Do I need Final Cut Express 4 if I am getting FCS3?
 

I got FCE4 for Christmas 2008, and this past week got Final Cut Pro 4 (instead of FCE5 upgrade which hasn't come out) late Christmas present. Should I/what advantages would I have to keeping FCE4 vs just having FCS. Is there an advantage to having both Final Cuts?

Thanks all for your wonderful advice and help. Oh I am using a Canon HF s10 for family stuff, YouTube videos etc.

Simply, no, you do not need FCE if you are getting the new FCS.

No, absolutely not. FCS3 can do everything FCE4 can and plenty more. Though FCS3 may have so many features you don't need or don't have enough time to learn to use them effectively, the interface is very similar and you will be familiar with most of the functions you use in FCE4 in no time.

Is this a typo? FCP4 is a really old version & the one that you get with Final Cut Studio 3 is FCP7.

Yes I got FCP4 Retail so I can buy the Final Cut Studio 3 Upgrade vs the full version, savings $700CDN ($600US).

Buy the upgrade and don't look back.

FCE is probably good for what it is (I haven't worked with it, but read about it) but it's still in various ways very limited to file formats it works with and outputs. That's already one very basic limitation, without even speaking about features and all the other programs you would miss that are in the studio-package.