Trying to figure out is it worth it to buy the media composer upgrade for $495 being xpresspro is going away. I think I'm going to do it, but a few questions first....should I wait until I am finished with my current project to upgrade even though avid says it is compatible w/xpress pro? I have a Dell pc (not connected to the internet) as my editing work station using windows pro and I also have my laptop using vista. Am I going to be able to install media composer on both my computers? I need to be mobile sometimes. On my Dell, I have xpresspro 5.6.4 installed and working. Currently, I do not have any avid system on my laptop b/c it's new. Possible problems?? Thanks in advance!

-Nik

1. I would NEVER recommend upgrading in the middle of a project...not even from Pro (or MC) to a Pro (or MC) update. It simply isn't a good idea.

2. The current Media Composer version does NOT support Vista...not YET anyway.

 Any idea when it is going to support vista? Thanks

At NAB Avid announced MC Soft 3.0. It will support Leopard and Vista (as well as XP). It is multi-threaded and will utilize multiple CPU cores and GPU processing. Tons of additional real-time preformance especially with HD footage. Support for native HD thin rasters allows much smoother operation and more layers of footage in real-time.

If you purchase MC Soft (full or upgrade) after March 17th, you'll get a free upgrade to MC 3.0 when it ships via the Avid download center. mC Soft 3.0 is scheduled for June release.

Gary

Yeah ... when v3.0 ships .. sked for June

 Ok, so I should I buy the upgrade today and install it on my Dell (when my current project is finished!) and then in June when 3.0 arrives I can install it on my laptop or should I wait until June to buy it? Do you think it will be bug free in June or should we decide on the over/under on how many versions it's going to take? lol

I would argue that few if any releases are 100% bug free (for any video editing software)... but Avid has a history of offering very stable releases and they have been very quick with fixes on a regular basis. IMHO.

I'd go for it.

Adman:

Avid has a history of offering very stable releases and they have been very quick with fixes on a regular basis.

 So my 2.8 version of Media Composer will not work with Vista?

Alos, how will we get version 3 in june?  WIll it be a download?  Will they have it on record when we purchased 2.8?  I literally purchased it March 19th.

One last thing - would you recomment 32 bit or 64 windows?

Any help would be appreciated?

Thanks,
Todd

Hi Todd,

MovieMaker76:

So my 2.8 version of Media Composer will not work with Vista?

No, it will not.

MovieMaker76:

how will we get version 3 in june?  WIll it be a download?

Yes, it will.

MovieMaker76:

Will they have it on record when we purchased 2.8?  I literally purchased it March 19th.

Then you're literally ok, because as long as you purchased after March 17th, you get 3.0 for free.

MovieMaker76:

would you recomment 32 bit or 64 windows?

Media Composer system requirements

good luck,
Carl

Thank you Carl for the input.  I was just about to change to Vista today. 

Sincerely,

Todd

 FYI-I just ordered the $495 upgrade and it's on a 2 week backorder. It's a physical upgrade, not a download.

-Nik

You can also order from other outlets - Videoguys had the physical upgrades in stock and shipped ours out the same day we ordered.

as Gary noted on NAB Vista was shown, do note it will be exclusively available on Vista Business!!! 32 and 64 and the system needs to be ramped up to 4 gig internal memory...

That is all i know or i will have to kill someone

Menno