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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Video Editing question (Apple vs. Adobe)
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 04/18/2007 05:10:15 PM · #1
I know this is a photography site, but like me, Iâm sure there a bunch of âdigital imagingâ (video, audio, photo) folks out there, so this question is to youâ¦

I am thinking of making the leap from PCâs to Macâs, but I wanted to also weigh in the cost of getting all new software. I currently use Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro (for video editing). On the Mac side, Final Cut Pro is the video editing software of choice. Does anyone have experience on both or can anyone provide me some feedback on using Premiere on the Mac platform?

Hereâs the issue â it would cost me $1700 to get Adobe software on a Mac â the Adobe Production Premium CS3 (when available) will provide me:
- After Effects Pro (3D motion & effects)
- Premiere Pro (video editing)
- Photoshop Extended
- Flash Professional (interactive web content)
- Illustrator (color and drawing)
- Soundbooth (audio editing)
- Encore (DVD rendering)
- (plus some other stuffâ¦)

If I were to go with Final Cut Studio 2, it would be $1300 for:
- Final Cut Pro 6
- Motion 3
- Soundtrack Pro 2
- Color
- Compressor 3
- DVD Studio Pro 4

However â I would also have to purchase Photoshop Extended â add another $1000.

Bottom line (using retail prices for comparison purposes):
Adobe - $1700
Final Cut/Photoshop - $2300

So, unless I am missing something, Adobe Production Premium is a clear winner. The question is â âam I missing something?â â any reason out there why I should spend the extra $600 for the Apple/Photoshop product combination? Anyone out there have issues with prior Premiere versions on Mac? Just wondering if there is something I am missing or need to be aware of, as the Adobe solution seems to provide a lot more value for the buck than Appleâs software.

(By the way, please do not tell me that I can run my Windows software on a Mac. If I really wanted to do that, I would just stick with the lower cost PC's. I am only looking at the Mac's for photo and video editing purposes - I don't play games or need it for any office or other applications.)
04/18/2007 05:14:25 PM · #2
You can transfer your Adobe license from Windows to Mac for little to no cost. No need to buy new software other than the version upgrade.
 04/18/2007 05:49:27 PM · #3
Originally posted by scalvert:
You can transfer your Adobe license from Windows to Mac for little to no cost. No need to buy new software other than the version upgrade.


Cool - can you point me to a URL on how to do that? I have not seen that offered on the Adobe website anywhere.
 04/20/2007 01:45:48 AM · #4
Originally posted by macpapas:
Originally posted by scalvert:
You can transfer your Adobe license from Windows to Mac for little to no cost. No need to buy new software other than the version upgrade.


Cool - can you point me to a URL on how to do that? I have not seen that offered on the Adobe website anywhere.


Take a look here, and perhaps send a message to Dave Konopka and ask him how it went.
 04/20/2007 04:15:38 PM · #5
Originally posted by geoffb:
Originally posted by macpapas:
Originally posted by scalvert:
You can transfer your Adobe license from Windows to Mac for little to no cost. No need to buy new software other than the version upgrade.


Cool - can you point me to a URL on how to do that? I have not seen that offered on the Adobe website anywhere.


Take a look here, and perhaps send a message to Dave Konopka and ask him how it went.


Thanks for the pointer! All info I have found (other than Scalvert's reply) indicates you cannot transfer licenses between platforms (hence my original post). I put in a question to Adobe Support a few days ago - no reply.

From the lack of responses to my original question, it looks like no one wants to swear to Final Cut Pro being better than Premiere on the Mac platform. Looks like Adobe will be the way to go for video editing on the Mac.
 04/20/2007 05:46:48 PM · #6
It should just be a matter of calling Adobe's customer support number to swtich from Windows to Mac. I've heard varying reports that it's either free or $20, but they will do it.
 04/20/2007 06:34:37 PM · #7
Final Cut Pro on Mac... only way to go for Vid editing... well, after effects and some other Discreet products are always a nice touch... depending on what you are doing. But I have had great fun with Final Cut Pro...
04/20/2007 07:07:53 PM · #8
I just transfered an adobe license from one machine to another after hard drive failure. I called the customer service center and had them release the license from my old hard drive so I could install it on the new one. I have several copies of licensed adobe products and have never had any problems transfering anything. So like scalvert said other than the version upgrade you shouldnt have any problems and get off pretty cheap.
04/20/2007 08:18:45 PM · #9
Adobe finally got back to me...Scalvert was right!

From Adobe Support:
"I understand that you want to transfer the license for your products
from PC to Macintosh and also want to upgrade to Creative Suite 3.

Mark, for customers wishing to change platforms, Adobe offers a
cross-platform upgrade. If you are interested in changing platforms on
one or more of your Adobe products, please contact Customer Service at
the number listed below. Please have your current version serial numbers
available at the time of your call.

PLEASE NOTE: Adobe cross-platform purchases are only available directly
from Adobe; they are not available from Adobe Resellers."

Now I just need to buy a Mac and wait for the Adobe CS3 video products to come out this summer!

Thanks for the comments! I received one vote for Final Cut Pro, but it clearly looks like the Adobe package is a better deal.
 04/22/2007 08:54:31 AM · #10
Sounds like you have already made your decision. But for what it worth: I have been a die hard PC person for years. I switched to Mac this year using CS2 and Final Cut Pro on a MacBook Pro and am very pleased. I keep my business and non-creative work on a PC and use the Mac for all my creative work.

Final Cut seems to be the standard, although everyone has an opinion. It is whatever you can be the most creative with.
04/22/2007 07:14:28 PM · #11
Originally posted by alexzen:
Sounds like you have already made your decision. But for what it worth: I have been a die hard PC person for years. I switched to Mac this year using CS2 and Final Cut Pro on a MacBook Pro and am very pleased. I keep my business and non-creative work on a PC and use the Mac for all my creative work.

Final Cut seems to be the standard, although everyone has an opinion. It is whatever you can be the most creative with.


Thanks for the info! It seems we are in similar positions, as I too have been a diehard PC user for years and am only looking to use the Mac for creative work. In all honesty, if my wife had not recently become an Apple employee a few months ago, I wouldnât be in the market for a Mac. However, her employee discount makes the cost of the Macâs a little more intriguing. With Adobe allowing for license transfers and upgrades between platforms, the reduced incremental expense picture gets even better!

I know that Final Cut Pro is the standard on Macâs, which is why Iâm looking to see if anyone has some hard facts for choosing it (at a higher cost) over Adobe. I have not made up my mind just yet (still researching), but the dollars due weigh heavily in the decision
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