What SACRIFICES do you make using Final Cut on a Mac Book Pro ?

Question

I have a somewhat similar question to one posted below...
(http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8156488&#8156488)
...but it seems like a broad question resulted in broad answers so let me pose it a different way.
I need a machine to handle HD video and I'm also considering a Mac Book Pro because of space considerations and the fact that it seems handy to be able to pick it up and take it to a coffee shop should need be.
But WHAT WILL I BE SACRIFICING as compared to an iMac or Mac Pro if I opt for portability? Will, say, renders take twice as long, crashes happen twice as often, etc.? Any Final Cut Pro users with both desk and laptop out there that could advise of the difference?
Thanks.
Message was edited by: dddddano

Answer 1

You are not sacrificing anything you can't deal with sacrificing. I have both systems, and the only drawback I have had yet is that you can't connect a laptop to a fiber network. But you can still connect through gigE. If SAN and distributed processing are not part of your workflow this doesn't concern you. The processor is a bit slower, but if you plan your time well you won't miss your deadlines.
There are not 8 processors in a MacPro. There are only 2 processors with 8 cores. A core is not an individual processor. But the MacBook Pro only has 1 dual core processor. So you have 6 less cores and 1 less processor. But the MBPro is still very fast. The DVD burner in the MacPro is faster, but the one in the MacBook Pro is a better drive. YOu can get a better graphics card in the MacPro, but if you're not doing graphics or 3d design the MacBook Pro will do wonderfully. An extra monitor makes the MacBook Pro just as easy to use as a tower but, like you said, you can unplug the monitor and take the computer with you, which is very convenient.
My recommendation is, relative to the criteria above, to get the laptop if you can only get one. Use the extra money to buy some accessories like a keyboard, mouse/tablet, monitor (Dell 2408 is a fantastic monitor and inexpensive), and a fast external hard drive. Lacie makes a nice drive called Little Big Disk and comes at 7200 RPM (necessary for video editing) and as large as 640GB in capacity. And it takes power from the Firewire 800 port. It also has eSATA, so with an express34 card you can get incredibly fast transfer rates.
The towers are great, but unless you need King Kong strength in your system, you're better off with the laptop.
Just my thoughts. I just sold my G5 'cause I haven't used it since I got the laptop. I have two MacPros and I usually just use them to add to my distributed processing. I do all my editing from the laptop.
Hope this helps.