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ghijohansson
Known Participant
November 16, 2024
Question

Need advice before I buy a new laptop.

  • November 16, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 1549 views

I have edited a lot with the following equipment :
Camcorder : Canon XA-10. AVCHD 2.0, 24 Mbps 50i, 1920*1080 PAL.
Laptop : PE12. Windows 8.1 with settings for maximum power.
1 gigabyte graphics memory. Intel core i7 3632qm processor (quad core, 2.2 GHz with max 3.2 GHz). 5400 RPM hard drive in 2 partitions. 6 gigabyte RAM.
That is old so I need to buy something newer.
When it comes to new camcorder, I am considering Canon XA-60, which can deliever XF-AVC 45 Mbps. Or Panasonic HC-X2000E , which can deliever footage with 100 Mbps. Yes, both camcorders can also deliver 3840*2160 but that is less relevant for me.
I need something portable since I will move the computer a few hundred meters multiple times per day.

1. According to Adobe, the trial version only works for 7 days. And the program itself will stop working after 3 years. That is not funny. Should scare away customers. So do I misunderstan?
Nowadays many do as I do, keep the same laptop or desktop until it is physically worn out after a decade, so limiting a licence to 3 years makes no sense for me.
The present version of PE requires so much more powerful hardware than the edition I paid for a decade ago, that I can't use the present version on my old laptop, not even for editing footage from my old camcorder. So if I buy a licence today and is forced to buy a new licence in 3 years, I will presumably not be able to install the latter version on the laptop I buy today.

2. There is no internet connection in the room where I do most video editing. Please tell if that will give any problem with the latest version of PE. Yes, I have internet at home, but little of my editing will be done at home.

3. What is the highest bitrate I can edit with the latest version of PE? I mean, if I film with 1920*1080 and either 50p or 50i.

I have more questions, but right now I stop here.

2 replies

G
ghijohanssonAuthor
Known Participant
November 17, 2024

Dear friends,
Nice to see people who like to help others.
OK, I understood it correctly. 3 years license. Well, if Adobe decides to stop selling PE, then a problem will appear. Or if Adobe demands better hardware for a future version, there will also be problems.
OK, no internet needed after PE is installed. Fine.
After posting, I also received a message.
"You can Directly send Email to our Adobe Customer Care Team Email A
Adobe.Tech@outlook.com and they will help you via Email."
Does one pay for that service or is it included in the price for the licence?
About freeware. I have Audacity and some more, but when it comes to video editing, freeware has so many shortcomings that I still prefer payware.
Any more comments?

Ann Bens
Community Expert
Ann BensCommunity Expert
Community Expert
November 17, 2024

The email adress is an SCAM

https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/phishing-inside-the-adobe-community-adobe-tech-outlook-com/m-p/14467817

https://community.adobe.com/t5/using-the-community-discussions/scammers-on-adobe-support-community/m-p/11389443#M45084

G
ghijohanssonAuthor
Known Participant
January 25, 2025

Many thanks for further advice.
I now have a list with 7 laptops which cost about the same.
4 of them have a CPU with 6 cores, while the remaing 3 have more.
Benchmarks numbers are in the range 16,000-23,000.
Yes, I understand the problem with telling what is powerful enough.


Finally, I did buy a new laptop. I realized that none of those I considered would satisfy me. Some had no card reader. For others it was earphones which can't be connected. So finally I chose the cheapest one. A retailer wrote on their web page that they had one with signs of earlier usage. But the warranty would last as long as normal. A few hours after it arrived, I emailed the retailer. I asked them if there was some mistake because I had the impression that they had sent a new laptop instead of the used one. No answer, so after a few days I paid for it. Fun to pay 600 dollars for a 900 dollar laptop.

 

 

Ann Bens
Community Expert
Ann BensCommunity Expert
Community Expert
November 16, 2024

Bitrate is not the culprit here: codec is!

H.264 or H.265 are a pain to edit especially drone or phone footage.

50i footage is in the past: think 50p.

I edit xf-avc intra on Premiere Pro on an  i7-7820X CPU @ 3.60GHz desktop and with little issues.

As for waht laptop to buy I have no idea.

As for the subscriptions, Premiere Pro is annually and if you don't extend it will stop working also.

Renting is getting more and more 'popular'.

 

B
Community Expert
Bill SpragueCommunity Expert
Community Expert
November 16, 2024

Hoping to add to Ann's reply.....   

 

I've had success with using windows "gamer" laptops in the $1000 range.  Currently my computer is a Lenevo Legion and it does well with all the Adobe products (including when used with H.264 and H.265 footage.)  

 

So far, I've not needed an internet connection to run Adobe software.  There may be restricted use of some of the new AI features like the denoise tools in Lightroom or Photoshop.  I've not verified that because I normally have a fast connection.   Be careful with other software like Windows ClipChamp that appears to need server connections to fully function.

 

I don't work for and am clueless about Adobe strategy.  That said, leading software companies have to be serious about support.  As software ages, support becomes increasingly difficult.   Limiting Premiere Elements to a 3 year life should not be scary.   It should encourage you because I suspect it may improve support for those customers that sign up.   Video has become so popular and common there are plenty of NLE choices.  If paying for Adobe's software and support is objectionable to you, consider trying some of the free stuff.  

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