Inadequate computer ?
 

I just got a Canon XH A1s recently. I am learning more about video and enjoying the camera very much. My computer is an iMac 4.1 three years old. It has a 2Ghz Intel core duo processor, 200G hard drive, 500G external hd, 1G of ram. I think my Ram is my biggest limiting factor. This computer worked great for SD, but when I try to capture HDV it bogs down until it practically stops. Until now iMovieHD was all I needed. I am not going into the video business, I just want a computer that will handle the demands of HDV and software that will make me look like a pro even though I'm not. I thought FCP Express was for me but I'm not sure it will work with 24f and 30f frame rates.

Hi Michael;

I have a similar setup like yours only I have an HV20, 2.16Ghz Intel C2Duo with 2GB of ram, 250GB HDD and 500GB USB HDD (rather have FW).

I don't know whether FCE will handle 24f or 30f, however I can adequately edit an hour of HDV footage. An hour and a half is pushing it, but still manageable. 2 hours or more is just downright painful to edit. Rendering small sections of the timeline usually take only a minute or two, sometimes up to 5 minutes depending on the applied filters. Most of the videos I make are anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes usually.

I'd have to agree that your ram is most likely the problem, upgrading to 2GB will help. I'm not sure how much of a difference there is between Core Duo and Core 2 Duo, but that more than likely helps out as well.

I'm planning on getting a new top of the line iMac sometime late this year or early next year, or hold off a little longer and get a quad core Mac Pro.

More memory will definitely help. As for 24f and FCE, here's a site that may help:
Using Final Cut Express with p24 Content Wally World

It's definitely the RAM - upgrade and you'll be OK for what you plan to do.