Maxtor DV Producer

Maxtor's new DV Producer is an easy-to-use video editing kit that enables you to turn home movies into digital videos, complete with special effects and cool transitions. Perfect for creating great holiday, wedding, birthday, and vacation videos, Maxtor DV Producer includes: ArcSoft ShowBiz video editing software; an easy-to-install FireWire (1394/i.LINK) PCI adapter card; and a FireWire cable to connect the camcorder to the PC. As a bonus, the kit also includes ArcSoft PhotoBase multimedia management software.

With Maxtor DV Producer, a digital camcorder and a PC, home video novices can make spectacular videos in just three easy steps. First, connect the digital camcorder to the PC with the included FireWire card and FireWire camcorder cable. Then, use the ShowBiz software to import and edit your home videos. Finally, export the finished project to videotape, Video CD, e-mail or other popular video formats to share with friends and family.

The included ArcSoft ShowBiz offers the production values users have come to expect from big-budget, blockbuster spectaculars, but without the sticker shock of Hollywood productions. Key features of the ShowBiz software include:

• User-friendly functionality - drag-and-drop editing and an intuitive interface for any experience level
• Impressive effects - add creative flair to your movies with amazing special effects, titles, transitions, and backgrounds
• Real-time rendering - instantly preview your movie while you edit
• Artistic templates - customize your videos with pre-formatted graphics and effects for birthdays, graduations, vacations, holidays and other special events

The DV Producer package also includes ArcSoft PhotoBase software for an easy way to organize and browse photos, video clips and music in digital albums.

On the hardware side, Maxtor DV Producer features a FireWire PCI adapter card with two FireWire (1394/i.LINK) ports, providing easy connectivity to digital camcorders and high-speed peripherals like the 160GB Maxtor Personal Storage 3000XT, the largest external 1394 hard drive available.

The Maxtor DV Producer video editing kit is priced at $79.95. www.maxtor.com