On windows, you can try Windows Movie Maker, but a more serious alternative would be Sony Vegas which is relatively easy to use but is still powerful. Other alternatives include Adobe Premiere.

If you want something that is good but free check out Avid FreeDV at http://www.avid.com/freedv or Jahshaka at http://www.jahshaka.org

Windows Movie Maker 2.1 makes home movies amazingly fun. With Movie Maker 2.1, you can create, edit, and share your home movies right on your computer. Build your movie with a few simple drag-and-drops. Delete bad shots and include only the best scenes. Then share your movie via the Web, e-mail, or CD. Using third-party software you can even take movies you’ve made and turn them into DVDs. You can also save your movie back to the video tape in your camera to play back on a TV or on the camera itself.

System Requirements
Here’s what you’ll need to use Windows Movie Maker 2.1.

Component Requirement Recommendation
Processor
Personal or multimedia computer with a 600-megahertz (MHz) or higher processor
Personal or multimedia computer with a 1.5 gigahertz (GHz) or higher processor

Operating System
SP2 for Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
SP2 for Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Professional x64 Edition

Memory
• 128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher

• 32 megabytes (MB) of VRAM or higher

• 256 megabytes (MB) or higher of RAM

• 64 megabytes (MB) of non-UMA VRAM or higher

Hard disk
2.0 GB of available hard-disk space
2.0 GB of available hard-disk space or higher

Drive
CD-ROM or DVD drive
CD-ROM or DVD drive

Display
• Super VGA (800×600) or higher resolution monitor

• 256-color video card

• 3-D graphics acceleration

• DirectX 7.1 or later graphics support

• Video adapter must be compatible with Windows XP

• XGA (1024×768) or higher resolution monitor

• 256-color video card

• 3-D graphics acceleration

• DirectX 9 or later graphics support

• Video adapter must be compatible with Windows XP

Audio
Windows XP-compatible sound card and speakers or headphones
Windows XP-compatible sound card and speakers or headphones

Mouse
Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

Other devices
Internet connection may be required for some features
Internet connection may be required for some features

Requirements for video capture
You will also need a way to get your videos into your computer. This requires different capture hardware depending on the source of your video.

If you have a digital video (DV) camera, you’ll need either an IEEE 1394 card or an analog video capture card. IEEE 1394 is recommended for the best quality results. Many new computers come with an IEEE 1394 card already installed. If not, there are a number of manufacturers that make a card that will work with your computer.

If you have an analog video camera or a VCR, you will need to have an analog video capture card.

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Download Instructions
Movie Maker 2.1 is available for download with Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). You can download SP2, Movie Maker 2.1, and all future critical updates automatically by turning on the Automatic Updates feature in Windows XP.

You can also download SP2 and Movie Maker 2.1 from Microsoft Update. If you cannot use Automatic Updates or download SP2 via Windows Update, order a CD.