I don't know a lot about PC software but I use a Mac and iMovie HD and it works great.
To avoid dropouts, use fresh-never recorded tapes, or for the fewest a new Sony DV tape made for HD.
High Def. DVDs (HD-DVD and BlueRay) are just coming out and very expensive. So really the only way to watch it in HD right now is to hook the camera to your HD TV using component video or preferably HDMI. But you can make regular DVDs and the quality will be very good if downsized from HD.
Picked up the new Sony HDR-HC3 and love the camera! Have never done a video transfer to a PC or made a DVD. I want to transfer to DVD to share with family and store as well. Looking at a new PC (Dell XPS 400)
1. is a 320 GB Hard drive enough to store the video and my photos as well?
2. what software do you recommend. Have read quite a bit about "dropping" frames and that video transfer takes time. How do I avoid these problems
3. Which DVD is the best quality for the HD video that I have captured?
Thanks for your feedback

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