i am looking for advice on the best hardware set up (with a $2500 budget) for running final cut pro 4. i have traditionally shot on film, but am now starting to work in video at times. i have not bought a computer before (always gotten hand-me downs), and want to go into the purchasing process knowing enough to buy the right equipment. any advice greatly appreciated shannon silva

Whatever Mac you can get for that price, considering that you'll need a monitor, and as much RAM as you can afford. I'd say stuffing it with RAM is marginally less important than getting a faster CPU, so if it comes down to a 10% faster CPU versus another 512 MB of RAM, get the better CPU and wait 'till you can afford the extra RAM. Also, you might want to think about waiting for the G5s to ship. p

For Final Cut Pro 4 - definately a G4 (no old beige models). Or a G5 if you can afford it... If looking at G4 Towers: • 800 MHz Processor power or higher • Minimum 768 MB RAM - or a preferred of 1 GB RAM. • Second hand CRT monitor (they have that totally transparent shell behind, and sell @ a damn good price 2nd hand). • Must have FireWire ports. If purchasing new or second hand - ask for something like a "G4 Quicksilver". Another alternative is: An "eMac with SuperDrive" - also worthwhile considering, as it's essentially an iMac with a G4 processor on board and you don't need to mess around with connecting another monitor and so forth. eMacs have v good prices both new and second hand. cheers cw

Do NOT buy used and do NOT buy an eMac. You have plenty of budget to get a new machine with more-than-adequate specs. You're not going to do better buying used, and you won't get a warranty of any kind. p

Pickle, And what about Apple Care's extended warranties? I also work in print graphics and animation - Adobe After Effects, iMovie, Final Cut Pro 4 - and all my equipment is second hand Apple with extended warranties - G4 867 MHz - G3 B/W 400 MHz - iMac 400 Mhz - e-Mac 800 MHz - all with extended warranties. 5 years now - no problems as yet - except for the G4's SuperDrive that snapped a CD-R in half one day in the middle of a burning session - but the extended warranty covered it. The only "new" stuff I've ever purchased are external Firewire Drives for gigantic backups. Shannon - you've got two Mac guys creating constructive arguments - it's up to you in the end. Do as the heart commands 8) cheers cw

Most used gear out there doesn't have AppleCare associated with it. Your office is the major exception in that regard. NB: AppleCare cannot be bought after the initial warranty (one year) is up, and I don't think it can be bought by anyone other than the original purchaser during that time. Besides, what possible advantage is there to buying used? The G5s are so much better than anything on the used market that there's simply no point in buying used right now. And if I were going to be buying used, I sure as hell wouldn't be buying something as un-upgradeable as the eMac. For home users, the eMac is fine. For anyone else, the eMac is terrible. p

So you'd rather take the risk of purchasing an untested product? ~Reminises the glory of the G4 Cube~ =P