MiniDV to DVD question

[cobra967]

I am about to purchase a MiniDV Canon ZR65MC, which has the capability to use MiniDV media. My objective is transfer the image from the camcorder into my computer and make DVDs. I well know how complex and frustrate can be to attach a VCR to a computer and use a caputer card to make a good quality MPG2 or AVi file and then make a DVD. What I would like to know is if this new system - MiniDV - will allow me to DOWNLOAD a video format file from the camcorder or will the camcorder act like my old VCR and the computer capture and re-encoding to a video format file. I asked this same question to few people and I am receiving conflicting information. Any correct information on this issue is appreciated.

[gNOMEintheRedHat]

MiniDV will connect to your PC with a IEEE1394 card (a.k.a. Firewire)

You can use several different software packages to capture the video to your PC. It is a direct digital copy of the data on the camera, so there is NO QUALITY LOSS.

The capture software will save the video in an .AVI file on your PC.
*** DV Video runs @ 3.8 MEGABYTES Per SECOND!!!*****
Have yourself a TON of free disk space!!!!

Then uses any video editing software to edit, then use any MPEG2 compression software to compress to DVD compatable MPEG2.