Computer that just works

[Kmax82]

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Whoa... VLC not good!!!

Full screening VLC turns off my other monitor! It does play everything though.

I know you've gotten VLC working, but here's an article that explains how to get Quicktime to work the way that you want. Just saw this in my Google Reader Archive.. totally forgot about it.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r...leBlog/~3/y7Y2qktUqdg/

 

[Parasitic]

Originally posted by: Tyranicus

Originally posted by: WelshBloke
If you full screen a video (so it shows letterboxed on a black background) and do anything on your other monitor your video comes out of full screen.

Yeah, that's an annoying thing with QuickTime. I usually use VLC to play videos. With VLC, you can fullscreen on one display and continue using the other display.

Windows does something similar too and it gets annoying. If you have a video playing in full-screen mode and move the cursor to the other screen, the taskbar will pop back up.

 

[Zaap]

Originally posted by: WelshBloke
I wont know if it suits my needs until I learn more about it. Most of my problems are down to me and the way I'm used to doing things.
I'm not against learning new ways, I will admit that I am quite set in my ways though.

Gotcha. I was just curious, because something must have drawn you to getting a Mac.

Hopefully as you continue to use the OS, it'll become more intuitive for you. I've seen the same thing- people who've been Windows all their lives, switch to Mac, and at first it's alien to them, and they're frustrated. Check back in a few months and they can't imagine not using one. Guess it all depends.

For things like the AVCHD issues you describe, all I can tell you is this format is a royal PITA on any platform. First off, there's no set 'standard' it would seem. I know Panasonic has their own type of AVCHD that doesn't play well with anything but their homegrown software, at least I've run into that problem. Even when all is well, on a very powerful computer, Mac or PC, editing in that format can be a pain, especially with multiple streams. I've used Final Cut Pro 6 on the Mac (iMovie and FCE do have support for AVCHD, but it's very limited compared to FCP) and Vegas Video on the PC. In both cases, one needs a very powerful CPU and video card to get smooth previews and anything approaching real time effects when editing. On a slow system, it feels like stepping back several computer generations.

 

[superjohn]

Another Q. Is it possible to put an ssd in the imac? And if it is would it void the warranty?

 

[Kmax82]

Originally posted by: superjohn
Another Q. Is it possible to put an ssd in the imac? And if it is would it void the warranty?

Yes, this is possible.

Also, I would consider taking this in to be done by an Apple Tech.. the newest Aluminum iMacs are a HUGE hassle to change the HDDs. You have to remove the whole front glass piece of the screen, and a bunch of other random things just to get to the HDD. Looks to be a super pain.

Edit: Removed my misinformation about the size of the drives.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Kmax82

Originally posted by: superjohn
Another Q. Is it possible to put an ssd in the imac? And if it is would it void the warranty?

Yes, this is possible. The iMac uses laptop sized drives, so you need to make sure that you get the small 9.5mm 2.5" drives.

Also, I would consider taking this in to be done by an Apple Tech.. the newest Aluminum iMacs are a HUGE hassle to change the HDDs. You have to remove the whole front glass piece of the screen, and a bunch of other random things just to get to the HDD. Looks to be a super pain.

Incorrect.

iMac uses full size desktop drives. 3.5" You would need an adapter to put the SSD in.

 

[superjohn]

If it was done by an apple tech would the warranty still be intact?

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: superjohn
If it was done by an apple tech would the warranty still be intact?

Yes, that is the advantage of taking it to an apple certified tech.

 

[Kmax82]

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: Kmax82

Originally posted by: superjohn
Another Q. Is it possible to put an ssd in the imac? And if it is would it void the warranty?

Yes, this is possible. The iMac uses laptop sized drives, so you need to make sure that you get the small 9.5mm 2.5" drives.

Also, I would consider taking this in to be done by an Apple Tech.. the newest Aluminum iMacs are a HUGE hassle to change the HDDs. You have to remove the whole front glass piece of the screen, and a bunch of other random things just to get to the HDD. Looks to be a super pain.

Incorrect.

iMac uses full size desktop drives. 3.5" You would need an adapter to put the SSD in.

Oops.. sorry, I could've sworn they were laptop drives..