Vegas on the MacBook Pro...

Cheno wrote on 6/22/2006, 12:07 AM
Well my conclusions aren't fully tested but initial thoughts are this...

Very impressed.

I picked up a MacBook Pro 2.0 Core Duo, 1 gig of Ram, 128 meg video card, 80 gig 5400 SATA.

Partitioned 10 gig NTFS primarily for Vegas. Everything else I need I can run on OSX but... I'm so impressed by the performance of XP on this machine.

Running the DualCoreRenderTest on the VASST site, here are my first two test results. Remember this is a test that brought many a system to it's knees begging for mercy. :)

Test #1 - Default render to system hard drive (5400 SATA / Fujitsu drive) - RAM preview set at its highest - 752mb available. - Render time of file - 41:01

Test #2 - Default render to Seagate 7200 IDE external via firewire - RAM preview set to highest - 752 mb available - Render time of file - 44:43

This is right after installing XP and getting Vegas on the machine. Nothing else running in the background. I figured that the external drive would be faster but the option of SATA vs. IDE may even make the rpm of the drive not such a big deal in this case. Plenty more testing to run though. This is just the tip o' the iceberg.

I'll keep posting or if you have questions on the machine itself, feel free to email me at chenopup at gmail dot com - So far after a day of XP on this, I'm pretty sold on the system as an XP laptop replacement. The dual OS option was a must for me and so far, I'm happy with the choice. More to come...

cheno

Comments

Edward wrote on 6/22/2006, 2:54 AM
I'm wondering if it's possible to run Vegas on the new iMacs. If so, would you need aja or can you still use decklink? We're looking to update my PC here, and I'm very interested in the Boot Camp option. If not, it's probably an HP for me. Any thoughts?
Cheno wrote on 6/22/2006, 7:41 AM
Remember that with Vegas, even on the macbook pro, you're still running in XP so it's not like you're running a Mac at all. AJA has their new Xena cards which are designed for XP but only appear to currently support Adobe products and Eyeon Fusion. I would beg to say though that there are less problems with the Blackmagic line than the AJA line based on others I know using those cards on either platform.

I have yet to run XP on an iMac but will be doing here in the next month or so. I do know that it's been done. How Vegas runs on XP on a desktop mactel is still a bit in the dark however I can't believe the performance wouldn't be a bit better than my results when comparing a mobile proc to a desktop. Also Bootcamp is still in Beta so once it becomes part of the next OSX upgrade, I'm sure you'll even see less and less problems (if there are any as a result of Bootcamp)

Pretty cool all around and worth at least looking into.

cheno
Edward wrote on 6/22/2006, 6:37 PM
yes indeed. thanks cheno
rmack350 wrote on 6/22/2006, 6:47 PM
Hey Cheno, maybe you can clear up a question I have.

I'm assuming that "bootcamp" is a boot loader (like Lilo or Grub in Linux) and that it just lets you choose which system you boot from.

I suppose that bootcamp has a decent interface to configure your boot options but I can't imagine that it has any bearing on anything once an OS loads up.

The killer feature seems to me to be that you can have one system that'll run either OS. The hardware's available now so I don't see how there'd be anything special about the Apple build, it's just the fact that you can travel with a laptop and have both OS's available. Does that sound right?

Rob Mack
Chienworks wrote on 6/22/2006, 6:53 PM
Rob, yeah, that's about right. And as far as i see it, there's really not a huge advantage in being able to run the Mac OS. *shrug*
Spot|DSE wrote on 6/22/2006, 7:03 PM
The advantage is for those of us that want to use Soundtrack, Motion, Shake, FCS, and particularly, DVD Studio Pro, and not have to carry around two notebooks anymore. My shoulders are exceptionally grateful for BootCamp and the MacBookPro. Faster than any laptop I've seen out yet.
Coursedesign wrote on 6/22/2006, 8:09 PM
Amen on that, and also on DVD Studio Pro. Its ability to create truly interactive DVDs (for training programs) got my attention. I've always wanted to send people around hidden chapters on a DVD based on how many answers they peg on a quiz.

Btw, Parallels Workstation is now fully released. Allows totally simultaneous running of Win XP and OS X, and has an optional compressor that can compress the XP installation substantially to save hard disk space. There doesn't seem to be much of a performance penalty either.

Most unusual widget on OS X? One that shows the lowest gas prices in say a 10-mile radius around your zipcode.... Works very well for us cheapskates!
Cheno wrote on 6/22/2006, 9:14 PM
Like Spot, I'm greatful for the battery life and weight. Plus the fan doesn't just kick on while idle like my P4 notebook has done. This macbook pro runs very, very well.

Course,

Are you running Parallels? I have seen it in action but have heard that's it's still pretty buggy which is why I didn't go that route. In addition to the install compression, Parallels shifts OS's with hotkeys, eliminating the need for a complete reboot like Bootcamp. (for those that care :) )

Chienworks,

Advantages to running OS besides those already mentioned.. one word "Microsoft" - Word on the mac runs circles around Word on a PC IMO. The ability to go right to pdf without third party plug-in is righteous as well. Now with Shake at $500 - I'm excited to have that kind of compositing muscle on the same machine as my Vegas :) -

cheno
Edward wrote on 6/23/2006, 2:31 AM
thing that sux for me is that i don't think my boss will approve a laptop for my workstation. but i personally will get it.

i bought a compaq p4 three years ago for all my sony media needs. it crashed on me, lost all my files, and sound card is broken. i gave it to my cousin to fix, it hasn't compaq.

somehow i don't care.
jkrepner wrote on 6/23/2006, 7:20 AM
You know, the MacBook is pretty affordable all things considered. At the day job, I just ordered a brand new Dell Latitude D820 (dual core centrino) with a 15.4" widescreen and 2GB of RAM. It's one of their top of the line machines and cost about $2600. The MacBook with 2GB of ram is only a couple of hundred more and has a 17" widescreen (and the above mentioned benefits.)



jkrepner wrote on 6/23/2006, 7:31 AM
Question:

Is Intel's Core Duo the same chip as the Centrino Duo? Or is it a Pentium vs. Celeron sort of deal with the latter being dumded down a bit?

Thanks.

Spot|DSE wrote on 6/23/2006, 7:53 AM
It's a different CPU.
One thing to be aware of, BTW, is even tho it's possible ot get a 17" display, it's not possible to get the same resolutions that you can get with the 17" PC laptops. The MacBookPro can't go higher than 1600, which is a bit of a drag if you're doing 1080 media. Still looks great tho
p@mast3rs wrote on 6/23/2006, 8:09 AM
I hate you all for making me want one of these as badly as I do an HDV cam. I could definitely expand my teachings with something like this not to mention my productivity.
Coursedesign wrote on 6/23/2006, 8:21 AM
1680x1050 native resolution on the LCD.

If you connect an external 30" LCD, you get full 2560x1600 though.


A 15.4" MacBook Pro can be had for $1800 or less, add $140 for a Corsair 1GB stick to get 1.5GB (or add two sticks...)

jkrepner wrote on 6/23/2006, 8:24 AM
Small world! I'm think the same thing. One could get an HVR-A1U, a powermac pro, and an external drive (for the price of a Z1U) and pretty much cut HD in the classroom, edit room, or a poolside patio. I keep telling myself that I can do that now on my old P4 laptop and that a sexy laptop won't make me any more productive (or sexy).

It's Friday.


p@mast3rs wrote on 6/23/2006, 8:46 AM
The hard thing for me is actually convincing our school or district that these dual OS platforms would be beneficial especially with vudget cuts etc.. all over the education community.

I wish I could call Apple and have them donate or provide one so I can show by example instead of saying "I think it would be beneficial." Has Apple ever done that?
jkrepner wrote on 6/23/2006, 9:03 AM
They might. My friend works at a college here in maryland as a film/video dept program director and he might know something (or an Apple rep) that could help. I'll ask him.

The thing his school (and Apple) is pushing is for students to buy their own Mac laptops. It makes sense, actually. Students buy laptops (which they keep and are always up-to-date) and the school buys the software, the cameras, the video decks, monitors, etc. The school buys the long term stuff and the students buy most recent equipment.

Cheno wrote on 6/23/2006, 12:15 PM
Patrick,

I'm sure an apple rep in your are would bring you anything you wanted to look at. Problem is that Apple doesn't officially support XP so you most likely will have to find reseller and not official apple store / reps to show you xp running on the platform.

I don't know any school that isn't dealing with budget cuts. My take? Screw state funding and look for private donations to get what you need.

cheno
p@mast3rs wrote on 6/23/2006, 12:59 PM
Cheno,

I started to look into private funding for the broadcast program next year and was emphatically told that I couldnt do it because EVERYONE in the district has to use the same software. I offered to bring in my own laptop with Vegas to let the students learn to cut on and was told I couldnt do that because its against district policy to bring personal items like that to the classroom.

I suggested that if I was able to get some licenses donated if that would be ok and was told the same thing. I thought it shouldnt especially if it was free but that doesnt seem to make a difference to anyone. Just seems like so much red tape anymore.
rmack350 wrote on 6/23/2006, 6:06 PM
Kelly,

Before reading other points I just want to clarify what I'm wondering.

I realize that having a machine available that can run some Mac specific apps is worthwhile. If your budget is such that you can only spring for one computer to run either OS, then bootcamp, or some other boot loader, is a great thing. And definitely if you're traveling light then a Mac laptop that can also run Windows is a good lightweight way to go.

But this is all standard hardware in the Wintel Mac, and you're running Vegas in Windows on that hardware. So is there really anything specific to the system that would make it scream more than it would on a system that wasn't made by Apple?

The advantage of having a dual boot machine falls apart if you could have had two machines running at the same time, but dual booting is good when money, space, or weight are more important than your time spent rebooting.

Rob Mack

Spot|DSE wrote on 6/23/2006, 10:17 PM
Sorry... to me, the additional 80 pixels don't mean much. ;-)
For me, the point of carrying around a laptop is because I can't carry around a "real" computer. If I could carry around a desktop system, I would, because then I'd get to have my BMD card too.
[r]Evolution wrote on 6/25/2006, 2:33 AM
With Parrellels Desktop there is NO NEED TO REBOOT. you can 'Switch' between the 2 OS's.

Of course you are still 'Switching' so essentially you are only accessing 1 OS at a time.

I would definitely be down with Editing/Rendering on Vegas while building a DVD in DVDSP... on the Same Workstation... at the Same Time.

Would be really cool to have Apps from the 2 OS's being able to 'Talk' and Share Hardware. (soundcards, videocards, etc) I'm thinking moreso for syncing MIDI/VSTi's across platforms but would be very beneficial for Video too.
rmack350 wrote on 6/25/2006, 11:38 PM
At 50 dollars, it doesn't seem like it'd be a hardship to run it, and if you're writing files to a space that both systems can use then it ought o be pretty convenient. Being able to run a Linux distro in a window would be handy as well.

Rob Mack
FullCircle wrote on 6/26/2006, 12:57 PM
I have to admit I bought a Macbook Pro last saturday. And I really felt like I betrayed my loyal friend Vegas.

That's why I'm very happy to read this thread. I need Final Cut Pro as a new way to find jobs (not that Vegas ever let me down, and I will not let Vegas down either now..). I'm very curious how people are using both systems together - but will post that in a new thread.

But, now my real question (as I'm completely new to using Macs): how can I put XP on this machine? Do I need new Windows software for that? Or third party stuff??

grtz
Mark