Is my system powerful enough to edit AVCHD?

[shmendrapolk]

I'm planning on buying an HD camcorder, probably the Panasonic HDC-SD9 (really the only HD non-tape camcorder I can afford).

But before I buy it I need to figure out if my system is capable enough to handle advanced editing (using Pinnacle 12 primarily):

I have an intel core i7 920 @2.67 Ghz
6 gb ram
ATI Radeon 3450 256mb graphics card
Vista 64-bit

Also - are I don't really understand the AVCHD file system. Do I just drag and drop files onto my pc (as I would an avi file), or do they need to be imported via software? Can the raw files be played with window media player or vlc or any such player?

Thanks!

[Ma-Xell]

i7 is fast enough,
your system shouldnt have any problems.

I think that camcorder records interlaced video,
for maximum quality buy one that can record progressive frames.

[shmendrapolk]

Thanks. The Panasonic is unfortunately the only high-def that is in my price range. The alternative would be to buy a standard definition one - either the Sony or the Canon.
I thought all 1080 consumer hd-camcorders are interlaced (hence 1080i).

[lucassp]

Does your camera have an 720p mode?

[shmendrapolk]

The Panasonic - I don't think so:

There are the recording modes: 1920 x 1080: HA (17Mbps), HG (13Mbps), HX (9Mbps); 1440x1080: HE (6Mbps)

[shmendrapolk]

I just realized that Sanyo makes 1080p camcorders that are resonably priced.

So I still don't know what to buy: I want a high-def (preferably flash memory) camcorder in the range of $500.