Hey everyone, my wife and i are expecting our first child in march, so with that I plan on buying a camcorder. Right now I'm pretty set on the Canon HF11. I've been researching video editing software and was ready to go back to PC to use cyberlink powerdirector or sony vegas, but in reading more about FCE and the mac platform it seems to get alot of praise. I have a 24" iMac and would either keep that and buy a macbook/mbp so i can edit freely w/out being tied to the office or sell it and buy a fully loaded pc and laptop. I have a few questions that I haven't seen clearly defined so hopefully someone can help.

- Can FCE edit/import full 1080P?
- Can it output full 1080P to be played on a bluray player (Roxio toast?) on either standard dvd or bluray (assuming affordable burners get released)
- Is FCE fairly easy to learn/use/edit for home movies?
- Other then DVD, what's the best way to distribute the movies to family/friends?
- Can FCE do chapters, menus, etc. in a HD format?
- Does it support creating 5.1 surround sound?

Thanks in advance!!!

Hey everyone, my wife and i are expecting our first child in march, so with that I plan on buying a camcorder. Right now I'm pretty set on the Canon HF11. I've been researching video editing software and was ready to go back to PC to use cyberlink powerdirector or sony vegas, but in reading more about FCE and the mac platform it seems to get alot of praise. I have a 24" iMac and would either keep that and buy a macbook/mbp so i can edit freely w/out being tied to the office or sell it and buy a fully loaded pc and laptop. I have a few questions that I haven't seen clearly defined so hopefully someone can help.

- Can FCE edit/import full 1080P?
- Can it output full 1080P to be played on a bluray player (Roxio toast?) on either standard dvd or bluray (assuming affordable burners get released)
- Is FCE fairly easy to learn/use/edit for home movies?
- Other then DVD, what's the best way to distribute the movies to family/friends?
- Can FCE do chapters, menus, etc. in a HD format?
- Does it support creating 5.1 surround sound?

Thanks in advance!!!
Rob I am confused you already posted this same question in the macrumors forum [ http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=602379 ]

they all were answered except the surround sound one...and NO FCE does not support surround sound...either does FCP only Sountrack pro bundled with FCS allows it...

although they were mostly correct there is NO camera sub $2000 that will record in FULL HD 1080p (60p) currently we have 30p and 24p and 60i.....

also I have had FCP for well over a year and pretty much taught myself how to use it with online tutorials...so i just went for my first 1 on 1 class at the apple store apparently I only scratched the surface I was SO off....if you get FCE or FCP dont waste your time...take the 1 on 1 classes you wont regret it..

they both have STEEP learning curves...i am no amateur either..i have been editing analog and no digital video for 10 years with AVID