New computer

[JeffReckart]

Ok, So just to help befuddle me further, my local macAuthority store sends me a ad for the preThunderbolt model clearance.
The best I can determine thunderbolt is not a determining factor for me, because i would only use it as a display port. I have network storage & network printing available, so iwouldn't use it for a TB hard drive, or printer or mouse or what ever. I run VGA 100' to the projector, so i wouldn't think a thunderbolt cable would reach that far anyway. Can't think of any reason why i would have to have it.

Now which would i buy?

PreTB or Latest w/TB
27-inch iMac -----------------------21.5 inch iMac
3.2 GHz Core i3 (dual core)---------- 2.5 GHz i5 (quad core)
4GB RAM -------------------------------4GB RAM
1TB Hard Drive ------------------------500GB Hard Drive
Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard -------Mac OS X 10.7 Lion
ATI Radeon5670 w/ 512MB-----------ATI Radeon 6750 w/512 MB
Originally $1699
NOW $1299----------------------- Now $1199


Old mac is a 3.2 dual core i3 vs 2.5 quad core i5? Big Deal? Is Propresenter4/5 written for quad cores? or will a dual core do?
again 500GB vs 1TB not biggie for me!
10.6 vs 10.7 a $30 uprgade, so no biggie there either.
radeon 5670 vs 6750??? Is this a big deal??
Help? Anyone using PP4 on a preThunderbolt iMac with good results?

JR

[petereit]

Unless you want the larger screen, get the newer model. Thunderbolt cable length doesn't figure into anything because you're going to plug a mini displayport-to-VGA adapter right into the Thunderbolt port on the back of your iMac and run VGA cable.

[JeffReckart]

do you think that there would be a performance differerence the dual core vs qaud core? The guy at the mac store wasn't very familiar, ( even though he was aware of it) with ProPresenter, and he made the point that if PP wasn't written to take advantage of the quad core, then the dual core would probably be better because of the higher proccessor speed! Any thoughts??

Sorry to drag this out, but don't wanna make a expensive mistake, because I am unfamiliar with mac technology!

thanks
JR

[petereit]

I'm not familiar with ProPresenters threading model -- if it can use multiple cores or not. But I suspect not, at least in the current version.

However, from my Mac developer experience, I've noticed that Apple is making multi-thread programming VERY easy for developers. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if the developers at Renewed Vision start working multi-threaded processes into newer versions.

So go with the quad core. Better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them.

[Gracetech]

You will see no difference between a dual core and quad core. Most of ProPresenters processing is on your video card. I don't buy anything with less than a gig of vram anymore.

Recently i converted form Macs to Win7 in my venues. Besides the update, 2 updates ago, the Windows computers have far excelled beyond the macs i was using. Of course the Macs were a little long in the tooth. The iMac we had in one venue was a dual core intel with 512 vram('08 ). The Mac Pro was a dual dual core with 2 7300 video cards(also an '08 ). I replace those two computers and added 2 more for other venues cheaper than the original Mac Pro cost.

I don't know about you all but i'm having to stretch dollars these days.

crt

[JeffReckart]

Spoke with a tech at Renewed Vision, and asked his opinion, based on his inside knowledge of ProPresenter, and he stated that give the same choice, he would buy the newer Imac. This because as the pace of change in technology, it would be better to be one step behind the next time it changes, instead of two. He also stated, that Propresenter doesn't care about dual-core vs quad-core, but it would probably help, if any background app were being used. background apps not being trying to capture video or audio, or anything such as that, as a presentation computer should be a dedicated coumputer I know, but we have all opened a browesr to look up a image to use in our presentation, etc.

buying the latestes available also helps in "futureproofing"!

JR

[petereit]

Yeah, no one ever kicks themselves and says, "Man! I wish I would have bought the older model."

[[Admin] osborn4]

The more current and bigger machine you buy, the longer it will be before you have to replace it.

[[Director] Joseph B]

Go to the local MAC Store - take a couple of the free classes and ask questions - they will be a LOT of help.

[lisalou111]

Are you able to run ProPresenter 5 on a Mac Mini taking advantage of the three displays? Or would it be prudent to purchase an iMac or MacBook Pro? We are considering a move from an outdated PC using Media Shout 4. We obviously need to buy new equipment, and want to make the best decision.

[petereit]

Originally Posted by lisalou111

Are you able to run ProPresenter 5 on a Mac Mini taking advantage of the three displays? Or would it be prudent to purchase an iMac or MacBook Pro? We are considering a move from an outdated PC using Media Shout 4. We obviously need to buy new equipment, and want to make the best decision.

Yes, you can run ProPresenter using a Mini. Use the HDMI out for your control monitor, the Thunderbolt out for projection (or swap those two depending on your needs) and use a USB display dongle for your stage display.

We have found it more convenient to use an iMac simply due to the provided screen.

But if you're designing for an all-HD workflow, it may be wise to run a Mac Pro with broadcast HD-SDI video cards.

[lisalou111]

That is very helpful! Thank you! We currently use an Ocean Matrix 4X4 to split one output signal to three screens. Will that still work with a Mac Mini or iMac set up?