Some more info:
Storage: I agree with the above. Get one drive for OS and programs, and
another one for video only. Don´t go for too big single drives as you tend to loose much more spce after formating (80GB yields 75GB,120GB yields 111)
I would go with a 40 or 60 GB system drive and a 80GB capture drive. Put them on a promise ide pci card so you can use the pors on your mainboard for DVD-ROM and CD-burner.
Also, if you want to learn about good ways to capture footage from DVD and turning them into divx or mpeg, go to
http://doom9.org
You need to decide at which level you are going to doing editing(I mean life-action DV, not AMV) If you just get started, get a Pyro DV Firewire card. It uses the Texas Instruments chip which works flawless and you can connect any DV cam as well as firewire harddrives. I just bought a 120 Maxtor 5000DV, which is a firewire HD. It is great for getting huge amounts of data from a to b as it works on every passive (The DV500 does not work as it is an active card only accepting cams) card.
Important parts:
512MB RAM. Don´t use any less. It is cheap now and editing projects eat
ram for breakfast.
a 19 inch monitor will certainly make it easier. I own a 17 inch one and it is a pain too edit on it.