Ah - no telly - I understand!
Your Sony has a DV in and out, so the camera can download to PC and upload edited video back to camera.
PC you will need -
- a fairly fast PC - say a 500Mhz PIII as a minimum
- lots of HDD space for editing/ temporary storage 40Gb min (2nd HDD a good idea)
- Fast HDD - go for 7200rpm ATA66 min
- Good sound card (Audigy is good - also contains Firewire port), speakers etc
- Firewire port/card - must be OHCI comapatible to control camera from PC - most are - a spare PCI slot will be needed
- Capture & editing software - (Pinnacle Studio 7)
- Windows 98SE, Me, or XP operating system (XP best)
- Quality monitor to edit and view results (17" min).
You will capture and edit the video on the PC. After editing send back to the camera via the Firewire, and also write to a "viewing" file - use MPEG2 for small yet high quality file. Ideally this should be written to a CD (VCD or SVCD), or better a DVD, otherwise you will soon run out of HDD space.
You will also therefore require a CD writer, or better a DVD writer. If you choose a DVD writer the quality can approach commercial DVD's. CD's can be used but the quality will be limited to something near VHS standard and not take full advantage of a DV camera.
You can view the video directly by playing the captured video files, or the edited video file. More practically, you will play the edited video from the CD/DVD writer. I do not know of any system where you can play at full screen directly from the camera (it is not normally wanted!).
If you have a DVD writer you will also be able to play commercial DVD's, and add a TV tuner card and you will also have a telly!!
Thats the basic idea. Happy editing!