With its limited editing features, it would be hard to see anyone choosing PowerDirector 5 over the Adobe, Pinnacle or Ulead competition.

Excellent features and performance, but it’s pricey and you need a suitably powerful PC to make the most of it.

HDV support and seven video tracks make this a massive upgrade, but only for the plus version.

Video editing can make or break those home movies of your latest adventure or that important business presentation. Until recently you only had the choice of some expensive professional, or some fairly crude software packages, but over recent years Ulead has put video editing within the reach of most video camera users, and at a reasonable price.

There’s so much to like about this package that it might just be worth switching operating systems to get hold of it.

Impressive and free antivirus and antispyware package

There was a time when Pinnacle dominated the PC video-editing market. But, after its initial success with the DV500, the advent of sophisticated realtime editing seemed to leave the company behind. While it was a good product, the company’s Pro-ONE arrived when competitive products from Matrox and Canopus had been available for some time. The Pinnacle Edition PRO 5 is an entirely different matter.

Not content with dominating the semi-professional end of video editing, Matrox has reworked its 'Power of X' technology for a more humble audience.

It’s missing a couple of key features, but nevertheless, Vegas Pro is highly sophisticated and quick to use for serious video editors.

A great entry-level video editing app, but Montage is the only major addition unless you go for the Ultimate edition

AVCHD support and some useful new effects keep this as the leading entry-level video editor.

As it focuses more on the new user, beginners will find this release easy to get to grips with.

Great real-time performance, particularly with high definition footage. But the EDIUS Pro software still needs a few more features to usurp the competition.

Next–gen iPhone to come rocking speedier wireless and FM transmitter – will this give it the smartphone edge?

Editing performance with HDV remains sluggish, but DV-editing ability is formidable.

Vegas has a huge array of editing features for the money, plus powerful bundled DVD authoring.

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Packed with features and closer to Adobe Premiere Elements, CyberLink PowerDirector 8 is close, but still not close enough.

Microsoft has announced full availability of Windows Live Movie Maker, the latest version of its video editing software for Windows PCs.

2D cards target low-power, multi-screen setups.