Question on Videocams:

I want to buy a camcorder and am still in the process of research as to which brand to buy. I have only a CD writer on my PC. Will I be able to transfer videos to my PC through USB, then just burn it to a VCD? And will I be able to play a miniDV on a DVD player?

Submitted by Reader

Answer:

If you are looking at USB, it's usually used for Webcam streaming (if your chosen camcorder supports it), not for video transfer. For the latter, you will need a FireWire port available on your PC to transfer from your camcorder to your computer. If your computer does not come with one, you will need to purchase a FireWire PCI card (if you are using a PC) or a FireWire PCMIA card (if you got a laptop).

If you managed to have your video transferred, burning will not be a problem as most manufacturers will provide free software to create the VCD.

Personally I have never heard of a DVD player that can play a MiniDV tape. However, most camcorders have a Playback mode and can be hooked up directly to a TV. You shouldn't have any trouble there.