cambodia Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Just a quick warning. Been looking into the Contour and Go Pro 1080 camcorders 1:You can't view full 1080 on laptops,your image will only be 720. 2:To edit you need quad core and 6gb spare ram,it you don't you will need a week off work because it will take days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Is that even if your laptop has a HD Screen? SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cambodia Posted November 4, 2009 Author Share Posted November 4, 2009 Apparently 1080p video does not fit inside a HD laptop screen,it can only show 900 so the image needs to be resized down defeating the object. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Ahhh, OK.. I have a wide screen HD laptop. (which sounds expensive but was not) I think I am the correct side of that issue. Pants for the majority though. SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cambodia Posted November 4, 2009 Author Share Posted November 4, 2009 What laptop do you have Simon? I really want the Contour 1080 but so far it is pointless unless I spend a fortune on a new computer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surrey-dad Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 What laptop do you have Simon?I really want the Contour 1080 but so far it is pointless unless I spend a fortune on a new computer. Hi CambodiaIf you are serious about Video and High Definition, then you should go to a Mac. If you are resistant to that, you can use Windows, but you’ll need a state of the art system. You’ll want to get at least a Core 2 Duo, a big hard drive and at least 2GB of RAM, and you’ll want to get Adobe Premiere Elements. You will also want to use XP / Win 7 NOT Vista. I am dubious of your 6GB RAM comment, as unless you are running 64bit version of Windows you cannot address more than 3GB of memory regardless of how much you install. Anyway the main trick here is not to import your video at 1080p, but at half the resolution - 540p (that is 960x540p). By importing at this resolution you reduce the quality very little, and get a useful viewable size. But most importantly you dramatically reduce the file size, which makes it much easier to work with files. So you get the best of both worlds. As far as storing your edited videos are concerned I would recommend H.264 format. If you have a good broadband connection, check out the following BBC wildlife sample video in 540p (yes there had to be a video ) Click on the image and select the 480p option (which is actually 960x540): (File size: ~36MB for 2m20s) Hope this is of some use, but please PM me if I can be of any more help. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Agreed, My next laptop will be a Mac. My current one is the Tosh Satellite Pro, P8400. SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surrey-dad Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Cambodia - following recent discussion on this thread about the pro's and cons of the GoPro and Contour HD cameras, here is a timely review by Engadget : GoPro HD Hero review and helmet cam face-off (versus Contour HD) Useful review with video samples. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cambodia Posted November 16, 2009 Author Share Posted November 16, 2009 Hi Andy, Just bought the Contour 1080.Had it a few days but no chance to try it in the air. I can only use the 720 setting on my Computer and even that is a bit choppy but paid the extra £100 for the 1080 because I figured it would have a higher resale value and also give me an excuse to buy a new computer Will post some video as soon as I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surrey-dad Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Just bought the Contour 1080.Had it a few days but no chance to try it in the air.Congratulations on your new purchase Cambodia....paid the extra £100 for the 1080 because I figured it would have a higher resale value and also give me an excuse to buy a new computer Good to futureproof your choice, and to justify a new computer Will post some video as soon as I can.Look forward to it Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paramotormike Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 If your Laptop has a display of 1920 x 1080 or higher then it can play full HD. Many 17" Laptops can have such a display. My old dell has a 1920 x 1200 and so does my Macbook Pro. Cheers Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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