Bricks in Motion
We are a friendly filmmaking community devoted to the art of stop-motion animation using LEGO® and similar construction toys. Here, you can share your work, join our community of other brickfilmers, and participate in periodic animation contests!
A place to discuss, share, and create stop motion films.
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Sean and others prove a good point
Making your own tower is a great way to make sure everything is what you want
Then a decent monitor is fairly cheap I just sold mine for 30 $ (not sure how many pounds/euros)
But by specifying what you want you will not be dissapointed then just get your windowsoperating system of your choice
If you build your own tower ive heard of the snow leopard OS not cooperating as well as with a Mac Pro or regular Mac
Sorry for ranting earlier, that was quite stupid of me. I recommend getting a simple Dell laptop computer. It has all you really need, and if you want, you can get a mouse, or a set of speakers, or any other necessary hardware. Most dell computers now come with Vista or Windows7, I prefer 7. But if you do save up a lot of money, and think that the money is worth it, buy an Apple computer. I personally think it is too expensive and that apple computers are just as capable as a windows computer, but thats me.
Great graphics can be made on a Windows computer. I really don't know why people say apple is better at graphic design. But I have used both computers at some point, and they are pretty much the same.
But lets finish this thread off. If you ask what is better, you'll get a bunch of responses that are very contrasting. I recommend you write down some basic requirements and watch some reviews on computers in your price range, find out what is and isn't compatible. be prepared to find some of the requirements will be on one computer and the others will be on another. You'll have to prioritize a lot. But look at the computers performance and not how it looks, and don't listen to all these rumors. I have been on an Apple, and the speed isn't too significant. And Bootcamp is supposed to be good, but I don't have it because I use a PC. Perhaps you need to talk with your parents about it. Maybe they have some recommendations.
Happy Computer hunting! 
Last edited by RealBrick (October 5, 2010 (06:20pm))
Buying a pre-built PC, such as a Dell, is an excellent way of ripping yourself off.
Last edited by Siobhan (October 5, 2010 (06:16pm))
Windows 7, my idea. 
Mac is better, but more expensive due to the great quality. So if you wanna save money, then I guess you should use a PC. 
Mac is better, but more expensive due to the great quality.
No, they're the same to me, I have used both and they just have a different interface. Apple just needs to lower their prices, over a thousand dollars for a computer is ridiculous. And I have seen videos from both computers and you cannot tell the difference.
Last edited by RealBrick (October 8, 2010 (12:46pm))
I have a $1000 Lenovo laptop the same price as a MacBook and it has better processor and memory then the mac. Also it has better screen resolution and screen size and best of all Lenevo has sales on their computers every now and then and you can get it much cheaper than the mac.
I'm still leaning towards a macbook. As I said, my friend says he knows someone who 'seller referbishes' them. I would never pay like £700 pounds for a laptop, thats outrageous. But if I could get a seller referbished one for £250, I'd be happy with that. Then I suppose I'd get Final cut express (Final cut pros a bit too much for me) and bootcamp which runs stop motion pro 7 action plus. My friend says that you can run the odd windows application, so SMP should work. If not I'd get istopmotion or something. I checked om the apple website too, and it confermed that, you are able to run windows applications and use mac ones too. I'm just not 100% sure that would work.
Thanks for all the advice guys. I'll just keep an eye out for any cheap ones.
Yeah, make sure your camera will work on a Mac. I got an iMac over the summer but I still use my old PC for frame capturing, since I have the QuickCam Pro 9000.
What camera do use for your animations?
A Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000, which I know won't work with a mac. But I don't mind having to buy myself a new camera anyway. The red colour seems to sometimes look funny through the camera in my films anyway. Everything's on manual, and the chroma and everythings okay. And I can always donate it to my animation club, and use a DV camera we've got. Cameras won't be too much of a problem I don't think.
Anyway, I definately want a laptop of some sort because I've got limited space on my desk. So I'll look into these macbooks, and maybe mindows 7 ones.
Yeah, make sure your camera will work on a Mac. I got an iMac over the summer but I still use my old PC for frame capturing, since I have the QuickCam Pro 9000.
Sorry for just repeating some of that. You posted this as I was replying to Aquamorph. That actually sounds like quite a good idea. I may consider that.
Thanks for all the help guys, I really didn't think I'd get this much advice. Much appriciated. 
Well, I'm done offering good advice in this thread. Personally I think you're digging your own grave, but it's your money and your choice. For your sake I hope it works out.
Well, I'm done offering good advice in this thread. Personally I think you're digging your own grave, but it's your money and your choice. For your sake I hope it works out.
I agree if you do not have much money mac is not the way to go even if you can get computer cheep. The software and hardware will be way more expensive then a windows computer.
Macs are MUCH better, My friend has one and sometimes I'll use it to edit my animations becuase my PC at home has this really corny software and can't edit anything right. Plus the macbook and any other mac can use 'Final cut pro' which is one of the best animating softwares out there...
Final Cut Pro is not an animation software. It's for editing and effects. Also this thread kinda stopped a month ago. But yeah Macs are much better.
I'd Say go for a Pc if going Free
But Go Mac For Buy
THe cheapest program is I guess iStopmotion with so MUCH!
And has Final cut so That would be useful Unlike windows Movie Maker 
@Studiosupndown: What?
@TBDude: Have you ever used a PC, and by this, I dont mean "Clicked on an icon and typed in a word", I mean used one, do you have one? And have you tried Windows 7?
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And sorry to rain on this parade, but I hope you know that since Steve Jobs refuses to give up position as CEO of Apple, the company is in jeopardy, especially since he has battled cancer and his health is bad. If he dies, there will be a lot of craziness, the company may fall.
And I didn't make this clear in my first rant, but PC is not a company guys. It is an abbreviation for Personal Computer, that basically means home computer, or one for people to use freely. Mac makes computers that fall under that category, but chooses to be considered different. Microsoft doesn't make computers. It makes operating systems that run on personal computers. Mac produces it's own operating system and computers, but now it focuses mainly on marketing, and making it's computers appear to be sheek. But if you want the truth out of me, I've seen many, many commercials for mac computers, and they all look the same operating system-wise.
I wouldn't consider buying a Mac computer because of the freeware. Buy a computer that you like and buy software for it, like Sony Vegas, and After Effects, and other software. What I said earlier, take two videos make by two people on the same level or animation and show me how the computer affects their movies.
Again, cheers for all the help guys. I was suprised to see this thread revived after all this time, thanks for really trying to help out.
My parents say that I may get a laptop of some sort for Christmas, I've still got most of my BD money, so can put a bit towards it. I would love to build my own PC Sean, but being as my dad works in Africa 6 weeks on and 6 weeks off, I don't think I'd be able to do it, not on my own like it would have to be if I did that. Plus my parents probabally wouldn't want me to risk it, if anything went wrong. No, I want to get some kind of laptop, and I'll probabally get myself an external HD. I'm also doing my GCSE next year, so a laptop would be good for that.
I don't really mind having to pay for soft/hardware. I would probabally get Final cut express, FCP is way to much for me. Same with after effects, I'll never be able to afford it. So I'll probabally go for a mac if I had the choice. I got to try them out when we went to london, and my family likes it too, so we'd all be able to use it.
I'm still open for any suggestions though. Thanks again for the advice. 
A Mac is way better, just saying.....
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