Anybody using a Sony DCR-HC51E

Reading some of the connectivity issues you can get with video cameras I was wondering if anybody had bought and successfully used a Sony DCR-HC51E mini DV camera. I understand it should work through firewire being mini DV but there are never any guarantees.

This is a low end camera, I just want to see how I would use video before investing a large amount of money in a camera and through a relative can obtain a significant discount on this camera.

I have an Intel MacBook with Tiger and iMovie08.

Many Thanks