software and hardware recommendations

[piadex2]

I would like to edit my family videos on computer. I am an amateur and I need a computer that does not slow down when I am editing.
Please recommend a hardware configuration and a (amateur) software.
Thank you for your help in advance:

piadex2

[mikeytown2]

If your running windows XP, give Windows Movie Maker (http://www.download.com/Windows-Movie-Maker-Windows-XP-/3000-13631_4-10187903.html) a try since its free. Here is a list organized by the # of downloads
http://www.download.com/Video-Editing-Production/3150-13631_4-0.html?sort=downloadCount+asc

In terms of hardware, get lots of hard drive space and a firewire/IEEE 1394 port.

[linyx]

Try VideoRedo for mpeg, and virtualdub for everything else. In terms of hardware use something fast with loads of harddrive space.

[ftdwffs]

windows movie maker really is not enough for any type of editing.

vdubmod is good for linear editing
audacity is sufficient for amateur audio editing

for NLE, usually adobe premiere or sony vegas is used, but they aren't free
if you want to use NLE programs, you'll need at least 1gb ram and 2gb for hd videos. your cpu should be something dual core.
depending on the length of the video, you'll need anywhere from 5 to 500gb of free hard drive space, but because ur doing family video editing, you'll need only about 10gb
larger monitors are always better

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Avidemux is a cross-platform alternative to VirtualDub, but without the harsh encoder and container limitations of VirtualDub:
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=126164