It had been a long time coming. My early 2008, 15-inch Macbook Pro had definitely seen better days when I finally decided to make a move to a new machine. Through my own experiences and those of colleagues, I’ve learned that with most technology, it’s best to go ahead and spend the big bucks upfront. This has proved true for me in several areas. For one, while my 2008 MBP might not have been as “production worthy” as I needed it to be for Sunday morning media or able to keep up with my rendering needs, it’s still a pretty kickin’ computer. Since its replacement, we’ve still been able to use it for all of the design work for my wife’s invitation business. I credit that to purchasing it with excellent specs upfront. On the other hand, I cannot tell you how many cheap laptops that I’ve burnt through that only lasted a year because I went for the “good enough” option. 5 years vs. 1 year….you do the math.
The only problem with “spending the big bucks upfront” is that it requires those big bucks. And my wife and I are Ramsey-er’s, so financing isn’t really an option for us. However, after some hard saving and a generous tax return, I was ready to make the investment! And it sure paid off! I’m now the proud owner of a new 15-inch Macbook Pro with Retina Display! (Specs below) Before buying, I had read several discussions online where people had expressed issues they were having with this machine, but I can tell you that it’s worked fantastically for me. I’ve been running ProPresenter 4 and all of the CS4 Production Suite almost everyday with no trouble at all. It was a big relief for me that it could handle my current software without having to spend more money right out of the gate on the latest software.
Complete Specs:
Macbook Pro
Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013
Processor: 2.7 GHz Intel Core i7
Memory: 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5
Storage: 512 GB flash storage
Connections: MagSafe 2 power port, Two Thunderbolt ports (up to 10 Gbps), Two USB 3 ports (up to 5 Gbps), HDMI port, Headphone port, SDXC card slot
I was asked by a friend if I would recommend this computer to a church looking to purchase a new video setup. While this new machine has worked wonderfully for our church (I’ve used it for the past three Sundays at our theater campus), it’s not necessary for every church. I purchased this computer to be able to handle heavy graphic and video design for years to come while also remaining portable. It’s not likely that most churches would need this much horsepower in a mobile form. However, if your budget permits and mobility is a necessity, this may be your best bet.
My ultimate recommendation for churches who are looking to get started with media in their services or overhaul their current video setup is Apple’s iMac. Five years ago, our church made the purchase of an iMac that was only slightly upgraded beyond the base model. (A total of a $1,500 investment) At that time, we were an inner-city church of only about 250 attenders, so it was a pretty hefty purchase for us. However, it has provided us with five years (and counting) of top quality media on Sunday mornings and never had to be repaired. In the very beginning, we determined that this computer would only be used for media during services. This was not a machine to be used for random browsing or daily projects. Five years later, we’re still using that same iMac at our city campus. To be honest, it still runs like it did on day one. I would recommend this method to any church. You may not have any experience with an Apple computer, but I can testify that I have been through over a dozen PC’s and all the headache that came with them. You won’t regret buying a Mac. I’ve included the specs below of the iMac that I’d recommend. By no means are they concrete, but with these specs you’ll go far.
Recommended Computer:
21.5-inch iMac
Processor: 2.7GHz Quad-core Intel Core i5
Memory: 16GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M 512MB GDDR5
Storage: 1TB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
Price: $1,499.00 (Always be sure to check MacMall for a lower price!)
What computer do you use for Sunday morning media?
