There are a lot of terms that people will throw around including the system requirements for your software. While I am not an expert, I have found that surprisingly few people actually understand the meanings and reasons behind these requirements. So rather that clean my office like I should be doing here is my best explanation of the key components of a computer. Hopefully in doing this you can make your own better informed decision. These key components will be the same for both Macs and PCs. They are the type of storage memory (hard drive), the architecture, the processor, the amount and type of RAM memory, and the video card:
- For your storage memory (think of this as your file cabinets or bookshelves where all the information is stored) an SSD main hard drive is a must. SSD drives are basically a big version of the little USB jump drives. Compared to traditional (disk) hard drives SSDs can be a 100 times faster, access information in 1/10 the time, are more durable, use less power, are quieter, are way lighter, and can be accessed even when the machine is being moved (or on a bouncing boat). Some of the higher end laptops will have a SSD main drive with a larger disk hard drive as a secondary. I think this is a good option to get the most storage and performance for the price.
- I don't know about basic video editing but for most processes 64-bit architecture will be much faster than 32-bit architecture this is also referred to as 'bus size' or 'width' in computing. Think of the architecture as the width or amount of lanes in the roads that go from one component to another inside your computer. A 64-bit system can carry 64 bits of information at once (in whats called a packet) where 32-bit systems can only carry 32 bits of information in a packet. For a lot of things this speed will not be noticed, like surfing the web. If you have a 8 lane highway and only 3 cars are on in at a time it wont be any faster than on a 4 lane highway. Heavy manipulation of high definition video will use a lot of highway lanes. Another advantage of 64-bit architecture is that it can handle more RAM memory (see below). I would get 64-bit architecture. Why buy dated technology on something that already becomes outdated so quickly?
- You also will want an i5 or i7 core processor. The processor, sometimes called the chip or CPU, is the brains of the computer. The i-series chip is a trademark of Intel, but as they are the largest chip maker for most PCs and all Macs this is commonly used. The i5 and i7 processors are quad core where each core can kind of work independently and simultaneously. It is kind of like have four little brains working together or on different tasks at the same time. This does make them exponentially faster than single or dual core processors. They also tend to have more internal cashe memory which is like being able to have more information off the top of your head (and less need to look commonly used things up). The main difference between the i5 and i7 processors is that the i7 can come with more of this cashe memory and it has the ability to pretend that it splits cores and kind of acting like it has 8 cores instead of 4. This virtual splitting is called hyperthreading. Hyperthreading can speed up the processing but not always as it does this as a cost of processing information at half the speed of when it is not hyperthreading.
- The RAM memory is a faster temporary memory than the storage memory but unlike the storage memory it forgets everything once the power is shut off. Think of RAM memory like having the book with the information open in front of you. Where storage memory is like having to get up and go to the bookshelf to get the information. Obviously, the more the better.... up to a point. If you only need to remember 10 things but have the capacity to remember 500 you wont really recall those things faster that someone who can only remember 30 things. That being said, for most laptops, their max is low enough that... the more RAM memory the better. Also 32-bit architecture can only be aware of (or register) 4 GB or RAM memory (I think it is actually more like 3.5 GB but memory today is really only sold in terms of whole GB). A lot of software can really take advantage of twice the RAM memory than that. There is also types of RAM memory that relate to the speed of the memory. You will see things like SDRAM, DDR, DDR2, DDR3, and soon DDR4 RAM. SDRAM is really the structure of memory and they are all SDRAM so don't worry about it. The DDR 1, 2, and 3 refers to how often (or fast) the memory can take in and send out information. The bigger the number the faster (more times per clock cycle). The current standard is DDR3 but DDR4 is going to be showing up any time now. Right now any decent new computer should be coming with DDR3 RAM so just worry about how much.
- Finally there is the video card. This is where the price can really jump up and really distinguishes the middle from the high-end in laptops. Most laptops use what is called an integrated video card. This means that the brains and memory that control the video are built into the part of the computer where all the components connect (the motherboard) or even built right into the processor (the brain of the computer). This is much, much cheaper for the manufactures to make and also usually allows the video to share the memory from the RAM or the processors cashe memory rather than have its own. You won't notice it if you are watching a YouTube video or a movie off a DVD as these things don't demand much. But this sharing can really slow graphic intensive activities such as high definition video rendering down. An integrated video card is like when my wife doesn't order her own meal because she will 'just have a bite of mine'. The result is that neither one of us end up satisfied. A distinct or dedicated video card will have its own memory and almost always has a faster higher core brain. Remember integrated video is done for the sole purpose of lowering cost and since most people use a computer primarily for surfing the web or using software like Office they don't notice the difference and this works out fine. For gamers, multimedia people, and the software I use a distinct video card is critical. One of my jobs is doing architectural design. My software needs at least 2 GB of dedicated video memory. This is the tough one for recommendations because to get a dedicated video the price jumps up so much as they are only available on the high-end laptops. For your needs I would not recommend a touch screen as it will cost significantly more and they often have lower video resolution.
Mac vs PC:
Personally, I think you get a lot more for the money and flexibility with a PC than a Mac. But PC's have a different cost. That flexibility is really only useful if you are tech savvy otherwise it can easily be a liability in terms of getting and using the right hardware configuration. The other cost with a PC is that Macs 'just work'. My wife recently switched to Macs both at home and at work and she is so much happier. In her words, she doesn't want to have to spend all her time figuring out what to do, she just wants to do it. For me, I don't like that Mac always thinks it knows what I want and what is best for me. I want to figure it out and make it work the way I want. (Maybe I am a little bit of a control freak.) To get all the top hardware mentioned above will probably be 33% cheaper than for the same hardware in a Mac.
Another issue given what you wanted is that none of the new Macs come with an internal CD/DVD burner or even drive. Most PCs still do. This means that if you are playing or burning a lot of discs you will have this very awkward separate cable and box to always contend with and the sleek pretty selling point of a Mac is lost.
I think every multimedia professionals I know has a Mac. Now keep in mind they all have really, really expensive top of the line Macs. It seems to be the one professional area where Macs rule.
Macs do have the ability to run Windows but not the other way around. I believe there is a software called Parallels that allows you to have a virtual PC on a Mac or as the new Macs use an Intel chip there is something called Boot Camp that allows you to 'dual boot' the computer. This essentially allows a Dr. Jekyll/ Mr. Hyde thing where you can turn on the computer as either a Mac or a PC.
I personally like Toshiba Laptops (I build my own desktops). I have had a couple of Toshiba's and have been really happy with both the laptops and the customer support. Toshiba does offer a 3 year no questions, as long as you have the body warranty service. From personal experience, I can tell you this warranty is worth it. I will be buying my business partner a new Toshiba laptop in the next month or so.
Best Buy sells Toshiba laptops so you can get your financing deal.
Sorry for the long post but I had a lot of procrastinating to do. I do hope it was helpful.
Soggyshoes
