DPI:

Do you like to use hardware or software? PC/Mac vs. DVD/Mixer?

Hal Eagar:

I prefere Software over hardware all the way. I'm a programmer so that's pretty obvious for me. But to go into the details the fact that I can get the software to do a lot of various things that that would each take a different piece of hardware and the fact that I can re use the computer just about every day not just when i'm running a video effect is a big plus. And because it's a general purpose machine it's easy to find a computer when you need one too.

Also as i've mentioned I like realtime generated animation and the type of uber flexability that you can get with a software system. I guess that a dvd player is as easy to find as a computer, but the computer is more flexable.

Not everything is possible with just a general purpose pc of course. I have my bag of add ons and extra little devices. Scan converters, video capture devices, DA's, switches etc... But they are all pretty cheap mass market stuff just like the computer itself. Besides being cheap, mass market stuff is easy to replace. So although it's less dependable than really high end video gear it's pretty solid (After all it's meant for the masses) and easily replaced or backed up.

I know a lot of people are afraid of using computers because they fear failure. And some people say they don't trust hard drives.

Anyway I admit that software can crash, and the way it interacts with different setups can be a big headache and source of failures. But being a geek who uses the stuff a lot i'm very good at avoiding or fixing those problems. And by fixing that usually just means working around, aka avoiding the issue. As far as i'm concerned a dvd player or video mixer in this day and age is just as likely to crash as a pc.

And as for hard drives, a dvd is a moving part too. I've seen them spontaineously destruct in a dvd drive from the rotation. And my servers hard drives last 7 years or so. Everything (well cheap modern sruff) breaks, and you keep a backup.

And you can get a new pc much easier than a matrix switch, or serial controled dvd player.

Also I guess I never know what i'm going to do so I want a fasile system.

Oh and that other part of the questionm; I'm a pc man, I don't want to get into a flame war but I'll risk it and go into why. But to mitigate the response I'm not saying Mac's are not better, if you think they are then fine I'll concede that they are, but personal preferences aside, I've always said that there is very little difference between mac's and PC's. Now days it's very true with them having the same hardware. But Mac's just cost to much for me to use. They are not available in the same way to rent, borrow, or just be given. And they cost more than twice as much new. (i know I get lots of flack for that but i'll find you a mac mini eqivelent for $200 if u want. It will be ugly and big and out of date, but it will push video just the same.)

And it's hard to be cheaper than free, and there are a lot of free pc's floating around.

Also because of that I use pc's have software for them, and can bend them to my will in a way I have never had the time to learn to do with a Mac. I'm comphortable using a Mac, but it's always on loan, never mine.