a lower
power CPU for the usual reasons.
I'd basically like a laptop that can run cool, quiet & long from the
battery, but can still kick ass when running at full speed from the
mains. An Athlon XP-M is another option to as they are fairly low
power.

In many reviews that I've read of laptops, it's not clear whether the
benchmarks are done from battery power, with the associated loss of
performance. I'm only interested in the video editing performance
when utilising the full system performance from the mains.

Any help appreciated.

Love

Crow

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.production,rec.video.desktop (More info?)

I would consider getting a mac laptop with final cut pro. The main
consideration is hard drive space- laptops don't have the huge drives that
desktops do, so whatever you choose you will need an external drive. Make
sure the laptop has a 6 pin firewire port rather than the small square
shaped 4 pin port - that way the notebook will power the external drive -
instead of needing AC.
"Crow" <crow@vacionido.fslife.co.uk> wrote in message
news:uui3c0594i7fvpfotodiivvcpak7ti7a1u@4ax.com...
> Video editing on a laptop, is it feasible, and what should I look for?
>
> I need to buy a computer to edit a video documentary and it would be
> easier if I could use a laptop. This will be my first documentary and
> I'm still not sure what software or hardware that I'll use?
> I've been reading about real-time pci editing cards such as the Matrox
> RT.X10(0) and wondering how useful such a card would be? If they make
> the editing process much quicker and intuitive, then I'll forgo the
> convenience of a laptop and build myself a desktop.
>
> If I do go for a laptop then I'm considering a Pentium M or Athlon 64
> based unit. Any ideas on which of these would be more suitable for
> video editing? I don't want a P4 based machine as I'd like a lower
> power CPU for the usual reasons.
> I'd basically like a laptop that can run cool, quiet & long from the
> battery, but can still kick ass when running at full speed from the
> mains. An Athlon XP-M is another option to as they are fairly low
> power.
>
> In many reviews that I've read of laptops, it's not clear whether the
> benchmarks are done from battery power, with the associated loss of
> performance. I'm only interested in the video editing performance
> when utilising the full system performance from the mains.
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> Love
>
> Crow

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.production,rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Crow wrote:
> Video editing on a laptop, is it feasible, and what should I look for?
>
> I need to buy a computer to edit a video documentary and it would be
> easier if I could use a laptop. This will be my first documentary and
> I'm still not sure what software or hardware that I'll use?
> I've been reading about real-time pci editing cards such as the Matrox
> RT.X10(0) and wondering how useful such a card would be? If they make
> the editing process much quicker and intuitive, then I'll forgo the
> convenience of a laptop and build myself a desktop.
>
> If I do go for a laptop then I'm considering a Pentium M or Athlon 64
> based unit. Any ideas on which of these would be more suitable for
> video editing? I don't want a P4 based machine as I'd like a lower
> power CPU for the usual reasons.
> I'd basically like a laptop that can run cool, quiet & long from the
> battery, but can still kick ass when running at full speed from the
> mains. An Athlon XP-M is another option to as they are fairly low
> power.
>
> In many reviews that I've read of laptops, it's not clear whether the
> benchmarks are done from battery power, with the associated loss of
> performance. I'm only interested in the video editing performance
> when utilising the full system performance from the mains.
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> Love
>
> Crow


I know several folks are running Vegas on laptops and having no problems
whatsoever, even when using 4200 rpm drives. Do a keyword search of
"laptop" on the Sony Vegas forum at forum at http://tinyurl.com/yswu9 or
the DMN forums at http://tinyurl.com/cg3t or the COW forum at
http://tinyurl.com/3eyvj for several user opinions.

Mike

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.production,rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Look at notebook PCs that come with Windows XP Media Center edition (MCE)

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp [...] efault.asp
--
Cari (MS-MVP Windows Client - Printing, Imaging & Hardware)
www.coribright.com

"Crow" <crow@vacionido.fslife.co.uk> wrote in message
news:uui3c0594i7fvpfotodiivvcpak7ti7a1u@4ax.com...
> Video editing on a laptop, is it feasible, and what should I look for?
>
> I need to buy a computer to edit a video documentary and it would be
> easier if I could use a laptop. This will be my first documentary and
> I'm still not sure what software or hardware that I'll use?
> I've been reading about real-time pci editing cards such as the Matrox
> RT.X10(0) and wondering how useful such a card would be? If they make
> the editing process much quicker and intuitive, then I'll forgo the
> convenience of a laptop and build myself a desktop.
>
> If I do go for a laptop then I'm considering a Pentium M or Athlon 64
> based unit. Any ideas on which of these would be more suitable for
> video editing? I don't want a P4 based machine as I'd like a lower
> power CPU for the usual reasons.
> I'd basically like a laptop that can run cool, quiet & long from the
> battery, but can still kick ass when running at full speed from the
> mains. An Athlon XP-M is another option to as they are fairly low
> power.
>
> In many reviews that I've read of laptops, it's not clear whether the
> benchmarks are done from battery power, with the associated loss of
> performance. I'm only interested in the video editing performance
> when utilising the full system performance from the mains.
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> Love
>
> Crow

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.production,rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Thanks All,

Thanks for the heads up on the difference between 4 and 6 pin firewire
cables Joe as I'm new to Firewire. I'm going to pass on Macs as I
have enough to learn with video editing, without learning a new OS.
OS-X is tempting though.

Cari, what advantage does Windows XP Media Center edition offer for
video editing? They are a bit thin on the ground and probably
expensive if the desktop versions are indicative.

Love

Crow

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.production,rec.video.desktop (More info?)

"Crow" <crow@vacionido.fslife.co.uk> wrote in message
news:qnu6c0lp0chofjb7o9nmnlrdq6895aacsp@4ax.com...
> Thanks All,
>
> Thanks for the heads up on the difference between 4 and 6 pin firewire
> cables Joe as I'm new to Firewire. I'm going to pass on Macs as I
> have enough to learn with video editing, without learning a new OS.
> OS-X is tempting though.
>
> Cari, what advantage does Windows XP Media Center edition offer for
> video editing? They are a bit thin on the ground and probably
> expensive if the desktop versions are indicative.
>
> Love
>
> Crow


Zero reason for Media Center.

Do get Sony Vegas 5. I can master it in minutes. I couldn't figure out how
to use Final Cut Pro which is pretty close to Premiere Pro.

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.production,rec.video.desktop (More info?)

>Zero reason for Media Center.
>
>Do get Sony Vegas 5. I can master it in minutes. I couldn't figure out how
>to use Final Cut Pro which is pretty close to Premiere Pro.
>

Thanks Leo,

I have been reading reviews of Premiere Pro, which make it sound
daunting to a beginner. I'll look into Vegas.

Love

Crow

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.production,rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Not in any order.

* www.apple.com
Apple G4 notebook + Final Cut Pro

Tried & true. Works, Cold Mountain was recently done with Apples.

Killer price for the notebook and software easily equals a system
that will exceed the $3000-4000 price range immediately.

* http://emachines.com/products/prod [...] ines_M6809
eMachines M6809 + Your choice of video editor. (here, my choice goes to
Vegas Video -- solid as a rock, many happy wedding videos come out fine,
and super-easy to learn. There's a good reason Sony bought Vegas Video
from Sonic Foundry vs. the, IMO, lesser Avid/Premiere/etc. products.
After all, it's not like Sony doesn't have enough money to buy all of
Avid or Adobe & their products if they wanted to....)

One of the fastest and most powerful laptops on this planet, it
kills almost anything that isn't running an Athlon 64-bit processor, and
definitely everything else out there at this price or lower.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1537028,00.asp
March 2004 review says "We expect others to follow suit, but for
now the M6807 can boast the ==best performance scores of any notebook==
we've tested to date."

Yes, you can find faster, but not at the ~$1600 price this baby
sells for at Bestbuy.com
For under $2000, you can have a system that will nuke an Apple G4
notebook off the planet, and run rings around other lesser notebooks
while laughing to the bank with your savings. (or put the difference
into a nice 3CCD camcorder)

One of the better rated notebooks on cnet.com by users:
http://reviews.cnet.com/eMachines_ [...] ml?tag=tab

* http://www.1beyond.com/products/34 [...] ch=laptops
http://www.discountlaptops.com/ind [...] type=sager
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/pr [...] l=en&s=dhs

1Beyond DV Pro 3417, Sager 17" 8790 series, Dell XPS

Okay, who else has a 3.4Ghz P4 CPU in a 17" widescreen notebook with
dual HDs or a single HD + TV tuner option, or a brand-name? These
notebook makers have always had unique options, and they seriously pack
a lot of computing into a notebook (more like luggable PC given their
10lbs weight)

However, given their heavy weight, high price (usually $2400-3000+),
and hot processor, do they really run faster than the eMachines killer?

Nope: eg. Dell XPS 3.4Ghz
Winstone 2004: 17.1
Multimedia : 25.8
3DMark 2003 : 2489

eg. eMachines M6807 Athlon 64 3000+ (the latest M6809 has an
even faster 3200+ processor)
Winstone 2004: 19.7
Multimedia : 23.7
3dMark 2003 : 2451 (M6805 model)
3dMark 2001 : 9067

That said, the Athlon 64 processor is an excellent CPU and the
eMachines notebook at $1600 is a super bargain vs. the $2400+
alternatives which don't run significantly faster, if at all.

* Sony A series (17" LCD monsters w/TV tuner), GRT series (15/16" w/TV
tuner), TR Series (10", 3.1lbs)

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/IN [...] s&Dept=cpu

Here, you've got some of the juiciest screens found on a notebook
(those XBrite screen models are stunning!), built-in TV tuners on the A
& GRT series, crazy things like some of the first models out with a 2Ghz
Pentium M processor (A series, $600 option), standard Sony
video/photo/music editing software & DV compatibility (almost for sure
these notebooks will work fine with their Vegas Video video editing
software), and the pure coolness of having something to talk about when
visitors come.

TR series along with the Fujitsu P5000 series
(http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P5)
are among the lightest all-in-one ~3lbs 1Ghz P-M notebooks you can buy
today, and certain light and easy on any lap for hours of video editing.

Models with built-in DVD burners make them the lightest DVD burning
notebooks on the planet. Let's you say, "here, why don't I whip out my
3lbs baby and show you my latest 2 hour movie. want a copy, here, let
me burn a DVD now." But at half the speed of the above, definitely a
slower choice.

-------------------------------

As for cool & quite & long, forget it! No such thing unless you
want a slow notebook. Sadly, none of these super-fast notebooks will
give you these features, so you'll have to consider a balanced tradeoff
between long battery life (usually heavy and/or slow), quiet (usually
light and/or slow), and cool (say what?!? you don't even want to put an
Apple on a fluffy fleece bedspread nowadays!).

Here's what I'd say, unless you're gonna keep the baby on your lap
for long periods at a time, it's gonna be on a desk. So don't worry
about the cool part. Battery? Tough trade-off between fast performance
and slower processor, so you decide. Quite - they've almost all got
fans in them nowadays, so don't bother.

Finally, unless you've got the BudgetFromGod, you can't beat the
eMachines M6809 for performance, specs, and useability for the task at
$1600. You can easily spend the difference for a nice 3CCD DV
Camcorder, a trip to Europe for a week, etc. and match the output from
the other notebooks easily with less money spent.

My pick? eMachines M6809 + Vegas Video (esp. at the $249.99 buy
it now price they've got it on ebay.com for a new, unopened package
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.d [...] Name=WDVW)

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.production,rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Crow wrote:
> Video editing on a laptop, is it feasible, and what should I look for?
>
> I need to buy a computer to edit a video documentary and it would be
> easier if I could use a laptop. This will be my first documentary and
> I'm still not sure what software or hardware that I'll use?
> I've been reading about real-time pci editing cards such as the Matrox
> RT.X10(0) and wondering how useful such a card would be? If they make
> the editing process much quicker and intuitive, then I'll forgo the
> convenience of a laptop and build myself a desktop.
>
> If I do go for a laptop then I'm considering a Pentium M or Athlon 64
> based unit. Any ideas on which of these would be more suitable for
> video editing? I don't want a P4 based machine as I'd like a lower
> power CPU for the usual reasons.
> I'd basically like a laptop that can run cool, quiet & long from the
> battery, but can still kick ass when running at full speed from the
> mains. An Athlon XP-M is another option to as they are fairly low
> power.
>
> In many reviews that I've read of laptops, it's not clear whether the
> benchmarks are done from battery power, with the associated loss of
> performance. I'm only interested in the video editing performance
> when utilising the full system performance from the mains.
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> Love
>
> Crow


One word:

Dell.

marvel

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.production,rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Crow wrote:

> Thanks All,
>
> Thanks for the heads up on the difference between 4 and 6 pin firewire
> cables Joe as I'm new to Firewire. I'm going to pass on Macs as I
> have enough to learn with video editing, without learning a new OS.
> OS-X is tempting though.
>
> Cari, what advantage does Windows XP Media Center edition offer for
> video editing? They are a bit thin on the ground and probably
> expensive if the desktop versions are indicative.
>
> Love
>
> Crow


One thing about video editing: it's boring as hell -- and monstrously
time-consuming. Screenwriting is a lot more interesting. If you have a
creative mind, you'll be wishing you were doing something else. And
stick with a windows machine, there's no longer any significant
trade-off between it and a mac. Also, a laptop is a better investment --
you're mobile with a laptop. One thing about a laptop, though -- you'll
rarely use it on battery.

I bought a laptop two years ago, run my business from it, and now wonder
why anyone would buy a desk model. There has been nothing -- absolutely
nothing -- that I haven't been able to do with it. And yes, you'll need
an external drive -- so what? They're dirt cheap these days and plug
right in.

Finally, don't go bouncing around from editing system to editing system,
the way I did. Pick one and stay with it. Basically, they're all the same.

My plan for make a great indie is this: I'll shoot it and let some slob
who doesn't have a social life edit it.

marvel

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.production,rec.video.desktop (More info?)

I'm going to buy a combo FireWire & USB 2.0 PCMCIA card
(single PCMCIA card with *BOTH* USB 2.0 & Firewire ports)
for my 2.4 Celeron notebook. I want to use this card for
editing video.

The plan:

Plug an external 7200 RPM hard drive into the PCMCIA card's
USB 2.0 port and designate this *external* hard drive as the
video capture drive in Premiere Pro. Simultaneously plug in
my digital camcorder into the same PCMCIA card's 1394 FireWire
port and tell the capture program to start capturing video.

Would this exceed the maximum PCMCIA bandwidth by requiring
the card to simultaneously take in 3.6 Mb per second through
it's Firewire port while outputing the 3.6 Mb per second
through the USB 2.0 port to the capture drive?
Causing dropped frames?

Anybody try this before? Any advice appreciated.

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.production,rec.video.desktop (More info?)

On Tue, 08 Jun 2004 07:50:02 GMT, Prof Marvel
<garee_remove_@cinci.rr.com> wrote:

>
>
>One thing about video editing: it's boring as hell -- and monstrously
>time-consuming. Screenwriting is a lot more interesting. If you have a
>creative mind, you'll be wishing you were doing something else. And
>stick with a windows machine, there's no longer any significant
>trade-off between it and a mac. Also, a laptop is a better investment --
>you're mobile with a laptop. One thing about a laptop, though -- you'll
>rarely use it on battery.

not true. Editing and compositing (more) can be extremely interesting
and creative, unless you're talking about your wedding videos.


>I bought a laptop two years ago, run my business from it, and now wonder
>why anyone would buy a desk model. There has been nothing -- absolutely
>nothing -- that I haven't been able to do with it. And yes, you'll need
>an external drive -- so what? They're dirt cheap these days and plug
>right in.

I can upgrade my desk model with new drives, memory and other goodies
which you can't with your laptop. With most laptops.. what you get is
what you get... no room for upgrades. As for dirt cheap.. most PC
parts are dirt cheap these days. It's cheaper to make a frankenstien
PC than it is to buy a laptop. I'd recommend it.



>Finally, don't go bouncing around from editing system to editing system,
>the way I did. Pick one and stay with it. Basically, they're all the same.

Not true... some lose functionality while others gain with each new
release. Some are no longer supported or being developed so you
naturally have to bounce to another (ie. Edit*).

>My plan for make a great indie is this: I'll shoot it and let some slob
>who doesn't have a social life edit it.

Without the "slob" your fat ungreatful ass would never have a
completed film and you'd be peddling your script to customers at your
job in McDonalds while the editor is working on another film. Carry
on, misguided moron... carry on. I'll have a combo #3 with fries,
monkey nuts.

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.production,rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Stop it Marvel, you're scaring me with the stuff on editing :

I figure the editing though, is a completely integral part of my
project, and I really don't see how anyone else could do that for me?
For me the documentary will only take shape in the editing. If I
don't do it, then it ceases to be my film. On other projects the
mileage may vary of course.

Well the only reason I'm considering NOT buying a laptop, is
coincidentally because of the editing. I've been hearing good things
about the Matrox RT.X10/0 as being very useful in speeding up the
editing process, due to real-time full quality previewing. They are
PCI cards and I don't know if there's an equivalent type of device
available for laptops?

Your advice on sticking with one editing system makes a lot of sense.
I guess I could download demos of the major software available and see
which one seems the friendliest. The only problem is sometimes you
need to work with something quite a while to find it's hidden depths
and flaws. Vegas 5 sounds an interesting option.

Love

Crow

>One thing about video editing: it's boring as hell -- and monstrously
>time-consuming. Screenwriting is a lot more interesting. If you have a
>creative mind, you'll be wishing you were doing something else. And
>stick with a windows machine, there's no longer any significant
>trade-off between it and a mac. Also, a laptop is a better investment --
>you're mobile with a laptop. One thing about a laptop, though -- you'll
>rarely use it on battery.
>
>I bought a laptop two years ago, run my business from it, and now wonder
>why anyone would buy a desk model. There has been nothing -- absolutely
>nothing -- that I haven't been able to do with it. And yes, you'll need
>an external drive -- so what? They're dirt cheap these days and plug
>right in.
>
>Finally, don't go bouncing around from editing system to editing system,
>the way I did. Pick one and stay with it. Basically, they're all the same.
>
>My plan for make a great indie is this: I'll shoot it and let some slob
>who doesn't have a social life edit it.
>
> marvel

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.production,rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Thanks David,

I neglected to specify that I live in Holland, so at least some of
your options are not available to me. You've given me some food for
thought though.

Love

Crow

On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 18:26:48 -0700, David Chien <chiendh@uci.edu>
wrote:
>Not in any order.
>
>* www.apple.com
>Apple G4 notebook + Final Cut Pro
>
> Tried & true. Works, Cold Mountain was recently done with Apples.
>
> Killer price for the notebook and software easily equals a system
>that will exceed the $3000-4000 price range immediately.
>
>* http://emachines.com/products/prod [...] ines_M6809
>eMachines M6809 + Your choice of video editor. (here, my choice goes to
>Vegas Video -- solid as a rock, many happy wedding videos come out fine,
>and super-easy to learn. There's a good reason Sony bought Vegas Video
>from Sonic Foundry vs. the, IMO, lesser Avid/Premiere/etc. products.
>After all, it's not like Sony doesn't have enough money to buy all of
>Avid or Adobe & their products if they wanted to....)
>
> One of the fastest and most powerful laptops on this planet, it
>kills almost anything that isn't running an Athlon 64-bit processor, and
>definitely everything else out there at this price or lower.
>
> http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1537028,00.asp
> March 2004 review says "We expect others to follow suit, but for
>now the M6807 can boast the ==best performance scores of any notebook==
>we've tested to date."
>
> Yes, you can find faster, but not at the ~$1600 price this baby
>sells for at Bestbuy.com
> For under $2000, you can have a system that will nuke an Apple G4
>notebook off the planet, and run rings around other lesser notebooks
>while laughing to the bank with your savings. (or put the difference
>into a nice 3CCD camcorder)
>
> One of the better rated notebooks on cnet.com by users:
>http://reviews.cnet.com/eMachines_M6000_series/4852-3121_7-30674686.html?tag=tab
>
>* http://www.1beyond.com/products/34 [...] ch=laptops
>http://www.discountlaptops.com/index.php?section=catagory&include_type=sager
>http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/featured_notebook_od?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
>
> 1Beyond DV Pro 3417, Sager 17" 8790 series, Dell XPS
>
> Okay, who else has a 3.4Ghz P4 CPU in a 17" widescreen notebook with
>dual HDs or a single HD + TV tuner option, or a brand-name? These
>notebook makers have always had unique options, and they seriously pack
>a lot of computing into a notebook (more like luggable PC given their
>10lbs weight)
>
> However, given their heavy weight, high price (usually $2400-3000+),
>and hot processor, do they really run faster than the eMachines killer?
>
> Nope: eg. Dell XPS 3.4Ghz
> Winstone 2004: 17.1
> Multimedia : 25.8
> 3DMark 2003 : 2489
>
> eg. eMachines M6807 Athlon 64 3000+ (the latest M6809 has an
>even faster 3200+ processor)
> Winstone 2004: 19.7
> Multimedia : 23.7
> 3dMark 2003 : 2451 (M6805 model)
> 3dMark 2001 : 9067
>
> That said, the Athlon 64 processor is an excellent CPU and the
>eMachines notebook at $1600 is a super bargain vs. the $2400+
>alternatives which don't run significantly faster, if at all.
>
>* Sony A series (17" LCD monsters w/TV tuner), GRT series (15/16" w/TV
>tuner), TR Series (10", 3.1lbs)
>
>http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_BrowseCatalog-Start;sid==?CategoryName=cpu_VAIONotebookComputers&Dept=cpu
>
> Here, you've got some of the juiciest screens found on a notebook
>(those XBrite screen models are stunning!), built-in TV tuners on the A
>& GRT series, crazy things like some of the first models out with a 2Ghz
>Pentium M processor (A series, $600 option), standard Sony
>video/photo/music editing software & DV compatibility (almost for sure
>these notebooks will work fine with their Vegas Video video editing
>software), and the pure coolness of having something to talk about when
>visitors come.
>
> TR series along with the Fujitsu P5000 series
>(http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P5)
>are among the lightest all-in-one ~3lbs 1Ghz P-M notebooks you can buy
>today, and certain light and easy on any lap for hours of video editing.
>
> Models with built-in DVD burners make them the lightest DVD burning
>notebooks on the planet. Let's you say, "here, why don't I whip out my
>3lbs baby and show you my latest 2 hour movie. want a copy, here, let
>me burn a DVD now." But at half the speed of the above, definitely a
>slower choice.
>
>-------------------------------
>
> As for cool & quite & long, forget it! No such thing unless you
>want a slow notebook. Sadly, none of these super-fast notebooks will
>give you these features, so you'll have to consider a balanced tradeoff
>between long battery life (usually heavy and/or slow), quiet (usually
>light and/or slow), and cool (say what?!? you don't even want to put an
>Apple on a fluffy fleece bedspread nowadays!).
>
> Here's what I'd say, unless you're gonna keep the baby on your lap
>for long periods at a time, it's gonna be on a desk. So don't worry
>about the cool part. Battery? Tough trade-off between fast performance
>and slower processor, so you decide. Quite - they've almost all got
>fans in them nowadays, so don't bother.
>
> Finally, unless you've got the BudgetFromGod, you can't beat the
>eMachines M6809 for performance, specs, and useability for the task at
>$1600. You can easily spend the difference for a nice 3CCD DV
>Camcorder, a trip to Europe for a week, etc. and match the output from
>the other notebooks easily with less money spent.
>
> My pick? eMachines M6809 + Vegas Video (esp. at the $249.99 buy
>it now price they've got it on ebay.com for a new, unopened package
>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1251&item=3681124750&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW)

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.production,rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Jack Slopehead wrote:

> On Tue, 08 Jun 2004 07:50:02 GMT, Prof Marvel
> <garee_remove_@cinci.rr.com> wrote:
>
>
>>
>>One thing about video editing: it's boring as hell -- and monstrously
>>time-consuming. Screenwriting is a lot more interesting. If you have a
>>creative mind, you'll be wishing you were doing something else. And
>>stick with a windows machine, there's no longer any significant
>>trade-off between it and a mac. Also, a laptop is a better investment --
>>you're mobile with a laptop. One thing about a laptop, though -- you'll
>>rarely use it on battery.
>
>
> not true. Editing and compositing (more) can be extremely interesting
> and creative, unless you're talking about your wedding videos.
>
>
>
>>I bought a laptop two years ago, run my business from it, and now wonder
>>why anyone would buy a desk model. There has been nothing -- absolutely
>>nothing -- that I haven't been able to do with it. And yes, you'll need
>>an external drive -- so what? They're dirt cheap these da