I have a Panasonic VDR-D150 (GN). Does importing footage via USB & driver differ from importing via mini-disc?

I've come to the conclusion that the two methods for importing footage from the camera is via USB and so-called accompanying driver, or inserting a DVD-RW mini disc that the camera records on into a PC's optical drive.

I have only tried the latter method; I have the appropriate USB cable, although not the driver (wasn't included on a CD with the camera) 鈥?I've tried multiple times to download the driver on Panasonic's website, it just won't happen. I know that importing footage by putting the mini-disc into my computer (once finalised) but all I get are .VOB and .IFO files 鈥?and for these to be useful at all, I need some sort of converter software. Does USB importing get the footage in a different file format?

You don't NEED converter software - you can use a video editor that can handle DVDs. That's just about every commercial editor, so there's no shortage of them - AVS Video Editor is very reasonably priced. I don't think you can get the video onto your PC via USB - that's only for stills.

There are 4 different ways to download 4 different kinds of video cameras.
If you have a mini dv (cassette) camcorder鈥?
Your dv camcorder needs a firewire connection (ieee 1394) in order to download video, your PC probably did not come with a firewire port, so you will have to buy one and install it, since most computers (except possibly brand new) don't come with a firewire port, your camcorder did not come with a firewire cord so you have to purchase a cord too. Your camcorder did come with a USB cord and that is used for downloading stills from your camcorder. Make sure your camera is in playback mode.
The fine print in your manual makes reference to firewire (ieee 1394) connection.

If you have a mini dvd camcorder鈥?
You will have to finalize your dvd in the camera and then put the dvd in your computer's DVD burner (top loading only) and then you will have to convert the files (I downloaded handbrake file converter free) and import them into your editing program. Use the HELP feature in your editing program to learn about editing. Once you are ready to burn, your project will be burned to a different DVD and you can file the original away.

If you have an analog (VHS) camcorder鈥?br> You need an analog converter, either internal card or external such as the dazzle. It's very easy to use and come with good software. You would hook your analog VHS camera or VCR to the analog converter, the dazzle and then hook the dazzle to your PC. The dazzle cost around 70.00 , but worth the money if you have a lot of VHS to tapes to convert.
The 4th camcorder is a hard drive camcorder and it's does take a USB cord for download.