Avid have announced the next version of Media Composer and their next generation hardware.  The new software, scheduled for release in June 2008, will support Windows XP, Vista 32, Vista 64 and the new Apple o/s, Leopard.  It will be available with new hardware which will give you HD output, either from a desktop or laptop PC, and will of course have lots of new features.

This is really quite a surprise and a leap forward for Avid, and also a good indication of their "new thinking" strategy launched when the price of Media Composer dropped. When we switched from Windows 2000 to XP, Avid were the last to make a version for the new o/s and we had to keep buying old copies of 2000 well after it had passed its sell-by date to be able to keep making Avid computers.  Now they will be beating some others in adopting the new o/s!

The price of Media Composer remains the same at £1,550 +VAT.

The new hardware is the Mojo DX and the Nitris DX. These will add SD and HD SDI i/o and HDMI output for Avid. The Nitris will have more acceleration built in than the Mojo. The prices are expected to be £6,300 +VAT and £9,400 +VAT respectively.

To read more see the Avid website.