ART 250/550 :: laptop and software ownership policy
LAPTOP OWNERSHIP IS A REQUIREMENT FOR ENROLLMENT IN ART 250/550.
Students will be expected to bring their laptop to EVERY class, so access to a non-portable workstation computer is not acceptable.
Your laptop will serve as your 24/7 production studio, so it MUST have video and still image editing, and sound playback/editing capability, plus ample file storage capability (video files can be very large).
Students must provide their own software, but this requirement focuses on freeware and/or software that typically comes with a laptop’s operating system.
You must read ALL the rest of this document carefully for further details.
Apple laptops and sofware
This is the recommended laptop of choice, particularly since Apple laptops now come configured with iLife, a suite of software tools that provides an elegant integration of still image, sound, and video editing tools. Chances are that your instructor will be using an Apple laptop and will be most conversant with software products that run on the Apple platform.
The most important software tool to consider is iMovie, Apple’s video editing software in its iLife suite. You do not need the latest version. If your laptop can run iMovie HD, iMovie ’08, or iMovie ’09 (the latest version), then chances are that your computer can handle all the processing challenges that will be demanded. iMovie and the iLife suite comes as part of the operating system for all Macs sold in the past few years. In general, any Apple laptop purchased in the last three years, even the less expensive Mac Books, should be up to the task for Writing with Video course work. Apple computers have been engineered with a focus on media authoring.
PC laptops and software
This is an acceptable, but not the recommended, hardware platform. PC’s come with the added disadvantage that media authoring software, especially freeware or software that comes as part of the operating system, is generally inferior to the Apple iLife software suite. Chances are that your instructor is not a PC user and is far less conversant with this type of software.
The video editing product recommended for PC laptops is Windows Live Movie Maker. This product typically comes bundled as part of the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system or can be downloaded at no cost. Older PCs running earlier versions of Windows have a program called Movie Maker bundled as part of the operating system. Users typically report that these tools are servicable but inferior when compared to iMovie.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS AND CLARIFICATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES
This course is not focused on computer technology or software, but rather on creative inquiry, communication, and composition.
iMove (Mac) and Movie Maker (PC) are the basic workhorses of this course. The curriculum makes no pretenses or claims to include advanced software training. Students are welcome to pursue these interests on their own, but must do so independently.
Writing with Video instructors are not computer wizards or software engineers, so this should not be your expectation. If you are not comfortable and independent when it comes to navigating the technical aspects of your laptop, this course is probably not the right fit for you.
You will be expected to maintain your own equipment and install your own software. You will need to be willing to seek out and utilize online software training tutorials and resources.
Students are required to have a functioning laptop and software for the duration of the semester. If a student’s laptop becomes damaged, lost, or otherwise unavailable for coursework, it will be the students responsibility to replace or repair the equipment. Academic expectations, such as project due dates, will not be altered on an individual basis due to these kinds of technical difficulties.
useful links
APPLE
iLife info + tutorials (current version, including iMovie ’09)
iMovie ’08 tutorials
iMovie HD tutorials
PC
Windows Live Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker
Sound editing software (freeware: Mac or PC)
Audacity