I stopped using macs when I changed from my LC classic to a power mac with a 400mhz processor (that was a while ago), then next time went pc as they were getting better and the price difference was phenominal.

Now (sadly) it's time to change back I think, OSX really is head and shoulders ahead of windows. Technically the PC as a machine has become amazing, it's cheap, fast and versitile, as for windows as a system to operate it, it's just a hindrance. My ideal would be to change to a pc running Linux (I know people who run macs with Linux rather than OSX), but After Effects is an essential for me. I really like Premiere and can throw stuff together on it fast as I know it well, but changing to FCP is feasible, it's not that much different to AVID now I've been hearing.

Now if only Adobe would support debian based Linux, I could seriously see that becoming a choice set up for many.

MOSH you mention "I've seen people brag about videos they've created using premiere and after effects, and not seen anything that you couldn't easily do in FCP on it's own."

To what extent have you seen, I'm curious that Mac have After Effect capable of running with FCP, your comment seems to say that this wouldn't be neccessary. Does FCP have roto masking tools? If so, how do they compare to that of After effects (which I find usably fine but definately improvable).

David.

I'm with David.. we just got a MAC a few weeks back and there is no comparing the two. I cannot wait to learn more about using FCP as I've seen some really cool videos done.

BE CAREFUL GUYS. Final Cut Pro and Mac computers are addictive.
few years ago i was playing wiht a camescope and bought a mac because it looked good.

now i am Apple Certified Final Cut Pro and teaches it one to one in Mallorca where i live.
i spend most of my days and night sitting alone or with friends around a mac.
recently we filmed a documentary and tried to edit it on Avid with a pro.
half way we had to move to Final Cut PRO and this Avid pro could not believe how less "restrictive" htis program is compare to Avid. and he said. if i had to start again, i would start with Mac.

Certified_Pro_FCP 5.jpg

I use final cut pro studio at college, i use the final cut and motion parts. Final cut does basically everything i need for now, and ive got it on my mac aswell, motion is a great programme for effects, i havent used it to its full potential yet, but i really think its a good programme to have. All in all i really like the whole final cut package, and when im finished college and i get my own full editing suite, i will be buying the latest final cut studio package.

It does have roto masking tools, but they're limited to the number of points they can use, I used to just combine a couple of shapes to produces the more intricate mattes, but now i use shake or motion. It doesn't have a particle generator or 3d planes