First of all the usb cable supplied is for streaming, and in fact, you have to set it for streaming in the menu for it to transfer the video. The usb speed, even at usb 2.0, is nowhere nearly as fast as firewire. Once you have the firewire connected, you will see the difference, fluid streaming of your video.
If you don't have a firewire card connected to your computer, you should try and buy one. They're really inexpensive nowadays. After all, if you'll be transfering video to your computer, you should have all of the necessities (if that's how it's spelled).
If your wondering why vcd looks like crap, well, vcd is crap! LOL! You can try to convert your video into SVCD, but that still looks like crap, at least in comparison to DVD quality. The VCD and SVCD format are a very low resolution format. I mean, if you don't mind low rez, then why don't you transfer the video that you want onto a memory stick. You can transfer your video to the memory stick directly through the camera. I use it when I want to send someone a video, and I don't want to go through the hassle. It's effective. It's better than VCD and SVCD, and you don't have to go through all the hassle.
If you can get your video into your computer, of course with the firewire, then you can use Microsoft movie maker. If you buy the upgrade, moviemaker 2, which I have found for about $20, you can upgrade to a highMAT format that microsoft is pushing right now. It's supported by many manufacturers right now, and delivers dvd quality on a sinlge cd (650mb). There are other possibilities such as buying a dvd burner, or transferring to VHS. The whole point of transsferring is to get the video to something that you can store and watch.
If you are considering the DVD cams, don't forget that you will have to continue to buy blank dvd discs, where the mini dv tapes you can use over and over again. And if your considering the rewritables, they never work out, at least for me. They are too slow and unstable, plus what are you going to transfer them too anyways. You still have to consider, you don't have a dvd burner.
To make it short and sweet, what kind of quality are you seeking, and can you afford to support it. Because for high quality editing, you will still need a large hard drive. Of course this all depends on whether you will edit the video or not. If not the dvd camcorder would probably be your best bet, but then how will you make backup copies of the disc? But if your going to edit then you will need a little more , and you will always need time.
Here is the list for high quality:
1. DV camcorder.
2. Firewire card and cable.
3. Large Capacity High speed hard drive (7200RPM's and up is recommended, usually external).
4. Software like MovieMaker2 or Pinacle software.
5. DVD burner.
6. Time, for editing, and burning.
The list for lower quality is:
1. DV camcorder.
2. Firewire card and cable, or usb cable (usb will always skip).
3. Microsoft moviemaker (it will compress it as it transfers the video in).
4. DVD burner.
6. Time, for editing, and burning.
The list to transfer the video to your computer in low quality is:
1. A memory stick for your camera (you can transfer directly from tape to memory stick. I use a 1GB stick.)
2. CD burner.
With the last one you will be able to play the cd on your computer.
Or you can check to see if that VCR, old reliable, still works, and whether you will be happy with that. By far, that is the easiest way, and the least time consuming. I still prefer it, but my clients want their video on dvd. Although we both know that the tape would last forever.
I hope this helps. Let me know.
Carlos Vega
ProPixPhoto.com
carlosvega@propixphoto.com