@peterosinski, Even the holy book has been the reason for dividing Christians as an institution - this is just a computer company we are talking about. So let's all take it easy. Questions is, what is that worthy replacement out there that you are content with ?

Aside from the macs. Would you guys continue to use macbooks?

I usually do event videography requiring edit on the fly. I haven't looked into a solid enough portable laptop other than macbook pro. We are using it with Premiere installed.

What your guys recommendation on the portable versions?

Mac user since 92. My reasons for moving away from Apple are simple.

1. Price
2. Self built machines are easy to upgrade, so I don't have to get a new 2500€ machine when I want a newer CPU for example.
3. Apple updates are in many cases a year or two behind PCs, although they've stepped their game up in recent years. But then again, update frequency.
4. I don't use Apple's own music or video software, so the switch is easy for me.

Pretty much a no-brainer if you ask me...

@rikyxxx & @Zeko:

Unfortunately every tool has a purpose... Working within a pro environment (or any environment) means working across many systems... if you are able to stick to Windows then that is great. Linux makes a great server solution, or SAN/NAS storage controller.

I personally like using OS X, and honestly there is very little difference between Windows 7 and OS X...

And now in mid 2012 you need to "roll your own" serious desktop for both!

What you can translate from that is that both require XP in your life from time to time... (that is what I have found).

What I am liking about FCPX is that it 'forces' - nay- 'demands' that I think about my media. Very important. Using a NLE for editing and data management not compositing!

And strangely enough FCPX is frankly more usable for audio in its 'beta' form than FCP7 - go figure!

(And personally I have discovered that Apple Motion is suddenly usable!) Who would have thought.

YMMV...

@Zeko Do you know what else is getting (already got) boring? Being called fanboy and listening to people saying (directly or indirectly) that Mac users are stupid and Apple control their brains.

So you're right about aggressive replies, but that's only half the story.

I read a lot of forum about preferences for Canon's, panasonic's, sony's.... always decent constructive arguments

This would be great but It's not the truth...

I read a lot of forum about preferences for Canon's, panasonic's, sony's.... always decent constructive arguments. Whenever someone talks about preferences in Apple/Microsoft/Linux, it comes down to agressive replies.

This is getting really boring.... (and of course, your reply will be "then stop reading") :)

@soundgh2

How long did it take you to realize that self-assembled (and overclocked) PCs are cheaper than "put_a_brad_here" workstations?

Self-made machines can be a solution for some people and very, very few companies; that's why Apple/HP/Dell/... workstations still sell.

One again you can't tell reality from fiction.

You're just wishing for MacPro's death/discontinuance but there's neither prove nor evidence it will happen anytime soon.

Supposed leak confirms three new Mac Pro models, four new MacBook Airs, two new MacBook Pros, and four new iMacs. No real specifications known, although the leaked specs of the 15" MBP, are drool worthy including Retina Display (2560x1600), 16GB of RAM, 4 USB 3.0 ports, Thunderbolt, ATI Radeon 7770M graphics with 2GB DDR Ram.

http://9to5mac.com/2012/06/06/new-macs-spec-sheet-leaks-out-into-the-internet-pricing-and-names-included/

http://modmyi.com/content/7880-leaks-allege-new-mac-pros-retina-display-15-macbook-pro-way.html

Meh! Use what you like. Who cares really. I've been using both PC and Mac for 20+ years, but now I mostly use Mac. I just feel at home on them and they've literally NEVER let me down. Countless sessions over decades and when i go from studio to studio the Mac's are there and all the same and that is a huge issue when it comes to working in different facilities with your project.

The used Mac market is strong and you always can get a good price for your older machine. The upgrade community is robust as well, but of course there are limitations, but that's why things tend to be more stable. It's not for everyone but then again, MOST people aren't opening up their computers and doing major surgery. Only the tech geeks among us do that and we tend to think that we're in the majority when we aren't.

I don't always have to have the latest and greatest "PC envy" and change machines all the time, it's not good for business. If you're talking about personal use then I can see constant change. The thing is others have pointed out the Hackintosh option if you want to stay with the same OS. If not then I guess you move on to PC and live happily ever after. I go between NY, Atlanta and Miami, everywhere I go it's Mac. It's been that way for 20+ years and I haven't seen any change. There's just no sense in not working with the system all your other professional brethren are also using. Again I have PC's too, but when customers come in they go right for the Mac's cuz it's what they know. They bring their drives and other peripherals and off they go.

I moved off the system sometime back (I was using it for Audio with Logic Pro) TBH, I found it kinda inflexible (hardware wise), I like to change vid cards occasionally, sometimes a new CPU...or MB when I feel like it, I hated the fact that you had to wait for the new version to come out, kinda like waiting in line and then being spoon fed a particular machine from Aunty Apple (sorry if that offends anyone...I am just talking about the concept). But it has its advantages definitely (reliability out of the box), but overall I decided to return to PC's ...and I havent regretted it, there is a lot off flexibility there (and largely cheaper, more CPU options etc..) so yeah...each to their own.

Looks like some Apple fanboy is arround here.

Very, very stupid beginning made by someone just looking for "flames" (and the rest of post is not better).

Apple is takeing all controll options of the user, e.g mouse acceleration: try use a really good mouse like a gameing mouse with 10.7 for professional Photoshop work, you will freak out. And the option to change the acceleration curve was disabled in 10.7.

Serious about Photoshop? Try a Wacom.

Apple doesn't support wide gammut monitors any more. Now try to do colour correct print jobs (on anything else than an Apple display).

False and probably impossible too: can Apple "boycott" a monitor (that just needs a profile to work properly)?

There used to be some problems with apps that doesn't handle color profiles.

It's been months since I've last heard about it (maybe the issue has already been solved but I'm not going to check, I've already lost enough time...) however Adobe suite DOES handle color profiles, so print jobs with wide gamut monitors have always been OK with 10.7 (that's my job).

First viruses appear for OSX, but Apple covers that information with bullshit and gives the next security update weeks later.

False again and OT.

With 10.8 your computer turns into an app-store frontend. You have to update all programms in the appstore.

200% false (again).

1) the whole thing is about updates NOTIFICATIONS, not updates

2) http://www.anandtech.com/show/5545/mac-os-x-mountain-lion-developer-preview/4

"Local notifications using the new API are available to third party apps regardless of their distribution model (they don't need to be in the Mac App Store). Push notifications on the other hand currently require that the application is distributed only through the Mac App Store."

...rest of post...

Nothing serious said.

I don't understand all of the arguments regarding OSX = 0 customization. This is just not true. There is loads that you can do with the Terminal, just Google anything you need to change.

Other than that most people that complain about the state of the Mac Pro are not going to go out and buy the 'new Mac Pro' tomorrow anyway... I suppose that what is really going on is that people are scared of the state of the Pro in Apples future.

The truth is (without sound too much like a fan boy) that what is "Pro" has become so many things now. Everything is specialist. And at the end of the day, large installations will need "Bespoke" solutions (custom code that links their pieces together). So if you wanted to use FCPX- some guy in the IT department (ok- probably a brogramer but hey...), would make sure that you can export what you need with 'script x'...

Personally I don't care that much about the state of the Mac Pro, would be better if they came out with something else... like the cube but usable. I think that it could be done. Especially with todays hardware.

Ymmv