Best computer for fish pics and videos?

[John Hughes]

I've got free reign on a new computer for Christmas. I'm thinkin I'm not going to hurt mom for more than $1500.

Fundamentally, I completely suck with these things and all I use them for is storing fish pics and spearboarding. I might ultimately like to get into videos if I had the right setup and could figure it out.

Please help me with my choice between PC or MAC. Keep in mind, outside of the words "computer" and "toolbar" I have no idea what you're talking about when speaking computer gobbledeegook.

I am not interested in a laptop for various reasons.

Feel free to post up epic deals that I can just click on and order with my moms credit card

as usual, thank you for all your help!!!

[JTH]

As much as I hate to say it, I think a mac would probably be best. They have pretty cool vid/ pic editing programs.

[haliseeker]

Hey John . My wife is an Applications Programmer and her suggestion is a Mac .It's what were currently using and I used to be a P.C. person and I diid the cross over Two years ago and I'm a General Contractor ( so a non I.T. type).If you want full movie rendering as your best bet is the desk Top (faster processing)in plain english it's better and bigger.

[rogerkamp8817]

PM sent! I might be able to help you out with this one.

["Yard-Sale Josh"]

OK I really really hate mac computers with a passion but,
Given the technical skill set you described I am betting a mac would be the easiest for you to edit pictures, video, and surf the net with.
Can't believe I just said that......Barf

[BOLTSFAN]

I have always been a PC person, but I'm going to get a MacBook Pro tomorrow because I’m really getting into picture and video editing. The new MacBook Airs also have solid state drives in them as well which eliminates disc failure with the old hard drives. I recommend going into a Best Buy or other computer store and messing around with the computers for awhile and see which one feels the easiest for you to use. Also get a good external hard drive to store all your pictures and videos on if you end up getting a desktop or a laptop just in case something happens to your computer you won't lose all your pictures. And if you have a friend who is in the military try to get them to take you on base to the exchange because you won't have to worry about sales tax which can start adding up when you get into the thousands. Good luck and try not to spend to much money.

[John Hughes]

Originally Posted by "Yard-Sale Josh"

OK I really really hate mac computers with a passion but,
Given the technical skill set you described I am betting a mac would be the easiest for you to edit pictures, video, and surf the net with.
Can't believe I just said that......Barf

that's probably the only time I've heard anyone say anything bad about a MAC. I know nothing about computers, but I'm leaning toward MAC just because everybody raves about how easy they are. I don't even know how to use a PC, I figure MAC might be the way to go.

Open to suggestions though, keep it comin!

And Haliseeker, bigger and better I can understand and is pretty much what I'm lookin for, thanks!!

["Yard-Sale Josh"]

Originally Posted by John Hughes

that's probably the only time I've heard anyone say anything bad about a MAC. I know nothing about computers, but I'm leaning toward MAC just because everybody raves about how easy they are. I don't even know how to use a PC, I figure MAC might be the way to go.

Open to suggestions though, keep it comin!

And Haliseeker, bigger and better I can understand and is pretty much what I'm lookin for, thanks!!

Why Macs Suck - YouTube

[Mike Eberhardt]

John,

I'm a pretty technically savvy person--I built my first computer from the ground up when I was 11. I love PCs for their versatility and ease of maintenance--something MACs ultimately cannot give you.

In the media/entertainments industry, however, the MAC name reigns supreme. While you cannot upgrade, swap out parts, customize, or reprogram a MAC with the same ease that you can a PC, it seems this is the best choice for you.

Also, for 1500 I'd recommend going with a solid-state (SSD) laptop--you won't believe how fast these data drives are! I currently am running a SSD in my PC, and I can reboot in 11 seconds flat.

All things being equal, if you want to save some cash, I can help you build a laptop for well under 1500 that will absolutely outperform the MAC--it will be slightly less "average-user" friendly, however. If you make it a desktop, I can do it for under 1000.

Hope this helps, and happy holidays.

~Mike

Originally Posted by John Hughes

that's probably the only time I've heard anyone say anything bad about a MAC. I know nothing about computers, but I'm leaning toward MAC just because everybody raves about how easy they are. I don't even know how to use a PC, I figure MAC might be the way to go.

Open to suggestions though, keep it comin!

And Haliseeker, bigger and better I can understand and is pretty much what I'm lookin for, thanks!!

[sucinimad]

John, for your type of usage, 99% of the current PC desktops these days will suffice your needs. Unless you're into heavy video production, there's no reason to spend big bucks on Macs or high end PC's. I would lean toward a mid range PC that will last you a while. Mac can take a while to learn and since you're technologically illiterate , don't waste time with one. I recommend a used/refurbished system from Dell. These come with a warranty and good customer service. You can browse through their desktops here: http://www.dell.com/us/dfh/p/desktops. Something in the XPS line will be more than enough. They come ready to go with free keyboard and mouse. They also have refurbished monitors if you're looking for one as well.

[Bear Down]

Originally Posted by sucinimad

John, for your type of usage, 99% of the current PC desktops these days will suffice your needs. Unless you're into heavy video production, there's no reason to spend big bucks on Macs or high end PC's. I would lean toward a mid range PC that will last you a while. Mac can take a while to learn and since you're technologically illiterate , don't waste time with one. I recommend a used/refurbished system from Dell. These come with a warranty and good customer service. You can browse through their desktops here: http://www.dell.com/us/dfh/p/desktops. Something in the XPS line will be more than enough. They come ready to go with free keyboard and mouse. They also have refurbished monitors if you're looking for one as well.

This. Unless you are planning on doing heavy video/picture editing, a PC is just fine if you are just wanting to store your data, surf the web, email etc. IMO if you are not doing at least intermediate video stuff your Mac becomes an overpriced internet surfer. My suggestion is go into a store and try out both. Heck, if you know anyone with a Mac that will let you borrow it for a week then even better. Especially if you've never used one. That way you get the to fully experience the interface before you purchase one.

http://www.microcenter.com/storefron....html#desktops

[NPRelentless]

Originally Posted by sucinimad

John, for your type of usage, 99% of the current PC desktops these days will suffice your needs. Unless you're into heavy video production, there's no reason to spend big bucks on Macs or high end PC's. I would lean toward a mid range PC that will last you a while. Mac can take a while to learn and since you're technologically illiterate , don't waste time with one. I recommend a used/refurbished system from Dell. These come with a warranty and good customer service. You can browse through their desktops here: http://www.dell.com/us/dfh/p/desktops. Something in the XPS line will be more than enough. They come ready to go with free keyboard and mouse. They also have refurbished monitors if you're looking for one as well.

100% agree, just get a good PC and use Windows Live Movie Maker, its easy, does a great job, and its FREE. In one night I was able to learn how to go from raw footage to an edited movie burned to a DVD and on youtube.

[Sean E]

Originally Posted by sucinimad

John, for your type of usage, 99% of the current PC desktops these days will suffice your needs. Unless you're into heavy video production, there's no reason to spend big bucks on Macs or high end PC's. I would lean toward a mid range PC that will last you a while. Mac can take a while to learn and since you're technologically illiterate , don't waste time with one. I recommend a used/refurbished system from Dell. These come with a warranty and good customer service. You can browse through their desktops here: http://www.dell.com/us/dfh/p/desktops. Something in the XPS line will be more than enough. They come ready to go with free keyboard and mouse. They also have refurbished monitors if you're looking for one as well.

This.

You don't need a $1500+ Mac. You can buy a pc of equal power and ram for half the price and get a simple editing program and you're good to go. Windows movie maker is super easy for editing small videos and comes stock with pcs. And there's tonsss of cheap image editing programs.

I did this entire thing in windows movie maker on a pc that cost about 1000 bucks 2 years ago. http://vimeo.com/25066591

All you really need is a decent amount of ram to handle viewing the images/video (4 gigs is fine) and a decent processor to keep it speedy ( dual core 2.0 gigs is good) and I'd highly recommend storing it all on an external hard drive. Which you can get a 500 gb one for 60 bucks. Then you never have to worry about clogging up your computer and running out of disk space AND you will never have to worry about that dreaded day when your computer blows up unexpectedly and you lose everything.

Hope this helps. If you have any questions feel free to pm me.

[Scott Diego]

Originally Posted by sucinimad

John, for your type of usage, 99% of the current PC desktops these days will suffice your needs. Unless you're into heavy video production, there's no reason to spend big bucks on Macs or high end PC's. I would lean toward a mid range PC that will last you a while. Mac can take a while to learn and since you're technologically illiterate , don't waste time with one. I recommend a used/refurbished system from Dell. These come with a warranty and good customer service. You can browse through their desktops here: http://www.dell.com/us/dfh/p/desktops. Something in the XPS line will be more than enough. They come ready to go with free keyboard and mouse. They also have refurbished monitors if you're looking for one as well.

x2

When I am looking for a computer I usually go here and wait for a good deal to pop up... I saved 50% on the last two I bought...

http://slickdeals.net/deals/computers/

And yes, I hate Macs too... (except Ipad/Ipod/Iphone)

[sucinimad]

Originally Posted by John Hughes

I know nothing about computers, but I'm leaning toward MAC just because everybody raves about how easy they are. I don't even know how to use a PC, I figure MAC might be the way to go.

Originally Posted by John Hughes

it's statements like this that keep making me lean towards the MACS.

It's clear you want a Mac. No use getting something you're unsure about. It's similar to getting a Mori knowing a cheap Euro can do the same job, right? It's all about personal enjoyment.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC309LL/A
BAM! Get that with Apple Care. Right at your price range, gorgeous machine, everything you'll ever need.