Some use Avid and think it's great. Some use macs and FCP and think it's great as well. Others use both, one for Online editing and the other for offline. The main thing is to get your fundamentals down, then Non Linear Editing is easy.
Having only used FCP I can't really comment on Avid or anything else. I like Final Cut Studio cause of the price other apps in the package. Compare that with Premiere, you might want AE and Soundbooth and that will cost a lot more. Also the real time editing is a god send.
Black Screen of Death this morning on my early 08 MBP :( Tried resetting PRAM and SMC but reckon it's the logic board/Nvidia card. For about two weeks Safari has been hanging for abit and the demo of PS CS5 wouldn't Force Quit. So my question is has anyone here had this issue? I think it's pretty common. My lecturer had the same problem and it cost him a lot... What have your experiences been when dealing with apple care? I'm covered on warranty till 2011.