I do enjoy cutting on an Avid, but this 24P nonsense is making my head explode. If it is not delivered in this next release, I may be done with Avid.

Absolutely. I suspect that an important - if not critical - issue for most of us here is the ability to work with HDV1 at any frame rate - particularly 24P and 25P. Although Avid do occasionally issue statements to the contrary, it is crystal clear from (lack of) action, not words, that HDV1 is not even close to being a priority in Avid product development.

We provide post facilities for external clients and we also produce our own stuff- some of which is shot on the HDxxx series of JVC cameras. We have the HDV1 issue with Avid, the general arrogance issue with Avid and the ridiculous price paradigm issue with Avid. We have to weigh these problems against our preference for the core application (yes, I've used lots of others on paying jobs, so I'm not all that blinkered) and the huge advantages of integration that using Avid brings - particularly here in the UK.

It's a tough situation because I'm not convinced there's a suitable alternative out there. FCP is probably the closest but that means a platform switch that we just aren't in a position to make right now. I have actually used FCP for paying work and I was impressed at the price/feature ratio but I'd rather cut on Avid any day of the week! I'm not sure I agree with those Avid criticisms above. There are simple ways to do nearly all those things. Avid is much more flexible than many people think. You can drag/drop etc with ease. I actually work much faster with keyboard shortcut controls anyway.

Are there any former Avid professionals out there who have made the switch to another PC-based NLE and are happy with the result?

INtegration is the big stumbling block to changeovers for large houses. It's much easier for a single suite shop to say "Well that's it, as soon as it's time to upgrade computers, we'll go with FCP, and be done with it." Since it's all done in house, it's easily done. But if youre moving in and out of broadcast suites, finishing suites, other post houses, working with HUGE files on networks with many suites co-producing... then it's a hard sell.

Yes, AVID is much faster to cut on with keystrokes than mouse movements, but that's neither here nor there, as you can also point and click/drag and drop for every action as well if that's your preference.

I really suspect there is some sort of 'political' or 'proprietary' stumbling block in place that no one inside is talking about. I don't have any reasons for assuming as much, except THIS - My wife is an intellectual property attorney. We live in Silicon Valley (close enough). It's not uncommon for all sorts of issues to arise between software/hardware companies that become stumbling blocks because of proprietary licensing or integration or other arcane/legal issues that prevent what SHOULD be a simple acquisition or integration from occurring. And no one is allowed to discuss it. That is SORT of what this smells like. Am I just whistling in the wind? Absolutely. It's just a wild guess on my part. But as others have pointed out, there shouldn't be any real 'technical' reason for not doing it, therefore the only reasons would be 'business'.

Occams razor.

Well Avid may be in all the big houses but that started along time back, I would say if final cut pro makes some big improvements this year and ends up in alot of the smaller facilities and maybe even in some larger ones it will be a big plus for them.
Remember everyone starts some where and with the growing maket in small buisness over the years and the newer improved tool's available to that market what's avid going to do as some of these smaller companys with with the new power in affordable tool's at hand start getting bigger and better. There are more in the playing field then ever before and those company's as they grow small or not will more than likely stay with the platform that took them there this is what avid should be concerned about.
Back in the day only big company's with big money could be on top in most cases, that's not the way it is today or will be in the future. Like I said as more of these smaller company's get bigger and take there platform's that have worked for them over the year's up the hill with them so shall the market for avid change.
Many say that avid may not see small business as a big profit or a place to invest for big returns, I say that would be a grave mistake on thier part this is a different arena than in the past all the small company's avid dogs in thier ingnorance in the present shall in my opinion come to haunt them in the future as these smaller companys grow and prosper. (just ask Spock)

The above is merely and opinion only time will tell

Gary,

I think an indication of your prophecy would be when the broadcast/film world starts cutting on FCP for... say, thirty percent of their projects. So look for that sort of trend.

Right now, AVID is still over ninety percent.

I remeber a few months back the news that the BBC was dumping Avid from some of its operations and replacing it with Final Cut. At the time I thought that an odd decision, now I can totally see their logic.

Several months later... Just curious - has anyone heard any updates about 720p25 support in avid xpress pro?

I guess not...