Panasonic video camera - have no idea where to start! Help me...

[KKKKaty]

We were given a Panasonic video camera for Christmas (an HDC-SD40 if that makes a difference). Although I have managed to make some videos and view them on the camera itself, that is as far as I have got.

The instruction manual could be written in Sanskrit for all the sense it makes to me. I think it might help if I knew what I was aiming for. I have no idea whether:-

1. I am meant to be watching the videos through a lead on my TV.
2. I am meant to be watching them through my laptop.
3. I am meant to be making DVDs and watching them.

Also, am I meant to be storing them for all eternity on my (a) video camera, (b) laptop, (c) DVD discs, (d) pen drive or (e) something else entirely?

My laptop isn't that super-duper or with a huge memory, if that makes a difference.

Someone help me, so at least I could have an educated guess as to which of the 110 pages of the instruction manual might be relevant!

Thanks.

Your camera should come with cables to hook up your camera to your PC. Personally, I have a SD card reader on my PC. I just plug the SD card in and drag the files over to the folder where I keep my photos and family videos. Every few months I burn the folder onto dvd and give it to my mum for safekeeping (if the house blows up then at least the photos of my children will be safe :o )

As for watching the videos, they are never that intersting that I want to sit down and watch them on the TV. :) Watching it on the PC is good enough for me but if you want to know about software to convert your video into a DVD then please let me know.