What type of Mac do I need please?

Question

Hi ,
I would like some advice on the type of Mac and Spec I need please for my business. I am unsure about whether I should get a macbook pro, imac or desktop mac pro. Most computer jargon goes straight over my head so please if you answer use small non technical words!!!
This is what I need the computer for:
1. Top quality Video Editing - Final Cut Pro. I will be using the computer for a lot of Video Editing. I need a computer that is capable of rendering video at fast speeds without compromising the performance too much.
2. Multi-tasking - I want to be able to be working on photoshop, whilst encoding or compressing video, downloading something from the web and running a few programmes at the same time such as InDesign etc
3. Disk Space - I will have a lot of video content (raw footage and edited that I need to store) but having said that, I'm guessing a slight upgrade to a 2TB hard drive would do.
4. My business works with the latest Online Games such as World of Warcraft and so the Graphics Cards / Memory / Processor Speeds needs to be able to run these online MMORPGs at the optimal speeds, frame rates etc
That is pretty much it. I am unsure about what type of Mac computer to get. My budget is tops £5k including VAT but I'd prefer not to spend that if I don't need to.....I just want a computer (27 inch screen) that can do all the above comfortably.
Thanks very much for any help that is offered, much appreciated,

Answer 1

MHz and GHz matter.
Also, dual processor has overhead.
6-core single processor is the equal or better and optimized even to an 8-core (which would be 2.93GHz and BTO$)
Blame Apple for "hiding" the 6-core.
Poor web site design: have a page for single processor configurations, not "Quad-core models" where there is BTO 3.33GHz for $1200 extra. Buy your own 2.8 and buy W3680 $600, then sell the 2.8, and you walk away with $900 saved.
Buy the Special (not avail in UK) 2.8 for US$2119 and upgrade processor in under hour.
Refurbished Mac Pro 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon - Apple Store (U.S.)
Offer a dual processor 12-core @ 3.33GHz for the high end most demanding (and US$7.5K or more?)
That is what MPG and OWC Mac Pro Turnkey Program can do. And MPG does sell custom configs configured and tested.
I would never recommend 8-core at this point. You spend $6200 for 2.93GHz x 8, ($2500 more than 6-core and still 400MHz slower per core);  2.4GHz is a joke, and even the 2.66 US$5000 is not even close! Nope.
Build a workstation, that's another matter and gets interesting if your primary apps and OS run on Windows.