Ness - 22 November 2005 12:48 AM

Dan Ashley - 19 November 2005 04:27 PM

Which iMac do you have? Fall 2005 G5? Earlier years G4? Speed? RAM?

Have you tried iMovie?

Thanks!

- Dan

If that Q was for me I have an iMac G5 “Rev. B”(June 2005)
1 gig ram

Yes, sorry for not being specific. Yes, the right person answered the question!

So you have an iMac and its plenty fast for video editing. But its a very recent iMac G5.

I do like the idea of snapping up a G5 iMac, but my baby sister in L.A. is saving up at the rate of about $100-$125 per month, and is not ready to jump on a refurb deal just yet. So we still need to figure out whether a G4 with a slower hard drive is too low end. Anybody out there do video editing with a G4 iBook?

Thank you, one and all!

- Dan Ashley, Chicago

I have with a 1Ghz TiBook. 60GB drive. Not an iBook but a slower machine, in the end, than the current iBooks. A larger drive cannot be more heavily recommended along with the purchase of an iBook. Try one of the Hitachi Travelstars. 7200RPM if she can swing it, but really most should do fine just aim for as large as reasonable. the Ideal would be the recent 120GB or faster 100GB drives.

Just did a quick check at OWC; the best deal there appears to be a Toshiba 100GB GAX w/16MB cache for 190ish. Apple has a BTO option as well for 100GB for $200; it’s probably the slower Seagate (which I have), or maybe a Fujitsu. the 120’s and 7200rpm 100’s appear to be floating at $300 right now.

The Apple BTO may actually be the best option since I’ve been inside an iBook, and while it’s doable, it’s a Huge PITA. Certainly much worse than my 17 was to get into, and while I don’t do this kindof thing for work I’m comfortable doing it.

Consider 80GB the absolute bargain basement minimum she will want. at 80GB she will likely have to make decisions about what she does/doesn’t put on the machine to maintain editing useability. at 60GB, it will potentially be video-editing only.

Dan Ashley - 22 November 2005 03:30 PM

I do like the idea of snapping up a G5 iMac, but my baby sister in L.A. is saving up at the rate of about $100-$125 per month, and is not ready to jump on a refurb deal just yet. So we still need to figure out whether a G4 with a slower hard drive is too low end. Anybody out there do video editing with a G4 iBook?

Thank you, one and all!

- Dan Ashley, Chicago

I used a g4 iBook in last year,
I used FCP 3
and iMovie on it and it did just fine

if it is light things the iBook is fine

But the iMac is so much better for it. Pick up one refurbished and it’s about the same price as the 12” iBook.