High quality DV format video from miniDV tape over USB has not been supported for several years (USB is used for stills only from a memory card if that camcorder has that capability).
I have a frieds Panasonic PV-GS39 camcorder. There is some video of my daughter's one and only basket made in her 8th grade season. Problem is that I cannot figure out HOW to capture this video? I have tried going through Panasonic, but unable to reach a HUMAN. There seems to be two ports on the camera. One is a firewire port, but I do not have a firewire port on my computer. The other port is some type of USB or something. I have a cord that will plug into it and then has a normal USB on the other end, but cannot get the computer to recognize the camcorder. The cord is one I use for syncing and transferring files from by Blackberry if that gives you an idea as to what kind it is. Can ANYONE help me? This is really important to me and I am running out time as the friend wants his camcorder back. Please help!

Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic