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What's the matter Vily, couldn't make your own list?: ---Here is a proof---

You stalled for two weeks until your Big Daddy came in and provided a list for you. I have gone through that list with an open mind, as I approach all technology (can you say the same?), and I found it to be sorely lacking. His list does not provide most of the functionality of iLife. To even come close, you will have to spend nearly $500, leaving nothing for your hardware costs.

Here are the details:

Okay, let's review. You've promised to build me a PC for $400 and use free programs to equal the Mac Mini's free iLife suite. You've provided a list, but sadly, the programs don't give me the functionality that I get for free from Apple. Let's begin:

---As far as some specific examples that come with a computer that you purchase ? look at any of the free Nero or Roxio packages. These come free when you buy the computer or even just an upgrade---

Wait, I thought you were going to build the machine. If you're buying it, please let me know the machine you would buy for $400 in place of the Mini, and be sure it includes one of these packages. Otherwise, you'll need to add in $75 or so for each one just to be able to match the built in cd/dvd burning capabilities of a Mac.

---1.iphoto. Microsoft offers a free Photo Story application. Excellent app. My 5 year old can use it.---

Photo Story lacks much of the functionality of iPhoto. Most obviously, there is no built in ability to burn cd's or dvd's. One must rely on 3rd party software and can't do this directly. It also lacks iPhoto's ability for cataloguing and organizing photos. To get this from MS, you must buy Microsoft's Digital Image Suite, which runs $89.99. That leaves you only $310.01 to build your imaginary PC. Is Photo Story compatible with the RAW format? I can't find any mention of this. iPhoto also imports and organizes video clips from digital cameras. Can Photo Story do this? Photo Story has tools for cropping, rotating and removing red eye. iPhoto has those, plus tools for editing saturation, exposure and sharpness. You could get this functionality by purchasing Photoshop Elements, at the cost of another $70.

---2.imovie ? Microsoft offer a free Movie Maker application which output to many CHOICES!---

PC Magazine calls Movie Maker "extremely limiting".
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1681494,00.asp
Another reviewer states
There is no DVD authoring or burning capability, no support for other video formats, very little by way of effects/transitions/titles that you can apply to your clips, no customisations offered on the transitions, no direct control over most other features, no basic effects like fades, brightness, colour adjustments, blur and slow motion, and no DVD authoring and burning capability. I know, I've already mentioned the DVD issue but it does bug me.
http://www.poweroid-video-editing.co.uk/Novice/Video_Editing_Software/Windows_Movie_Maker_2.asp

Unlike iMovie, Movie Maker can not handle HD video. Movie Maker's primitive editing tools pale in comparison to iMovie's. PC Magazine recommends Pinnacle Studio Plus, which will run you $85.

---3.iDVD ? geeze, where to start here. So many I?m not sure which to list. Blaze Media Pro, TMPGEnc ? Free commercial apps that come with a computer or upgrade hardware ? Nero, Roxio, etc---

Do you actually know what iDVD is? It's DVD authoring software.

Blaze Media Pro does not provide DVD authoring ability. It also costs $50.
TMPGEnc is not DVD authoring software. According to their website, TMPGEnc converts *.AVI file to MPEG1, the format which is used in VideoCD. Using variety of option in TMPGEnc, you can compress your video file in high quality. Nice, but not what iDVD does.
PC Magazine again recommends Pinnacle Plus, and since you already are going to have to pay for that one, we won't add on any extra cost here.

---4.iGarageBand ? I?m surprise apple could even name their product this, since garageband.com has been out for some time now. Free editors ? so many too list. Audacty, Blaze Media Pro, SoundEdit Pro, AudioEdit, Free commercial apps that come with a computer or upgrade hardware ? Nero, Roxio, etc---

Uh, no, Apple did not name their product "iGarageBand", just "GarageBand". Again, you seem to have a misunderstanding as to what the program actually does.

GarageBand provides capabilities for multitrack recording directly from musical instruments. It creates musical notation on the fly in realtime. It provides advanced editing and mixing capabilities, including the ability to adjust the tuning on instruments and vocals. It also makes the computer into a musical instrument, with the ability to create songs from samples, loops and prerecorded tracks. None of your mentioned programs come anywhere close to this.

Cakewalk has the loops and the music creation functions for $80. Another option would be Sony's Acid Pro for $399.

For the recording functions, the cheapest that I can find is Cubase SE for $95.

---5.iTunes ? man this app blows. Media Player 10 is soooooo much better and works with a CHOICE of players! ---

Not going to do me much good since I already own an iPod, but I'll let you slide here.

So let's add it up: to replicate iLife, you're going to spend at least $494.99. Which is more than your total budget for your PC. Care to try again?; Posted by: tic swayback Posted on: 02/02/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use