Video Production/Mick Fuzz's notes on Windows & Mac platforms and Free Software solutions

Encoding for Internet / DVD

 * Virtual Dub Mod encoder for Avi Files - Open source -
 * Goridan Knot Open source - Create avi from DVD's
 * Quicktime Pro - proprietry - create mp4 files
 * Windows Media Encoder - free with valid xp licence / crack - Making WMV files
 * Matroska http://www.bunkus.org/videotools/mkvtoolnix/ creating files with multiple subtitle files

Making Subtitles

 * Subtitle Workshop -Freeware
 * Subtitle Creator - GNU http://sourceforge.net/projects/subtitlecreator/

Final Cut Pro (FCP}
Great

I Movie
Good but very limited, and not an obvious link between iMovie and Final Cut Pro. So if they are likely to make the jump and learn FCP eventually, then you may as well start on FCP

Encoding for Internet
Quick Time Pro