GS100K and IMac at DVinfo.net

Allan Rejoso · October 4th, 2003, 08:35 AM

I've just been asked these questions and being a DosTel/Wintel user since my teenage years, have no definite answer. Any comments will be highly appreciated.

Are there any issues when you connect the two (through USB and/or Firewire)?

Many thanks!

Jeff Donald · October 4th, 2003, 10:46 AM

USB would be for still images and FireWire would be for DV. Under OS X you probably don't need any drivers etc. It should be plug-n-play. OS 9.x.x may need drivers for the USB connection.

Patricia Kim · October 4th, 2003, 03:24 PM

MPEG4 (SD card video) is in MS' proprietary format (you must have WMP to view it - it is available for Mac on the MS web site) - and cannot be edited on the Mac. There is also apparently no fix for this limitation at this time, though I keep looking for one. Use a card reader for the SD card - using the USB cable provided with the 100K can end up destabilizing your Mac (I speak from experience - I have a 1GHz Powerbook and use OSX 10.2.4, and it did exactly that). Photos taken on the SD card will easily download from the card reader and can be imported into iPhoto, if that's what one is using, and presumably can be imported into any other Mac-compatible software. For best results if using iMovie and iDVD, get the latest versions and get QT Pro. QT Pro especially will save you from unnecessary grey hairs if you're trying to get your movie to a dvd.

Jeff Donald · October 4th, 2003, 03:37 PM

For maximum compatibility try using the current OS, 10.2.8 Have you tried using VLC to view the MPEG4 video? It will play more proprietary formats than QT.

Patricia Kim · October 4th, 2003, 04:41 PM

Jeff, thank you for the input. But, as many harebrained things as I do with my camcorder, I'm pretty conservative with my computer. If it ain't broke, I don't fix it. I refused to move up to 10.2.6 because I am also a Palm user, and there were too many problems reported re using bluetooth after that upgrade was released. Now I am going to sit back and wait and see what folks have to say about 10.2.8. Other issues: I use iMovie and iDVD and visit those fora. Such pain, agony and moaning - many people with problems I have not had and hope not to have. Most using 10.2.6, though that is probably not the cause of the difficulties (some people do think the software is supposed to know what you want done and do it; I only feel that way about my camcorder). I intend to keep following the Mac forum here and elsewhere to see how 10.2.8 works out. Hope you and others will keep posting to let us know - though most folks here use the pro software like FCP and DVDSP, way out of my league.

Re WMP - don't think there's a fix yet. I've asked in lots of places. It really seems to have to do with how MS implemented the mpeg4 protocols and there not being, I assume, enough demand for MS or anyone to try to make it completely cross platform. There's talk of an update to WMP for Mac, but it seems to be just wishful thinking for the moment.

John McRae · October 12th, 2003, 09:05 PM

Patricia Kim wrote in an earlier post:

> using the USB cable provided with the
> 100K can end up destabilizing your
> Mac (I speak from experience - I have a
> 1GHz Powerbook and use OSX 10.2.4,
> and it did exactly that).

What exactly do you mean by "destabilizing" the Mac?

Actually, given the ease by which one can copy files off the SD card using a card reader, I'm not sure why one would want to hook the camera up directly. Maybe for those situations when the USB cable but no card reader were available?

Patricia Kim · October 13th, 2003, 05:45 AM

John, absolutely right, use a card reader. The usb cable which comes with the 100k also comes with specific instructions about downloading windows drivers, etc. I just went ahead when I first got the camcorder and plugged in the usb cable anyway. Wrong move. Not recommended.

John McRae · October 13th, 2003, 01:39 PM

Umm, OK, will do.

But, what happened on the Mac when you blithely hooked up the videocam via the USB cable?

Presumably, "destabilize" doesn't mean that your Mac started shaking like a vibrator?! :)

Patricia Kim · October 13th, 2003, 02:05 PM

Odd things started happening, like apps shutting down unexpectedly; I think at one point I had to shut down the computer completely and restart to get one of the apps to open. What I did was just run the disk utility, buy an OSX compatible card reader (got a $20 cheapie), download the upgrade to iMovie, and purchase QTPro. Things seem to be fine.

Jeff Donald · October 13th, 2003, 03:46 PM

I would suspect your destabilizing was the result of some other cause. If the OS can't recognize the device, it will ignore the device.

October 4th, 2003, 08:35 AM	#1
Allan Rejoso Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 569	GS100K and IMac I've just been asked these questions and being a DosTel/Wintel user since my teenage years, have no definite answer. Any comments will be highly appreciated. Are there any issues when you connect the two (through USB and/or Firewire)? Many thanks!

October 4th, 2003, 10:46 AM	#2
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	USB would be for still images and FireWire would be for DV. Under OS X you probably don't need any drivers etc. It should be plug-n-play. OS 9.x.x may need drivers for the USB connection. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 4th, 2003, 03:37 PM	#4
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	For maximum compatibility try using the current OS, 10.2.8 Have you tried using VLC to view the MPEG4 video? It will play more proprietary formats than QT. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 13th, 2003, 03:46 PM	#10
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	I would suspect your destabilizing was the result of some other cause. If the OS can't recognize the device, it will ignore the device. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 4th, 2003, 03:24 PM	#3
Patricia Kim Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 453	MPEG4 (SD card video) is in MS' proprietary format (you must have WMP to view it - it is available for Mac on the MS web site) - and cannot be edited on the Mac. There is also apparently no fix for this limitation at this time, though I keep looking for one. Use a card reader for the SD card - using the USB cable provided with the 100K can end up destabilizing your Mac (I speak from experience - I have a 1GHz Powerbook and use OSX 10.2.4, and it did exactly that). Photos taken on the SD card will easily download from the card reader and can be imported into iPhoto, if that's what one is using, and presumably can be imported into any other Mac-compatible software. For best results if using iMovie and iDVD, get the latest versions and get QT Pro. QT Pro especially will save you from unnecessary grey hairs if you're trying to get your movie to a dvd.

October 4th, 2003, 04:41 PM	#5
Patricia Kim Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 453	Jeff, thank you for the input. But, as many harebrained things as I do with my camcorder, I'm pretty conservative with my computer. If it ain't broke, I don't fix it. I refused to move up to 10.2.6 because I am also a Palm user, and there were too many problems reported re using bluetooth after that upgrade was released. Now I am going to sit back and wait and see what folks have to say about 10.2.8. Other issues: I use iMovie and iDVD and visit those fora. Such pain, agony and moaning - many people with problems I have not had and hope not to have. Most using 10.2.6, though that is probably not the cause of the difficulties (some people do think the software is supposed to know what you want done and do it; I only feel that way about my camcorder). I intend to keep following the Mac forum here and elsewhere to see how 10.2.8 works out. Hope you and others will keep posting to let us know - though most folks here use the pro software like FCP and DVDSP, way out of my league. Re WMP - don't think there's a fix yet. I've asked in lots of places. It really seems to have to do with how MS implemented the mpeg4 protocols and there not being, I assume, enough demand for MS or anyone to try to make it completely cross platform. There's talk of an update to WMP for Mac, but it seems to be just wishful thinking for the moment.

October 12th, 2003, 09:05 PM	#6
John McRae New Boot Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Honolulu, Hawai'i Posts: 13	Patricia Kim wrote in an earlier post: > using the USB cable provided with the > 100K can end up destabilizing your > Mac (I speak from experience - I have a > 1GHz Powerbook and use OSX 10.2.4, > and it did exactly that). What exactly do you mean by "destabilizing" the Mac? Actually, given the ease by which one can copy files off the SD card using a card reader, I'm not sure why one would want to hook the camera up directly. Maybe for those situations when the USB cable but no card reader were available?

October 13th, 2003, 05:45 AM	#7
Patricia Kim Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 453	John, absolutely right, use a card reader. The usb cable which comes with the 100k also comes with specific instructions about downloading windows drivers, etc. I just went ahead when I first got the camcorder and plugged in the usb cable anyway. Wrong move. Not recommended.

October 13th, 2003, 01:39 PM	#8
John McRae New Boot Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Honolulu, Hawai'i Posts: 13	Umm, OK, will do. But, what happened on the Mac when you blithely hooked up the videocam via the USB cable? Presumably, "destabilize" doesn't mean that your Mac started shaking like a vibrator?! :)

October 13th, 2003, 02:05 PM	#9
Patricia Kim Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 453	Odd things started happening, like apps shutting down unexpectedly; I think at one point I had to shut down the computer completely and restart to get one of the apps to open. What I did was just run the disk utility, buy an OSX compatible card reader (got a $20 cheapie), download the upgrade to iMovie, and purchase QTPro. Things seem to be fine.