After working on a PC for 7 years I decided to switch to a MAC.
You can find out why by reading my previous post…
MAC vs PC which one should I buy?
5 years ago I purchased a 13-inch MacBook Air specifically for video editing. Currently it lacks the power needed to do a lot of video editing plus I’ve run out of storage space.
Desktop or Laptop Which One Is Best?
If you’re always on the go I’d go for a MacBook Pro. You’ll get the beautiful retina display plus you’ll have enough power for easy rendering of all your videos.
I decided to purchase an iMac desktop because I like to work on a large screen. iMacs have beautiful retina displays with anti-glare screens. This makes them ideal for video editing.
Here are the specifications for the iMac I purchased.
PROCESSOR
4.0GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 Turbo Boost up to 4.2GHz
If you’re planing on keeping your iMAC for many years (which you should) then the i7 will last a long time and have enough power for video editing. I was going to go with the i5 however was advised that it may not have enough power if you want fast video rendering or do intense video editing work. The quad core definitely helps speed up processing if you run multiple applications.
MEMORY
8GB 1867MHz DDR3 SDRAM
I decided not to upgrade to 16GB (for more power) because I can easily add more memory later via the small window situated on the back of the monitor.
Here’s a tip…save a ton of money by buying parts from a company that sells Apple Parts instead of paying top dollar at Apple.
STORAGE
1TB Fusion Drive
Some iMacs have standard drives which makes the price a little cheaper however your MAC will take a little longer to start up (like most PCs) plus your apps will take longer to process. The Fusion Drive combines storage with SSD (solid state drive) so your machine will take only a few seconds to start up. You can also run multiple apps or programs at the same time without losing speed.
I saved money by just opting for 1TB because I can purchase a 3TB external hard drive under $100.00. If I added a 3TB Fusion Drive to my order it would have cost an extra $2000.
VIDEO MEMORY
AMD Radeon R9 M390 with 2GB video memory
ThE capacity of this video card is fine for video editing.
27-inch SCREEN WITH 5K RETINA DISPLAY
I opted for this screen size so I can work on multiple windows and apps simultaneously.
I don’t have to switch between tabs. With the 5K retina display I can shoot videos in 5K and they will look incredible. The anti-glare screen makes it easy on the eyes.
If you’re creating websites or graphics for clients the colors you see are exactly what they will see. On my PC the colors would often be different to what my client saw on his own computer.
Here’s a tip..I noticed Video Blocks currently charges around $50.00 for 5K video clips (if you’re a member). You could make money by shooting your own videos or photos then editing them on the iMAC with your video editing software. You can earn a commission by putting your photos up on a site like Dreamstime.
PRICE
I paid the discounted price of $2160.00 for my iMAC because I asked for the business discount from Apple. Normally this iMAC costs around $2300 so I saved a bunch of money. You can also ask about educational pricing if you’re a student or teacher or know someone who is.
Alternative Discount Pricing
Take a look at refurbished MACs if you want to save some money. Refurbished just means that something had to be fixed, so they have to sell the computer at a discounted price. Apple says… “We test and certify all Apple refurbished products and include a 1-year warranty.â€
Here’s my recommendation..
I highly recommend getting an iMAC 27-inch retina display if you intend to do a lot of video editing. It’s extremely reliable, long lasting, sports a sleek design and will fulfill all your video editing needs.
Recommended Mac Computers for Video Editing
Apple iMac 27″ Desktop with Retina 5K display
4.0GHz Intelquad-core Intel Core i7, 1TB Fusion Drive
http://www.drostdesigns.com/go/imac
Apple MacBook Pro 13.3-Inch Laptop
Intel Core i7 2.7GHz / 16GB DDR3
http://www.drostdesigns.com/go/macbookpro
Apple MacBook Air 13.3-Inch Laptop
Intel Core i7 2.2GHz, 512GB Flash Drive, 8GB DDR3 Memory
http://www.drostdesigns.com/go/macbookair
Apple iMac 27″ Desktop (refurbished)
3.4GHz Intel Core i7 Quad-Core, 1TB Fusion Drive, 8GB 1600MHz DDR3
http://www.drostdesigns.com/go/go/imac-refurbished
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I haven’t used a mac for editing. But some says that it is great for editing. What is the difference using a hi end pc build?
I like the MAC because it just works and I don’t have to worry about viruses or install software to prevent them. High end pcs are good also becuase they are cheaper and just as powerful but I was fed up with pcs after using them for decades and having to change operating systems al the time