Vegas also provides an acedemic discount for students and teachers. About 150 - 175 dollar range. Also, although you can't use After Effects directly with Vegas. You can transfer material from one to the other without problem. This is not my personal experience, but I have read many threads where this is being done.

thanks. i'll start looking into it. chances are i'll be posting questions here again soon. thanks.

Yep, you can pick up Xpress DV 3.5 for $300/US from Videoguys right now with a student ID.

$300!!!? AVID DV XPRESS 3.5??? ARE YOU SURE? i checked out their site. couldn't find any deal on this product under four digits. where did you see this?

Normally, it sells for $399 but they're running a special.

Call them up and ask to speak with the academic sells guy. I think his name is Dan.

You can also get After Effects for around $300.

Luck,

Jason

Actually, it normally sells for $499 and it is now $100 off that, or $399. You need to be aware though, that the educational version is not to be used for commercial ventures, and that it doesn't come with all the software that the retail version does. I use this software and Premiere 6, and for me nyway, Premiere has an easier learning curve. That may also be because I used Premiere and similar software first, and Avid is a different concept. Here is the link to the Videoguys section that has the educational software:
http://www.specialtyvideosupply.com/prodpage/avid.html.

Hope this helps.

hi jeff. i was thinking of a set up similar to yours - avid AND premiere. would that require a double boot system?

Yes, it would. Avid has real problems with Premiere on the same drive. Avid definitely recommends that you not install both on the same operating system. I am actually running two separate systems, but I am going to have Avid and Premiere on my notebook as a dual boot. One of the things I like about Avid is that you can legally install it on more than one system because you have to have the dongle to use it, so it can't be used on more than one system at a time. Another thing I really like about it is that it has a fully customizable interface,so that you can change colors, toolbars, etc. to suit your own tastes. And, if there is more than one person using the system, each user can customize their own settings. I think if you can afford it you might want to set up a dual system, that way you have options.