I know that this is nothing close to the professional editing programs, but if your team is looking for a FREE windows video editing program - check the Windows Movie Maker 2 at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/moviemaker/downloads/moviemaker2beta.asp
The functionality of the second version is pretty close to iMovie for Macs, although quality seems to be worse. You can probably use VirtualDub to clean up/encode the video after that.
I agree with the users of Final Cut Pro: Version 3 is an advanced, complete editing package that I believe through experience surpasses any Adobe product in speed, reliability and features. Though it is only available for the Macintosh, it would be worth their while for Premiere users to check out this program if they have access to a G4 Mac or equiv.
I have used Final Cut 3 as well as Premiere, but have no experience with Avid products. As the professional media developer said, it may be that Avid is superior to both these products. Could someone who has used both Final Cut and Avid rate the two against each other?
If you want access to an AVID check with your local Television station affiliates (ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC). We have two here at my station and I think they would be willing to let someone with experience use the suite free of charge, but you would have to check. (I’m in RI by the way).
*Originally posted by JonathanE *
**I agree with the users of Final Cut Pro: Version 3 is an advanced, complete editing package that I believe through experience surpasses any Adobe product in speed, reliability and features. Though it is only available for the Macintosh, it would be worth their while for Premiere users to check out this program if they have access to a G4 Mac or equiv.I have used Final Cut 3 as well as Premiere, but have no experience with Avid products. As the professional media developer said, it may be that Avid is superior to both these products. Could someone who has used both Final Cut and Avid rate the two against each other? **
I agree that Final Cut Pro is the best Professional editing suite, and iMovie is the best in the consumer field.
If you look on the Apple Website you find a new prosumer Final Cut Pro called Final Cut Express. It is almost a full featured final cut pro for a 1/3 of the price ($299 retail, $250 educational).
Also iMovie was also recently updated to version 3.
Luckily we have a program at our school which several of our team members work on with all the goodies. Personally I use Avid at my school. Avid is a little on the expensive side, but my school is paying for it not me 
so I’d rather use that it has the most plugins I’ve ever seen for anything. It is a little wacky with the hardware it will run on, but once again im not payin for that either
I’m currently running AVID Express DV on a laptop and desktop. I mentioned earlier that as a student you can get this software for under $1000. I dont expect you to have this in your house- unless you have a job and are really into this stuff. But this is a FIRST forum and my objective is to help you guys find the professional tools and approach to all that you do. That is the point isnt it. So out of a typical FIRST Team budget. $900 isnt that much money. If its a problem, find someone to donate it. you can run on a standard PC with a firewire card in it. The AVID site has the specs. Nothing I run it on is on their approved hardware list and it still works perfectly.
If you are MAC based then go with final cut pro if you want. Avid ExpressDV is available there as well. My feeling when ever I buy hardware and software is- Be Compatible. You dont want to be a lone wolf when it comes to interfacing with other companies and institutions. You want to use standard stuff. Avid fits the bill all the way.
I dont expect you to buy a 20 or 30 or 80 thousand dollar edit system. but the express dv is compatible with the full systems. If you learn to edit on it you could sit at any avid and presto- your an editor. Thats the power of common tools.
Any thing you use will get the job done. The question you need to ask youself is whats the whole goal here. To produce a video/animation or to prepare yourself for the future. Only you can answer that and what ever you decide will be the right answer for you!