I am a fairly casual computer user who mainly surfs the internet and uses Word, I would like to start doing some basic video editing (creating DVDs from camcorder footage). My main computer 6+ years old just died and I am looking for something that will be OK for a few years. As I was looking around I configured an HP as follows:

Operating System Genuine Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor E6400 (2.13GHz)
Memory 1GB DDR2-667MHz dual channel SDRAM (2x512)
Hard Drive 160GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s & NCQ Hard Drive
Primary CD/DVD Drive LightScribe 16X DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
Front Productivity Ports 15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB, 1394, video
TV & Entertainment Experience Single NTSC TV tuner with PVR, FM tuner, remote
Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce 7300LE, w/ TurboCache
Sound Card Integrated 7.1 channel sound w/front audio ports
Keyboard and Mouse HP Keyboard, HP Scroller Mouse
Productivity Software Microsoft(R) Works 8.0/Money 2006/MSN Encarta Plus

your additional options:

Monitors HP vs19d 19" LCD Flat Panel Monitor

It is $1050 with these options and I figured I can sell the monitor for more than the $100 it costs to make it a little better. Is this a good deal for what I am looking to do with it or would you reccomend something different.

8/4/2006 1:43:42 PM

maybe i'm not understanding you, but: why are you getting that monitor if you're going to sell it?

i would imagine you wouldn't get more for the monitor used than one that you'd try to buy used, unless of course you think you could sell it for more than they're charging for it as an addition to your package. . . i think i don't understand what you're saying.

8/4/2006 2:05:52 PM

The monitor is only $100 more than the package w/o the monitor (sold on its own thru HP it is 329.99). I might end up using it but I would also consider selling it new in box if I can get a bit more than $100 for it.

8/4/2006 2:21:45 PM

oh ok. that makes some sense then. i'm guessing you can't get a better monitor at a good price as a part of this package through hp?

8/4/2006 2:35:32 PM

^^You could, but you need a monitor anyway and you'll end up breaking even trying to sell it to buy a different one.

8/4/2006 2:43:42 PM

you don't really need Media Center for what you want. You pretty much want the biggest hard drive you can get. 160 may sound like a lot, but video editing takes up a lot of space. Also you're going to want as much memory as possible. Pass on Media Center unless you think you'll use it for what it's intended and put the money toward more storage or memory. If you're talking about turning around and selling the monitor you must already have another one you can use. So put that $100 toward memory or storage as well.

Also, if you really want to get into video editing (I don't know what extent you're interested) I would recommend a Mac. PC's are getting better, but Macs have generally been the best for that sort of stuff for a long time. It also comes with IMovie, which is good for someone starting out and you could get Final Cut later. I haven't looked in a while but the video editing software for PC's in the past hasn't been that great.

[Edited on August 4, 2006 at 3:58 PM. Reason : .]

8/4/2006 3:57:20 PM

Adobe Premier has gotten a lot better but I still prefer Final Cut.

There is just something satisfying with non linear editing on a Mac that a PC just can't seem to duplicate in my opinion.

8/4/2006 5:53:40 PM

I don't think a mac is an option since my wife would be using this too. Thanks for all of you input. As far as the core 2 duos go, is that what I should be looking for if I want it to last a while or is a pentium 4 or pentium D going to do just as well?

8/4/2006 9:55:24 PM

Keep in mind with the new Mac's you can run both Windows and OSX.

If I was going PC - at this time I would get a Core Duo.

8/5/2006 12:39:50 AM