HD Video Edit Software

[6C4GTS]

Search is down so apologies if this is a repost.

I use a Gopro HD Hero for in car footage and stock windows live movie maker to edit footage which I find easy to use for getting things onto Youtube. However when first dropping the video into WLMM it takes an age to prepare the footage before the edit can start.

Is there more suitable (ideally free) HD video edit software?

TIA

[The_Jackal]

Bear in mind if you are editing HD video the speed of your computer will make a big difference.
If you are using a Pentium 4 it wont matter what software you use.