With Adobe Premiere Elements 4’s improved interface and other features, it clearly ranks among the best video editing software in the market today. One change you’ll notice immediately is with the timeline. Unlike previous versions, tracks are added in pairs - audio and video are no longer separated into two groups. The reviewer found two problematic spots with the application: first, it can’t capture and edit AVCHD, and second, it can’t produce Blu-ray or HD DVD playable discs on DVD±R. However, Adobe is thinking of AVC compatibility for future releases, so if this feature is really important for you, you might want to hold out for the next version.

The area of video editing isn’t for experts alone anymore. Adobe Premiere Elements 4.0 entices new users with the line "Create fun home movies in as little as 15 minutes." And, according to the reviewer, the promise has entered the realm of the possible. The entire design of Elements 4.0 is leaned towards helping the newbie, at a very attractive price. To test Elements 4.0, the reviewer used a Celeron 3.0GHz CPU with 1.25GB of RAM. One noticeable difference is the layout of the software. There are pull-down menus, but basic functions are presented as buttons for easy access. However, the finer settings are now buried deeper, often needing an extra mouse click to access. Another plus factor for the Elements is its software integration. Files created with Photoshop Elements can be easily integrated in Premiere Elements. When changes are made to the file, Elements automatically refreshes and shows the most current version of the file. One caveat that the reviewer noticed was the lack of AVCHD support, which may cause disappointment to HD camera users. All in all, with just a tag price of 99$, the reviewer states that Premiere Elements packs a lot of punch when it comes to video editing.