Get any cheap Mini DV camcorder (ebay?) That's Mini DV not Mini DVD. There's a big difference.

import and edit using Windows Movie Maker which come free with XP.

Alternatively, until you can afford deom s/w start downloading and going through the free trials of all the NLE available. If you do that you'll know which you like and which is best for you to fork out your hard earned (from a student? - Ed!) cash on.

Or... From memory (because I'm too lazy to look for it right now) there's an article on this very site about video editign for free. Look for that!

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I'm not young enough to know everything!