Setup for Macbook Pro to be used primarily for video editing

I think I have my head screwed on straight here, but I would really appreciate any one that uses their notebook for editing video (Mac or Windows) to chime in on the following.

I was asked this morning to spec out a MacBook Pro, to be purchased new, for video editing. The primary formats will initially be DV and DVCPRO HD (from the Panasonic HVX200 P2 format). The main user (my father) is very familar with the Mac OS and wants a seemless workflow with his current desktop Final Cut Pro system. This means that a Wintel laptop is totally out of the question.

Here is my current list:

• Macbook Pro 15" 2.33GHz 2GB RAM, 120GB 5400 HD
• Final Cut Studio Crossgrade to 5.1
• Sonnet Tempo SATA II ExpressCard/34 Adapter
• Wiebetech Silver SATA II External Enclosure
• Samsung 500GB SATA II OEM HD
• Hitachi 2.5" SATA 7200 RPM 100GB HD

My logic is that the 7200RPM hard drive upgrade to the PB should allow a better experience while being truly mobile (planes, cars, etc) with the 500GB external through SATA II while in controlled enviroments (hotels, meeting rooms, on set, etc.).

I also need recommendations for an external PCMCIA card readers (for the P2 cards) and most importantly an appropriate case/bag for airline travel. If anyone sees any holes in my thinking please feel free to shout. If anyone has any good references to editing-on-the-go I would also be glad to see them.

Thanks!

 

You seem to have thought of most everything. I can't help with PC Card readers since I know little of them. Bags are really more of a personal preference. Just make sure it can house all the equipment you want to take and that it is comfortable. It seems as though you may be planning on upgrading the hard drive yourself? Don't. It voids the warranty, just get the upgrade from Apple, and get the biggest one you can find. Also, consider maxing out the RAM to 3GB. Video editing needs all the RAM it can get. The only other thing is to realize that it will not be as fast as the desktop when it comes to video editing.

**EDIT** One more thing to consider is going with FireWire for the external. The cost would be significantly less than going with SATA and an ExpressCard adapter. And now that all the MBP have FW 800 the performance drop should not be a ton.

 

The only trouble is that Apple isn't currently offering a 7200 RPM drive in the Macbook Pro. Now, I can definately be swayed against needing a 7200 RPM drive, but my experience is that this is the single biggest difference in desktop and notebook systems in terms of speed.

When it comes to the external drive I am basically spec benchmarking, meaning that I have no real-world experience with eSATA. I have had quite a bit of experience with FW400 and FW800 and felt the extra bandwidth here might help a great deal. Again, I can be swayed.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

I'm also considering the MacBook Pro, and the only thing dissuading me from getting the 15" is the lack of a 7200 rpm HD.

Then again, my planned workflow is HDV camera firewire in==> laptop => external firewire or USB 2.0 drive all in one stream.

I also plan on using the laptop to capture up to 8 simultaneous audio streams via firewire (Presonus Firepod) and record onto either the internal hd or an external fw/usb2.0 hard drive.

I'm curious as to whether both of these are doable with a 5400 rpm drive... any users with experience on this type of workflow?