Hardware Needed to Connect Camera to Computer
If you have digital ports (USB, Firewire, or HDMI) on both your camera and the computer you will use to edit video you need no extra hardware. Connect your cables and start importing.
If you have only RCA AV and or S-Video outputs on your camera but none on your computer, AND YOU CHOOSE TO OBTAIN hardware (other options explained) that will allow you to connect your camera to your computer, you have a choice of purchasing an internal board to put into your camera or purchasing and external device.
Internal Computer Card (for experts or friends who are)
Examine the mother board of your computer. Identify how many and what type of card slots are empty and available to use. Hauppage (at left) is one choice. This will run in addition to the card that runs your computer monitor - not instead of.
Or, if you choose to replace your graphics card with a multi-purpose that has RCA AV inputs and outputs, identify the type of slot that you need.
Shop around. Go to cnet.com for reviews and suggestions. Purchase best card.
There are also higher end muliple sets that include one card to insert into your computer and one cable that plugs into that card. This cable has multiple cables (analog and digital) at the end not connected to the computer through its board (or one external "box" that has multiple and diverse ports). These are higher end in quality, function, and PRICE.
External Device (for the rest of us)
A simple device made by a few different companies is one that has RCA AV video, left and right channel audio and S-video to plug into those ports on your camera. At the other end, it has a high speed USB to plug into your computer.
When you have installed the card into the computer or hooked up the external device to your camera, hook up the remaining cables and you are ready to open the software you need to use to import the video from your camera tape to your computer hard drive.