Tony Banh - Computer Info

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COMPUTER & EQUIPMENT INFO

My crappy computer:

500mhz Celeron
128MB RAM
13GB Hard Drive
32MB Shared Video/Sound Card
Richoh CD-R/RW Burner
Cicero DV FireWire Card
Windows ME operating system

My oldest sisters computer that I use to capture my footage:

1.0ghz Celeron
128MB RAM
40GB Hard Drive
Shared Video/Sound
Windows ME operating system

My camcorder:

Sony Digital 8 HandyCam - DCR-TRV 240
- regular price was $999 Canadian Dollars when I bought it, but I bargained down to $800 with the sales-person. This version I bought though was a bit more expensive because it allowed for Video-In/Analog-Digital video conversion. Meaning I could use my camcorder to record older footage (much like a VCR) then transfer it to computer. Many digital camcorder don't have that kind of option. But you won't need it unless you have old footage on VHS tape that you want to transfer and edit onto computer (or record movies and copy them on to VCD, hehe:)
The price has gone down significantly for this model though and I believe you can find some pretty good deals now for higher models of Sony digital camcorder ranging from $650-$1000 for D8 and MiniDV camcorders. If you're looking to buy a new camcorder and you want to edit video on computer and also publish it on the internet. You must get a digital camcorder (either MiniDV or Digital 8). But if you already have a analog camcorder (8mm, Hi8, VHS-C, etc.) then you should just use that and get a good video card that has a TV/Video/S-Video input that allows you to capture raw footage.

Editing:

     I currently just use the original Windows Movie Maker for my capturing and editing. My computer is too crappy to capture video without losing frames so I capture my footage on my sister computer, then edit there or at home. Movie Maker is a very very basic editing program, but it is very easy to use and the video quality and size awesome for internet purposes. Movie Maker 2 is even better with a lot more options with the ability to add titles, credits, video effects, etc...but I need Windows XP and a better system to use it.
     I'm hoping to get a new computer soon (maybe even a laptop) to use for editing. When I do get that, I'll probably use Movie Maker 2 for making samplers, small clips, and use it for rough cuts for my short films. But for final cuts with full quality video I'll probably be using Premiere or Ulead.
     If anybody knows a place in southern Ontario that has a good laptop under $2,000 with at least a 1.7GHZ Pentium 4, 256DDR RAM, 20GB Hard Drive, 32MB Video Card, Firewire, USB 2.0, TV-OUT, etc... please email me at tonybanh@hotmail.com