Apple Discontinues Final Cut Express with Launch of FCP X

The 'bargain basement' price of FCPX is about what the upgrade for FCS was. Yet FCS also included a decent audio app and cinema tools and a DVD authoring app (rather than export and a few templates). It also included Motion and Compressor, which are now additional applications to purchase. So while this might seem like a great bargain, it's not necessarily all that it seems.

the free iMovie

iMovie is only 'free' if you purchase a new Mac when, arguably, the cost is absorbed into the whole package. To upgrade you need to buy iLife when, arguably, it's only free if you consider other parts of the suite to be the full value.

For Apple to really leave legacy technology behind and redefine the future of video editing they should re-release iMovie '06 HD.

I'm sure that some would argue that with a number of high end features missing that were in 7, FCX *is* the new midrange prosumer app. Problem is, right now there isn't a version that fills the needs of people working on feature film or broadcast TV.

In a perfect world, FCPX would be iMovie, and the actual FCPX would be everything in FCS plus more.

It's odd though, because throughout all these years, instead of enriching iMovie, Apple has continually dumbed it down (especially feature-wise). The interface is fun and all, but simple things like limiting clip speeds to a minimal spectrum (for one), is ridiculous, even for amateurs. Instead they replace those features with gimmicky 'trailer templates' and 'highlights' and fun stuff like that.

They are right if you are a middle of the road consumer. That's why this release was billed as FC *Pro* but doesn't included the tools that are necessary and established if you work with anyone else.

The PRO in the name, combined with the lower price, attracts all those who think, "wow I can can FCP for $300? I'm in!", and have no need for the advanced features and tools that are needed in a multi-user environment.

As of yesterday that product was called Final Cut Express.

You're last sentence says it all. Final Cut Pro X was targeted at the prosumer market alot more than the true multi-user work path professional market (if that was targeted at all). This was talked about more than a year ago.

It's unfortunate that Apple is calling this Pro, it should be Express and there wouldn't be the hissy fits going on. I feel bad for the Pro market, they've been pitched over the side at this point.

Here's the call on it more than a year ago:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/05/18/apple_scaling_final_cut_studio_apps_to_fit_prosumers.html

And they're mostly right about it.

They are right if you are a middle of the road consumer. That's why this release was billed as FC *Pro* but doesn't included the tools that are necessary and established if you work with anyone else.

The PRO in the name, combined with the lower price, attracts all those who think, "wow I can get FCP for $300? I'm in!", and have no need for the advanced features and tools that are needed in a multi-user environment.

As of yesterday that product was called Final Cut Express.