Computing Requirements for FMA Graduate Students

Recommended and Required Equipment

The Film and Media Arts Division of American University’s School of Communication is a leader in visual storytelling and integrating the latest and evolving technologies into production and distribution.

As a result, we are pleased to partner with Apple to provide you with recommendations for your laptop needs. Remember that we have an all-digital tapeless production workflow, which means that the central tool for managing media is your computer.

Film and Media Arts requires all MA and MFA graduate students who enter the program beginning fall 2012 to own one of the laptops listed below. Check our Apple Store for special student pricing. Be sure to purchase AppleCare for your laptop; it's a wise investment.

In addition to one of the laptops below, here is a list of additional equipment you will need for the program. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact Prof Larry Engel at engel@american.edu or call the Techline at (202) 885-3570.

Recommended Laptop Packages

1- "GOOD"

This is the entry-level laptop that will run FCP with HD media. Please add Apple Care in your purchase.

15-inch MacBook Pro

Specifications

• 2.3GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7
  
• Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz
• 8GB 1600MHz memory
• 500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
  
• Intel HD Graphics 4000
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 512MB of GDDR5 memory
• Built-in battery (7 hours)
• MacBook Pro 15-inch Glossy Widescreen Display
• Backlit Keyboard (English) & User's Guide
  
• Accessory Kit

2- "BETTER"

This is the choice for a 15-inch laptop that combines portability with a bigger and faster hard drive that runs FCP more efficiently and quickly, and a higher-resolution antiglare display. Again please consider adding Apple Care to your purchase.

• 2.3GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7
• Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz
  
• 8GB 1600MHz memory
  
• 750GB 7200 rpm hard drive
• Intel HD Graphics 4000
  
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
  
• MacBook Pro 15-inch Hi-Res Antiglare Widescreen Display
  
• Display Backlit Keyboard (English) & User's Guide
  
• Accessory Kit

3- "BEST"

This is has a faster processor, the bigger and faster hard drive, and the higher resolution, antiglare display. Apple Care is highly recommended.

• 2.6GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7
  
• Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz
  
• 8GB 1600MHz memory
  
• 750GB 7200 RPM hard drive
• Intel HD Graphics 4000
  
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
• Built-in battery (7 hours)
  
• MacBook Pro 15-inch Hi-Resolution Antiglare Widescreen Display
  
• Backlit Keyboard (English) & User's Guide
  
• Accessory Kit

4- "ULTIMATE"

This is a high-end (but not the highest-possible) configuration of the new MacBook Pro with Retina display. It includes a faster processor, the bigger and faster hard drive. Apple Care is highly recommended.

• 2.6GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7
  
• Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz
  
• 16GB 1600MHz memory
  
• 512GB flash storage hard drive
• Intel HD Graphics 4000
  
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
• Built-in battery (7 hours)
  
• MacBook Pro 15-inch with Retina display
  
• Backlit Keyboard (English) & User's Guide
  
• Accessory Kit

RAM
Due to the memory requirements of professional applications, upgrading to 8GB RAM is recommended for better performance.

Storage
The faster 7200-rpm hard drive is recommended for better performance writing your video to the hard drive.

Display
The 15-inch MacBook Pro comes with a 1,440-by-900-pixel LED-backlit, glossy display. You can also choose a high-resolution, 1,680-by-1,050 anti-glare display that gives you 36 per cent more pixels.

About the high-resolution display:
The 1680-by-1050 display gives you more pixels — which is especially useful when you’re working with HD content in pro applications, like Final Cut Studio — because you get a sharper image and more screen space to work with.

About glossy and antiglare:
Choose the glossy widescreen display to make your graphics, photos, and videos appear with richer colors and deeper blacks — great for watching DVD movies. If you prefer a display with antiglare coating for a matte rather than glossy viewing experience, choose the antiglare widescreen display.

Important note:
The actual size of the display is the same (15-inch diagonal) on both models. The antiglare display has a silver frame (border) around the display.

Retina Display
With four-times as many pixels and a native 2880x1800 resolution, the Retina display option gives professionals more pixels than a HDTV for your workspace. http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/features/

Flash storage
Flash storage is more durable, reliable, battery efficient, and up to four times faster than traditional mechanical hard drives. http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/features/

Note: The MacBook Pro with Retina Display model does not have an optical drive. The Apple USB SuperDrive can be included for an extra $79.