Re: P2 cards are 100% "Media". The pure definition of Media supports that

If everyone will visit the Panasonic website (hit the P2 logo at the top left corner) and read up on the info Panasonic is providing for P2 cameras and vtr's etc you will clearly see that the intended market is News gathering. P2 is the perfect application for ENG given the speed and short life span of the material. FYI I only saw Window's PC applications no Mac based options for the editing workflow.

"Shooter" brings up an important factor regarding the immediate need for a producer to walk away with tapes in hand. In the world of non news gathering where the material is needed for long term purposes it is impossible to believe that a producer would currently pay a steep price for the P2 media when tape is still a economical option. In addition no freelancer will be willing to invest in P2 media as a rental item given the fact he may or may not have the card returned to him in time to allow for another "recording rental". The cost of investment for the P2 media must rest with the producer not the crew or rental house just like with tape media. Anyone who has real world experience with producers will relate to exactly what I am referring to. Those who do have not real world experience with producers because they spend their time behind a test bench reading brochures will never understand the point I bring up.

I don't doubt that once the P2 media cost drops to under $30 to compete with XDCAM that an overwhelming majority of tape based user's will consider switching over.



Tony Salgado