I have been soliciting advice on hardware and software for setting up mobile mcasting workstations.  Here is what various people recommended:

• Macs w. Audacity, Sound Studio, Audio Hijack, GarageBand, Pro Tools, Logic Studio, Handbrake, Snapz Pro, iMovie, Final Cut Studio.
• Hardware DigiDesign Digi003 Factory, Sony DV cams, Canon HV20 HD cam.
  
• Zoom H2 audio recorder is very popular and affordable. I like Samsung Mx20 for video.
  
• Audacity, Garageband mostly. Also using Switchpod, Podomatic, and even Voki's online for similar application.
• Audacity (PC, Linux), GarageBand (Mac), Mic: AudioTechnica 2020, Heil PR40 (Dynamic), USB Mic: BlueSnowball (Condenser mic), SoundTrack Pro (Mac), XLR mic with mixer (needed if you want to record Skype interviews), Video (lighting important), Condenser picks up background sounds. Maybe Lavalier mic (clip on), Blip.tv for hosting videopodcasting (Submits to iTunes and creates a RSS feed. Can do audio as well).
• Aluminum MacBook, 2 Snowballs, Flip MinoHD, and external monitor to help with editing. Regular MacBook and two Snowballs.
  
• Mobile Pre (M-Audio)
• QuickTime Pro for creating various qualities and formats of video.
  

I've done a lot of reading on the subject of podcasting and the dominant view is that Macs are the best computers to use.  GarageBand and iMovie is supposed to have a low learning curve, simple to use, and the most dependable.  The knock against PCs loaded with the Vista operating system is that they require a lot more memory and are bigger resource hogs.

There is a lot to consider.