Advice needed

[marceggers]

For the past several months I've enjoyed reading the posts, but now I'd like to ask for some advice. Two years ago I bought a digital video camcorder and have been using my PC to download, edit, and burn the video I shoot onto DVD. I then got into putting my old VHS tapes onto the camcorder using my VCR and then editting them and burning them onto a DVD. ( I guess I should have bought a capture-card and put the VHS tapes directly onto my PC but I never got around to it.)
Soon friends and family were asking me to put their VHS memories onto a DVD. Now friends of friends want me to do it for them as well. A light bulb comes on and I see a side source of income at my doorstep!
Here's my question. I want to get a new computer just for video editting. I do not plan to connect it to the internet. I'm thinking 3 gigs of processor speed, at least 1 gig of RAM, and tons of harddrive storage. So:
1 - Almost 2 out of 3 people I talk to who are familiar with what I want to do say go with a Mac. But if I'm not going to be online and expose myself to all those nasty virus does it matter? (PCs cost less.)
2 - How much dedicated video memory will I need if I want to feed analog video directly into my system or should I use a capture card?
3 - Could you recommend a VCR that will be gentle to these old VHS tapes that are turning into dust.

Thanks.

[anonymez]

Almost 2 out of 3 people I talk to who are familiar with what I want to do say go with a Mac

why would anybody say that? have you been talking to salesmen working on commission? stick with a pc, much more software/hardware support, and most importantly, comes at cheaper price at better speeds.

How much dedicated video memory will I need if I want to feed analog video directly into my system or should I use a capture card?

definitely go with a capture card, one with s-video input and decent software. (though software shoudn't matter too much if you are familiar with virtualdub capturing)

for your third question, just buy a decent brand name (i'd get a sony), i don't think they cost much anymore, and its not like vhs is a developing technology, so i'd imagine they are pretty much the same...

just another answer to your first question

[Taelon]

Hi marc, I just stumbled across this page the other day, these guys seem to know what they're talking about as far as building NLE systems, might give you some more ideas.

[anonymez]

if the computer is going to be used just for video editing, i think you a P4 3.0GHz is just fine. 1G ram is also good, and not too expensive anyway. IMO you should get a very low-end graphics card (integrated sucks, and will slow your system) with capture functionality, such as ati all-in-wonder. spend on a fast hard disk, definitely get at least 2 of them, output is faster (which means editing is faster) when transferring from one hard disk to the next.

[LT. Columbo]

that pic is accurate anonymez. (pc and mac)

[anonymez]

its all just opinion ofcourse

to be honest, i believe apple makes higher quality software/products, more stylish and innovative (though at abolutely ridiculous prices), but the compatibility (and did i mention those ridiculous prices? ) for only a small portion of apps is what throws me, and most other people off from buying one of their range...