Need recommended video editing software

[OM2]

I've tried googling - but get too many results
Question: what's the best free video editing software?
(Or if not free... very reasonable price)

I thought it would be better for me to go for recommendations on this forum

Thanks


OM

[poisondeathray]

Best free one for windows is probably lightworks (first few releases were unstable, but it's much better now).

Reasonably priced: vegas studio platinum > premiere elements. There are free trials available

[OM2]

lightworks has a rating of 1.8/10 (ok from just reviews)
vegas costs a whopping $600!
premiere elemtns a more affordable $80 - but can't find the trial download?

ALSO: will i be ok with my hardware?
Dell Studio 2.5Ghz, 4GB RAM, SSD hard drive, dedicate graphics card on laptop
thanks

[poisondeathray]

lightworks has a rating of 1.8/10 (ok from just reviews)

It was terrible in the first few releases, very buggy, prone crashing

But it's the only free NLE that is truly professional level. All the other free NLE's are basically toys that are rudimentary, or don't work

I guess it depends on what type if editing you are doing exactly , and what you are looking for...

vegas costs a whopping $600!

Pro version is ~ $600, the movie studio is like $50-60 , platinum is $100 . Platinum is probably what most people get .
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/moviestudiope/compare

ALSO: will i be ok with my hardware?
Dell Studio 2.5Ghz, 4GB RAM, SSD hard drive, dedicate graphics card on laptop

I don't know what Dell Studio 2.5Ghz is. If it's a quad core, it should be good enough

It also depends on what kind of footage you are editing . SD footage is a lot easier on the hardware requirements for snappy editing

And always a good idea to place footage on a separate drive (not main OS drive)

[OM2]

it's a dual core laptop - should be ok??

i'll download platinum - thanks for pointing out to me

the footage is .mov files from a canon 1100d

why is it a good idea to plac eon an external drive?
i have an ssd, so why would putting it outside be an advantage?
(asking because i'm clue;less right now!)
let me know

thanks

EDIT: whats difference between platinum and platinum suite?

[aedipuss]

most editing stations have multiple drives. main drive for o.s., other drives for source files, destination drives to render to and storage drives for large files.

there's a difference between ok it will work and it works and is responsive. for high bitrate long gop video like the .mov the cam makes a quad-core is normally used.

[vkmast]

EDIT: whats difference between platinum and platinum suite?

poisondeathray already gave you a link to compare them. Another table here
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/moviestudioves/compare