Can you use a macbook to make a DVD with a sony ACVHD camcorder?

Question

Or should I go with a Macbook Pro? I should start by making sure the two are compatible...

Answer 1

You can, but there may be some video editing application requirements. Like... Only the current version of iMovieHD 07 (that ships with iLife08 OR the current version of FinalCut Express or Final Cut Pro 2 can deal with AVCHD files.

I strongly suggest you go here:

http://discussions.apple.com/index.jspa

select the applications, and enter the camcorder model number to search and see what others have experienced.

Be advised the the current implementation of AVCHD compressed video does not provide "best available quality" like miniDV based camcorders because of the high compression rate used to make the high definition video files small so they can fit on the hard drive or flash memory storage media.

There are LOTS of reasons why the professionals are staying with non-AVCHD cameras... this is just one of them.

Also, be aware that the DVD burners currently included in Apple products continue to be non-BluRay burners. The single layer or double layer DVDs your burn with iDVD or DVD Studio will provide the best looking standard definition video you've ever seen, but they will be standard definition (unless you save a a high definition MPEG4 that most DVD players cannot deal with).

If you want a BluRay burner for your Mac, LaCie makes a good one...

http://www.lacie.com/us/products/range.h...