I need a recommendation regarding how to get files off a mini-DVD digital camera and save them locally in the fewest possible steps. (I'm doing a setup for some very non-technical people.)

Ideally, they would be able to:

1) Put the mini-DVD in the DVD drive.
2) Launch an application to see what files are on the DVD.
3) Save a selected file to the local HD in some format that can be viewed in a browser.

That last bit is important. The video is intended for uploading to a web site so other people can see them. Simplicity is the priority. Video editing is not.

I don't have the camera yet. I could use a recommendation for that, if some make better-formatted DVDs than others.

Thanks - SR

(This does sound sketchy, but it's really a family-friendly project!)

I have a DCR-TRV20. It works w/o problems in my gentoo using IEEE1394. It works with the driver from the kernel as long as you configure it:
# IEEE 1394 (FireWire) support
#
CONFIG_IEEE1394=y

#
# Subsystem Options
#
# CONFIG_IEEE1394_VERBOSEDEBUG is not set
# CONFIG_IEEE1394_OUI_DB is not set
# CONFIG_IEEE1394_EXTRA_CONFIG_ROMS is not set
# CONFIG_IEEE1394_EXPORT_FULL_API is not set

#
# Device Drivers
#
# CONFIG_IEEE1394_PCILYNX is not set
CONFIG_IEEE1394_OHCI1394=y


There are many guides online, one very good to do capture, editing and burn would be:

http://www.kinodv.org/, w/ this and the correct driver you can even watch in real time your movie while it is being transfered from your mini DV to your hard drive.

hope this helps, even if just a little bit. Good luck.