on 6/20/05 6:55 PM, Ansberry at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Wow! 2 posts in one night. That is a record for me. I usually lurk on > this list because there are so many more knowledgable people here than I am. > I am a neophyte digital video person and have been learning to convert > my family videos to DVDs on my old S900. I have been asking questions on a > forum called "videohelp.com". The people there have been extremely patient > and helpful to me. But the last time I asked a question over there, one > individual told me I need to invest in a "real" Mac. Not a "new" Mac, but a > "real" Mac. I figure that was a slam at the Umax computer. My S900 has > been a exceptional value, and my C600 did great before I got the S900. Is a > 9500 "real" Mac better than the S900? > > > Mike
Hi Mike: I seem to recall us having some dialog re: the digital video thing on this list before. Are you having any specific problems you've been unable to solve? IIRC, you have upgraded your S900 to a G4/400-450? and all the appropriate PCI cards to bring it up to about as far as it will go. You would have to do the same upgrades on a stock 9500/9600 to make it usable, and I've heard of people with those machines also having issues with digital video. The "Achilles' heel" of the Umax has been it's non-standard PCI slot configuration which has made it a challenge while adding/upgrading PCI cards (ie the top two slot preference that some cards have) but once you've worked around those, I can see no other advantage that the 9500 had. Like you, I've been converting old family videos to DVD using my upgraded S900. It has done the job admirably (I'm on DVD #5 now) and will continue to do so for the time being. The wall has been hit as far as software upgrades - we can only go as far as DVD Studio Pro 2 and Final Cut 3, as later versions need to see an AGP slot. Sure it's slow and clunky, but if we're just doing it as a hobby - whatever - you get the same quality output as someone with a skookum new dual processor G5! The comment that you need to invest a "real" Mac (but not a new Mac) is way off base - you'd be going backwards. As has been discussed on this list recently, there is <no> point in spending any more money on the older machines when you can pick up a Mac Mini at the prices they're going for. One limitation on the Mac Mini is that there's only one monitor output, but the most effective configuration for DV editing is to use an NTSC monitor connected to your Firewire camera/convertor to view DV output, so unless you have room on your desktop for <3> monitors, it's kind of a moot point. If you're really keen on upgrading but still on a budget, that's probably your best bang for the buck. I'll probably hold off investing any more money in hardware until we see the fruition of the new Intel/Apple collaboration. In the meantime, my trusty S900 will continue (knock on wood) to do all of the things I need it to do. -- Gregg -- SuperMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | Service & Replacement Parts [EMAIL PROTECTED] | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> SuperMacs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/supermacs/list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[email protected]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/supermacs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- iPod Accessories for Less at 1-800-iPOD.COM Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal www.1800ipod.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
