Ward, Thanks for writing. Please don't think I was Apple or Mac-bashing in any way. I love the iMac and I would buy one again. Also, I do like the iMovie3 and iDVD3 programs that I have... and I intend to use them. I enjoy shooting commercials... just for comedy or entertainment (ala Saturday Night Live or Kentucky Fried Movie). I have no doubt that the programs in my computer at this very moment can handle shorter films. They are good programs.
The programs are free with most (maybe all) Apple computer purchases. After seeing all the other software available, I had no doubt that iMovie and iDVD was certainly the low-end product. I'll admit, I was wearing out the programs with long films, tons of effects, new soundtracks, titles, etc. It's like I was trying to run a Wal-Mart checkout lane during Christmas with a small calculator. It just wasn't working. To assure it was not just me, I found that many others were having similar problems via Apple's own iMovie and iDVD discussion boards. To turn a film, with a healthy amount of time, into a Hollywood blockbuster, it would be wise to purchase, at least, Final Cut Express. Eventually, I will probably purchase FCE-- I just wish someone had told me ahead of time that I would probably need it. Again, I have enjoyed every Mac program and I brag about Mac all the time. I just wanted to pass on a little advice for those who may be wondering which is the best product for the amount of movie making he or she wishes to do. Not a complaint... just advice. Thanks again for writing. I enjoy every messge posted by all in this group. Seeing how this group operated before I purchased my first computer made me much more comfortable. Thanks to all! Troy >From: Ward Oldham <woldham at insightbb.com> >Reply-To: macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu >To: MUG <macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu> >Subject: Re: MacGroup: iMovie and iDVD misleading >Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2003 10:33:04 -0500 > >Hi Troy, > >You will find through subsequent responses from this user group regarding >this issue that Apple has not misled you in any way shape or form. Things >work better than advertised and work very well! Apparently an Apple tech >support rep conveyed bad info and may be the only one at fault. > >This user group is another technical "support" resource and you will be >amazed at the number of facts, insight and technical tidbits that surface. >Watch for other replies to follow and you'll discover what I mean. Give >Apple and this group the benefit of the doubt and don't be so hasty to >believe the first person you talk to. > >Ward Oldham, MacDude >MacTown >1041 Bardstown Road >Louisville, KY 40204 >502-485-1243 >ward at mactown.us >http://www.mactown.us > > >On 3/29/03 9:22 AM, "Troy Mello" <troymello at hotmail.com> wrote: > > > Please pass the word for those who may be interested in the iMovie and >iDVD > > programs: > > > > I have many short films that I made in high school. I wanted an Mac for > > many reasons, but one big "plus" that really made up my mind was the > > included iMovie and iDVD programs. These programs can perform some > > fantastic tricks and really "jazz" up your movie, but be warned... > > > > If your little flick is over 10 minutes long, or you actually plan to >USE > > the available special effects, you WILL have problems... > > > > Movie chapters on your DVD may not work. > > The soundtrack may be out of synch. > > iMovie may "quit unexpectedly"-- really frustrating! > > > > I was told by an Apple rep that I was trying to do to much with the >programs > > and that I should at least upgrade to the Final Cut Express for $399. >He > > said the FCE application could handle my "professional" (ha!) work. >iMovie > > and iDVD, he said, are really for a five minute movie of your neighbors >baby > > blowing out a candle on a birthday cake, for example. > > > > Well, that is all fine and dandy... but why did I hear this NOW and not >hear > > it before I made the purchase? Why did I at least read that somewhere >on > > Apple's site??? Honestly, I love my iMac, and I'm sure I would love to >have > > Final Cut Express-- I may even purchase it one day. Of course, even if >I > > have FCE, I'm not so sure that iDVD will be able to handle the encoding >and > > burning (this where where many of the problems are). > > > > There is nothing on Apple's page that suggested to me, in any way, that >the > > iMovie and iDVD programs would not be able to handle the work I wanted >to > > do. (My longest short film being 40 minutes long.) Had I known that I > > would need Final Cut Express, perhaps I would have worked it in my >budget > > and purchased it when I purchased the iMac. > > > > Bottom Line: I do like Apple and I do like iMovie and iDVD. However, >the > > advertising and marketing for those applications/programs is very, very > > misleading. It should be known that those programs will only handle >tiny > > projects. > > > > Thank you so much for reading this. > > > > Troy > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online > > http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 > > > > > > > > | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will > > | be March 25. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. > > > >| The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will >| be March 25. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will | be March 25. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>.
