I've just got Pinnacle Studio 8 (with a firewire card) after having seen Pinnacle 7 before. Version 8 adds the ability to burn directly to VideoCD, Super VideoCD and DVD. I've played with the VideoCD so far (my DVD doesn't like SVCD and I haven't got the DVD burner yet), and a "fake" DVD on the HDD, and it couldn't be easier. The editing software is nice and easy, and seems to have most effects (obviously not as many as the more expensive Premiere types, but then it was only £60 inc. the firewire card). Animated menu creation is easy (even for VCD). I think they can send out a free demo CD but I don't know what the limit is on it.

Depends how much you want to do with it...

Nick