I'll tell you how my new PC fares when it's here and functional :)

With the processor/memory/bus I chose, it should pull up to 6.4Gb/s bandwidth between processor and memory.

Not sure what Macs do; I know that Athlon's memory support architecture is currently behind Intel's thus I got P4 3.0Ghz with Hyperthreading and DualDDR PC3200 (400x2) HyperX memory from Kensigton.

Then again, let's see how the whole thing is going to act in reality.

Thanks again for detailed explanation!

No problem.

We'll do an encoding race when you get it...sounds like you're getting yourself a heck of a machine!

I edited my first documentary on a Dual Pentium II, with 2 X 9GIG Barracudas. The whole thing cost me $10K. I couldn't get $50 for it now.

I guess the depreciation of computer equipment motivates you to work a lot to get your money's worth before they loose their value.

F

Let's hear the unbiased speak...
 

Well, so-called senior members thanks for the lack of proper response--instead dismissing the voicing of common sense and very real concerns with wasted thousands of dollars in equipment and software purchases as the 'rantings of lurkers' and the 'biased.'

Maybe you have lots of cash to throw away on toys or do the ebay 'trade-in' proceedure like a lot of six-figure income enthusiasts, but for many the purchase has to stick and it needs to work well right out of the gate. I'm speaking on behalf of the stated question that started this thread..."Which of these camera is the smartest purchase?" Not, is 'HDV cool and fun to play with?'

The intermediary format of HDV is indeed very, very intriguing, but many on these lists are dismayed by how virginal the territory is and are looking for trustworthy workflows--that it works 100%. I dove in with DV/desktop editing back in 1997 and it took 2 years of upgrading checkerboarding before it worked as promised, and another two to really become efficient. If forums like this one had given me serious food for thought perhaps a lot of time and money would not have been wasted. That's what this thread's about, solid objective advice, not knee-jerk defenses of personal investments or an egoist's partitioning their so-called professional realm from the odd peon wandering in and stirring up trouble. Is this a stuffy Country Club lounge with the long-time members looking down their noses at the newcomers or what?

In short, I and others may indeed be new to this forum but you don't do yourself any great favors by chosing to belittle or berate. You only illuminate your own biases, not the issues. The moment it becomes a 'no brainer' as to which of these cameras is the most solid tool for those wanting to know, then we can stop asking the hardline.

Shane,

Was that a question?

I'll check back when someone's offered an answer...
 

to the topic of the thread.

Frederic, but admit it - what a great writing skills! :)