digital still camera and digital video MPEG PC software

[barb2k]

My interest is to incorporate my paintings, graphics and digital images and videos that I can edit with sound on a new PC, and onto writable DVD's

I will be updating/upgrading everything soon, including a pc with a separate DVD R/RW and I am lost. I take about 100 digital photo's a week of a nearby waterfall, which I have also painted over 100 times. Currently I checked out digital camera and the HP 850 seems to suit my needs and pocketbook.

Help.........what kind of computer should I be looking for? Do I need Windows Professional even though I never did a spreadsheet or anything other than Art on my computers. The XP Media edition had my interest till I saw all the kinks and cannot wait for the upgrade later this year.

What kind of software for digital video editing at a good resolution? This is my first day here and I am lost and overwhelmed by all the knowedable tech people here. Years ago I started out on an Amiga 2000 and cannot see myself with an apple. I have self taught myself software but never even put Ram in a Computer.

Please help with any related info. on new everything with good artistic type software with the hardware..........PC, new Dig Camera with XDcard..... Camcorder.

[George VII]

I would say that if you don't want to build it (which isn't as hard as some people think!), then get a Dell. Something about 40-80 Gb of hard drive space, 512-1000 megabytes of DDR RAM (Double data rate memory - very fast) and a 1.5 Ghz CPU, as well as a fairly good video card - a GeForce 3 at the least. Pretty much any operating system will work fine, but I would suggest Windows XP Home or Pro. They are generally more stable and are also faster than most others. Software wise, I would go with Ulead Video Studio 6 and Cool 3D if you are into things like cool titles and special effects. If you edit still images, I would say that Adobe Photoshop is a must.

Actually, for a video card, I would suggest a Radeon 8500 All in Wonder. It is a good card with all the extras that you would need to capture all your footage from your video camera. Also, make sure that the USB port on the motherboard is USB 2.0 not USB 1.1 It will make quite a difference on how fast you get pics off the digital camera.

Hope that helped!
Good luck - Jon

[barb2k]

Thank you Jon for all that information. photoshop 5 is my favorite on almost everything still but also have a Wacom tablet that came with the greatest paint program I have ever used, Coral Painter Classic. The closest thing to painting and drawing with real materials.

You answered my questions on windows XP and the video card. I have been eyeing the HPs and Comaques 2.5 Ghz all come with USB 2s now but only the Home Edition of XP which may be sufficient. I may just buy a separate DVD RW because I dont like those package deals with the cheap printers.

I'll look into the Radeon 8500 and the Ulead Video Studio 6.

thanks again for your help Jon,

Barb