All Video editors

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP SP2, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 1.5 GHz or faster (Windows), Intel Multicore (Mac) 1.5 GHz, DVD-ROM, XGA monitor, 1.5 GHz or faster (Windows), Intel Multicore (Mac), 1.5 GHz, Windows, QuickTime 7.4.5

The Bottom Line: Adobe CS3 Production Premium is ideal if you handle a mix of design, animation and editing tasks for video, the Web, and mobile gadgets. However, beginners should think twice about the splurge, and film pros without deep animation needs should probably stick to Apple Final Cut Studio 2 or AVID.

The Bottom Line: Roxio Popcorn 2 is a simple and excellent solution for users who have lots of unencrypted DVDs that they want to copy or who have video files sitting on their hard drive that they wish could be on their video-friendly iPod.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Apple MacOS X 10.0.4, 2, MacOS

The Bottom Line: Avid Pinnacle Studio Plus 10 deftly straddles the line between simple and complex video editors, though not without some serious performance issues.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP, 1.4 GHz, 10, DVD-ROM, DirectX 9.0 compatible sound card, DirectX 9.0 compatible graphics card, 1.4 GHz, Windows, DirectX 9.0 or later

The Bottom Line: Adobe Premiere Elements 2 is a great video editor for those willing to take the time and effort to learn it.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP1, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1, 800 MHz, 2.0, CD-ROM, XGA monitor, DirectX 9.0 compatible sound card, 800 MHz, Windows

The Bottom Line: Ulead has greatly improved VideoStudio with tools for all levels of users, though it's not without its problems.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, 800 MHz, 9, Sound card, XGA monitor, 800 MHz, Windows

Editors' Take: Final Cut Express HD is Apple's first affordable high-end video application to include the HDV standard.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 500 MHz, 500 MHz, MacOS

The Bottom Line: VideoStudio 8.0 is a good pick for beginners who want to create and customize videos and DVDs.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP, 1.5, CD-ROM, Windows

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 350 MHz, DVD-ROM, 350 MHz, MacOS