Mac minis and FCS
by Ben Holmes
on
Apr 15, 2006 at 7:38:06 pm
Hi all.
Just a cautionary tale - and one that has been touched on only tangentially in the forums.
I recently purchased an Intel Mac min (DuoCore 1.66) to use at home. Partly this was to transfer all my photos and music to - but mostly it was so I could run some pro apps on another system (particularly DVD Studio Pro builds) at home.
Now, I know a mini ain't no G5, but they've always done the job - right? And a dual 1.66 machine that can run builds and renders seemed like a useful thing to have knocking around. In the UK, it cost me
Re: Mac minis and FCS by Erik Lindahl on Apr 15, 2006 at 8:03:13 pm
I reckon this is one of the strangest problems Apple has done for it self. I just don't get how they can be so stupid. Perhaps this is temporary untill the next version av Final Cut Studio comes? We can all hope
Re: Mac minis and FCS by Ben Holmes on Apr 15, 2006 at 8:09:45 pm
I fear this is merely the shape of things to come. Now you can purchase a low end system easily powerful enough to run Pro Apps, Apple need to find another reason to make you spend $2000.
Now I've gotten all cynical. British habit. Although I expect the new iBook (MacBook) won't run it either. Oops.
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS and FCP specialists
Current Mac systems All Dual 2.7Ghz with Kona 2 and Digital Voodoo cards, 6Gb Ram, Sapphire, SCSI320 Medea and Huge Arrays.
FCP projects include Sky TV coverage of the Ryder Cup and US Open Golf - Live OB specialists. Edit/slomo vehicle.
www.editec.co.uk
Re: Mac minis and FCS by Ben Holmes on Apr 15, 2006 at 10:27:36 pm
Can't access it Tom - I'm not registered with LAFCPUG and they don't seem to be in a hurry to send me a password. I assume it's something else I should have read before I bought "the little box that won't?"
BTW - Bought my Mac Mini on the 12th March. Apple posted a kb article on the 14th of March stating that Mac Minis do not meet the required specs. Think this might qualify me for a refund?
Ben
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS and FCP specialists
Current Mac systems All Dual 2.7Ghz with Kona 2 and Digital Voodoo cards, 6Gb Ram, Sapphire, SCSI320 Medea and Huge Arrays.
FCP projects include Sky TV coverage of the Ryder Cup and US Open Golf - Live OB specialists. Edit/slomo vehicle.
www.editec.co.uk
Re: Mac minis and FCS by Tom Wolsky on Apr 15, 2006 at 11:09:13 pm
Quite the contrary. Someone who says he's running the UB versions of FCP and Motion and the other apps without problem. I wonder if this is a PAL/NTSC thing. He is only doing DV of course.
All the best,
Tom
Author: "Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials" and "Final Cut Express 2 Editing Workshop" Class on Demand "Complete Training for FCP5" DVD
Re: Mac minis and FCS by Peter Wiggins on Apr 16, 2006 at 1:25:09 am
[Ben Holmes]"Was I stupid to think I could run an app that costs more than the system running it?"
Not stupid, but a bit of awareness about how the proapps work might have helped.
It is no secret that the power of FCP, Motion & other apps is going to migrate to the the GPU, witness Gelato.
Peter
Editing the World Championship Snooker
on FCP for the BBC
Re: Mac minis and FCS by Ben Holmes on Apr 17, 2006 at 12:13:52 am
Has anyone actually installed and run FCP 5.1 on a mini? Can't get our own copy until our disks return from abroad to be sent back to Apple. I thought this was a done deal - It seems I have some hope. Not interested in running Motion anyway....
Thanks anyway. let you know when I know, will investigate more.
Ben
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS and FCP specialists
Current Mac systems All Dual 2.7Ghz with Kona 2 and Digital Voodoo cards, 6Gb Ram, Sapphire, SCSI320 Medea and Huge Arrays.
FCP projects include Sky TV coverage of the Ryder Cup and US Open Golf - Live OB specialists. Edit/slomo vehicle.
www.editec.co.uk
Re: Mac minis and FCS by Ben Holmes on Apr 17, 2006 at 12:20:23 pm
Apple have replied - on the Easter holiday in the UK, which has restored my faith (well, it is Easter) a little.
Apple Regent Street:
Dear Ben,
Thank you for your enquiry. To clarify currently the various pro software is available in Universal form to support Intel based machines. Apples system requirements state the system requirements for the complete Studio suite. As Motion is part of this and has specific graphics card requirements the Mac Mini is unsupported. This has always been the case with all Mac mini models. Admittedly it is not clear as it could be on the website, but the other elements will install and run on the current Mac Mini including Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro which you require. Please refer to the following tech document:
This document is not the same one I have seen links to previously, which was obviously considered vague or misleading by many.
Hope this clears things up - I have no interest in running Motion on my system so I'm a happy Easter bunny.
BTW Pete - what's Gelato? Wow - must spend MORE time on the web instead of working.....
Ben
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS and FCP specialists
Current Mac systems All Dual 2.7Ghz with Kona 2 and Digital Voodoo cards, 6Gb Ram, Sapphire, SCSI320 Medea and Huge Arrays.
FCP projects include Sky TV coverage of the Ryder Cup and US Open Golf - Live OB specialists. Edit/slomo vehicle.
www.editec.co.uk
Re: Mac minis and FCS by Ben Holmes on Apr 17, 2006 at 11:17:14 pm
Wacky. Must have been a heavy night in the product naming department. What's wrong with calling it the X1600 or Geforce 5600XT?
Can't wait for the Cornetto.
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS and FCP specialists
Current Mac systems All Dual 2.7Ghz with Kona 2 and Digital Voodoo cards, 6Gb Ram, Sapphire, SCSI320 Medea and Huge Arrays.
FCP projects include Sky TV coverage of the Ryder Cup and US Open Golf - Live OB specialists. Edit/slomo vehicle.
www.editec.co.uk
