dennis,
you could just buy a dvd recorder and jack the camera into it. record directly to the disk. you wont have fancy credits etc but it will be on disc. i've got all my DV's on disc that way.
i've just started on the video production road, but i think my laptop wont be very good at doing it, as its only a 1.5 P4 with 512mb!!! so i may have to put my Oliver Stone dreams on hold for a while
Gary