Mac vs PC for video editing

The which-is-better debate has been raging for years. Here's our take on using those two different platforms for video editing:

The Mac Experience

• you'll be seen as cool, as different, as a creative/media type, or as someone who's too thick to get to grips with Windows ;-)
• the unit will be visually appealing. Apple cases are well designed and match the monitors and other peripherals
• you are probably less at risk from viruses each time you go on the internet. Virus writers tend to concentrate their limited attention span on creating viruses for Windows based machines
• Apple has some good software including iMovie, iDVD and iTunes
• you'll have to put up with the silly names like iMovie, iDVD & iTunes
• There's only one butt to kick if your system doesn't work. No getting fobbed off by the software manufacturer saying the thingymijg is not compatible with the widgetiwoo and that the third party supplied whatyamaycallit is screwing up the operating system registry
• downside to the one-butt-to-kick principle is that if the one butt is not around you'll have no butt to kick. That is an inherent weakness in all proprietary solutions - what happens if the company ever goes bust?
• you can use Final Cut Pro (only available on a Mac)

The PC Experience

• kick-ass speed, kick-ass speed, kick-ass speed. The top PC always beats the top Mac. 
• new developments - from dual processor operation to 64 bit computing - come out on the PC first
• better value, wider choice of components, easy upgrade paths
• the huge market share of the PC makes it something that WILL be around for a long time to come. 
• a lot of the best video editing products are available for the PC only
• availability of lots of resources from advice, tips, support forums, and manuals to training videos, help, and online discussion groups mean that the PC user is quite spoilt really
• there's a phenomenal range of software available for PC users from a wide range of video editing software to special effects applications, format conversion programs and a range of other suites and utilities
• competition is good. It means that component prices from CPUs to video editing cards are being constantly improved and becoming more affordable
• once you get to grips with the interface, the menu system, right-clicking with the mouse, and shortcut keys you'll find that you can navigate quite adeptly around any Windows application

A Mac vs PC showdown