JVC GRDX97 MiniDv Digital Camcorder

Rating:
Summary: Problems transferring you video to PC
Review: 1) The provided with the camera Streaming USB Video Driver will not install on Windows XP. Read the p.8 of the manual. It will warn you that XP Hardware Wizard will fail, but promise that after four attempts, you will succeed. Guess what, you won't! XP will tell you that it cannot install this hardware since "The third-party INF does not contain digital signature information".
2) If you give up and decide to go with Firewire connection, you are up for another surprise - JVC Firewire cable is not included and you might not be able to use another manufacturer cable (e.g., the one that comes with STARTEC kit sold by Amazon). It will simply not fit into the camera socket. According to JVC website - "JVC doesn't guarantee that computer, firewire card and JVC camcorder will interface flawlessly in everybody case." If you want to buy JVC recommended cable (VCVDV206U), it will cost you extra $$$.


Rating:
Summary: 4 star... not 1 star
Review: Russian Texan's 1 star rating needs to be corrected. Just because the USER doesn't know how transfer video to pc via USB... doesn't make the GRDX-97 a 1 star camcorder. If Russian Texan's is using XP, there is no need to install driver. Plug in USB cable to camcorder, plug USB into pc, turn on camcorder, USB Mass Storage Device Manager will recognize new hardware. No need to purchase firewire cable.