P.S. I'm a guy but I can see how the name confuses people. :) As for my Computer Knowledge, I have a degree in computer science and before that was a Computer Technician for years. Like you said my Mac platform is probably off-the-mark, but that does not mean a Mac is necessary for what he is doing"

That was no disrespect to you "TheMacUser" at all you sound like you have great knowledge and experience in Video Editing and the such...

My Best Friend is a Independent Film maker. I have watched him and his team do all kinds of stuff and they had to make due with what they had, rent barrow what ever it was because of his Budget. In University he used a Mac for all his editing and the such and he loved it. But once he was done University his budget was not big enough for everything so he had to make due with what he had and could get on his budget, I think that is what this guy is trying to do, So for a long time my friend and his team had to use a PC and Adobe for all his Video editing, because that was what he had and could afford at the time.

Anyway like I said I have only 1 Mac and its old, I barely use it except for some basic editing that does not need a lot of power and done fast(Very Rarely), My Knowledge is probably off when it comes to Mac's but $1000 for a macbook used for video editing seemed a bit cheap "price wise"("Even though they are Video editing ready right out of the box)". Mac's are usually very expensive, All I meant was spend 1000 now on a cheap one and 6 months - year down the road you may need to buy a whole new one due to your needs wanting more faster or depending how your your interest in Video and editing comes along.

That is Why I suggested a normal Windows PC because most people have access to them, cheaper if a upgrade is needed and allows for upgrades where some Macs do not really leave room if you are buying the cheapest one. Plus most people know how to use a PC better and way more experience, unless you are going pro have the budget then go grab the Mac but IMO I think the money could be spent better on Camera and other accessories and software needed.

Use a PC and some editing software to see if you even like what you are doing and if this will become a hobby or just dwindle off into nothing once the project is done. In that case Money Could be Wasted on a Mac.

Like said the Camera with HD is one of the most important things with a good audio Mic at that, then comes the computer and editing software. You probably have access to a Windows PC. Do your homework download some trials of what you decide to use. Try them out on some short video's. Like I said in today's day and internet age you can get Video how-to's do anything step by step with any popular Editing Software either way you are gonna have to do your homework. Fast and easy with a Google search. You are going to need research and some sort of training anyway.

But then again a Mac could be your best bet, that will be your choice after you weigh all the factors, & research you do.

There are a lot of enthusiasts and pro's that have very nice and the best of everything Mac's for editing and Pro Camera's which for this project it seems like you do not really need. A enthusiast or Pro sometimes seem to think the normal person need all this stuff also, in most cases you do not. Work with what you have.

Some actually a lot of Enthusiasts and pro's in there field "no dis-respect" including myself, but in any Enthus-hobbyist and job the best is always suggested when it usually not always needed, when you work with the best, you tend to think that is the only option, that is in any field so watch out for people saying buy overpriced stuff or the newest out, which in most cases will not be the best for you.

You would be fine if you really want a Mac, You could get a pretty good DSLR Camera with the extra 700 then add lenses(Miss read "Answer below")... When you say camera I took it you mean a still camera? as I figured you already have a video camera due to it sounding like you already started some of the filming process. The thing about Macs and Video Editing software is the software is general easier to learn to use and is Great software. But on the other hand for the things you are doing you could buy a copy of "Adobe Premier Elements" or lots of other cheap/easy to use Windows Based Video Editors out there. Macs are said to be better for Video editing, but I have seen Films/Movies/Video's edited, cut and made with a Windows PC turn out better than a Mac and the same for the Mac.

To your Question: A Mac is not going to make your video's any better at all, the Editing software will not make your Videos better, The only thing that will make that better is if you take the time to learn the ins and outs of the editing software you decide to use. So spending the extra $1000 on a Mac because you think the mac can make better videos, easier and such is not gonna happen without invested time, it is not the mac or its software that makes the movies its You and the time you spend learning how to do what you need to do. You can do the very same things on a PC with Windows Video editing software if you take some time and learn what that software can do for you(Read Reviews).
A Mac may be easier for you may not, it is generally easier but for what you are doing right now it really will not make a difference because you probably are not going to get into advance stuff that makes using the PC Editing software any Harder, You will have to think ahead and if you are going to be doing this a lot more and get into it or if this is the only project and its done..., If you Get a good editing package for yourself. You have to remember if you buy a Mac you still have to buy the software, unless you use what comes with it. I am not sure if I-Movie comes with it think a basic version comes not 100% though. If you buy a PC the same but with the PC you can use it for everything you need to do not just the editing, because you already know how to do the stuff and where to get it on a PC since you never used a Mac. In Today's internet age you can get mostly any editing software you want(within reason, going with a PC I would get nice and cheap in price Adobe Premier Elements for what you are doing, it is a just a cut down version of Adobe Premier, you more in likely will not be using the very advance options that may be cut out of it plus $79 compared to $800 for software do the math, plus you can get trials of PC software and check out the software before you buy it) and if you don't know how to do something, go on Google do a search for what you are trying to do and you will get thousands of tutorials and Videos that show you exactly how to do it.

This Mac Question is a matter of opinion you will get hardcore Mac fans telling you one thing and Windows fans telling you another, and they will be bias and not in your best interest. Research Research Research - Reviews Reviews Reviews. Reviews are these peoples jobs and some may be bias but by reading a few of each, it is there job to give you the best information and facts or people will not read there blogs review sites they lose money and they lose there job...

Do a search for best video editing software in your price range for PC and Mac then read the reviews on the software pick one of each you think will work best for your project.

For the *Video Camera* if I were you I would go in look at some of the Video Camera's you are interested in write names & models down "within your price range" and take a night looking them up online reading there reviews and weighing your options, and read more than one review per camera read quite a few to get a grasp some reviews may be bias towards brands and such, that way you will get a good idea by reading some different reviews for each camera. Then pick what best suits your needs, ask more specific questions on here as you go through the process. Do not be Impulsive & skimp on the Video camera because in the long run you will regret it, and do not let the sales reps talk you into buying anything right there that is there job and most of them have no clue which is better or will do what you need. In that case it really wont matter what Editing software you are using you just will not get what you want without the right camera. You do Photography use that knowledge basics are same with editing software and the camera you pick.

That being said I have 1 Mac and 4 PC's 3 Desktops and 1 Laptop. IMO I think Macs are easier for most Video editing, but with a mac things come as a cost like upgrades and such for the future.

You may also think about getting a Desktop type instead of a laptop as it is going to have more processing power and work faster for encoding and transferring and the editing process, You can always do the shots on the camera then take them back to a nice quite fast desktop to do your editing and research... Laptop will not help in that and will probably make things harder. Just my opinion.

Plus ask yourself is a basic Macbook going to be fast enough for you to edit your videos and do what you want with them at a speedy rate so you are not pulling your hair out and wanting to boot it out the window. I can not really answer that question because I do not have a Macbook just a desktop. Plus PC's are generally easy to upgrade for cheap in case you really get into this Video and editing stuff and start to do more you will want a faster computer and that basic Macbook may go to waste in 6 months to a year, because it doesn't have the power and fastness you need.

I would go with a Better Camera and lower priced Windows Laptop, if the case is you totally need a laptop... You usually get what you pay for, as a Photographer you should know that first hand.

Hope I helped some, sorry bout any spelling and grammar mistakes, I am in a rush have to head out just wanted to get some basic thoughts and questions out for better responses..