How do I connect a JVC digital video camera to the computer? Can I put the videos on the computer to edit them?

I am using a JVC digital video camera for a project and need to know how to get the videos onto the computer. I also need to edit them, preferably with Windows Movie Maker as it is all that I have. The camera uses Mini DV tapes. So do you know whether or not it is possible?
Answer:

Your computer MUST have a firewire port. USB is used ONLY for transferring stills from the memory card (maybe for USB streaming - most camcorders cannot do this). Laptops typically use PCMCIA or ExpressCard slots; desktops use PCI slots. Firewire, i.LINK, IEEE1394 and DV are all the same thing. USB won't work. Even if, by some miracle, you manage to get USB streaming working, the video quality transferred will not be DV (or HDV, if your camcorder has this capability). USB-firewire converter/adapter/cable things will not work. Three alternatives: 1) Get another computer that has a firewire port. 2) Get an external drive and borrow a computer with a firewire port. Save the imported video to the external drive, disconnect, then connect to your computer. 3) Get an "analog/digital bridge" that connects using USB. Pinnacle makes the Dazzle. Video quality will be reduced - but not as bad as USB streaming. Since you did not tell us which computer, this is about as much help that is possible.

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