Good Video Authoring Software, For the beginner Options

[Coomer]

I have a fair knowledge of computers and graphics and photography, but no experience with editing/producing my own videos.

I plan to make a cool video of my car once the weather gets nice if it's not sold by then, so I probably have a couple months before all of the gravel and salt that they put all over the roads is cleared off to plan and learn some software.

I know that here at work we have tons and tons of expensive and not-so-expensive video authoring programs, so chances are I can find whatever I need here. If not, I can probably get it cheap from school.

So my question is, what video authoring software should I be considering using, and why? I have no experience whatsoever with video editing, so I don't need anything too advanced, but I'd like to be able to have fade effects and stuff like that.

[prpnum1]

yeah avid is the best of the best although apple is trying very very hard to have the industry "replaced" with final cut pro, which is what i have cuz i'm a MAC man. but yeah if you can get your hands on an Avid system then DO IT. although i think for the avid systems there is a key that you must have to run it. but hey if you can learn avid well..you can also just go to hollywood and make lots of money. :-D