Video Camera Advice

After purchasing a JVC Everio HD camcorder, I found out that hard way, that getting a hard drive camcorder to work with a Mac is not as easy as it sounds.

With that said, I want to find options that will make shooting, transferring, and editing video on my (mid 2011) Macbook Pro, as easy as possible.

I know that there are different converters out there, but from what I have read, they are time consuming and many times still don't help you accomplish what you are trying do.

What types of camcorders should I be looking for? I know there are many professional style cameras that will accomplish what I am looking to do, but they almost always start at about $1000 and go up from there. Some people have suggested that I buy a SVR camera because they all shoot video as well, but now I am concerned that I will run into the same transferring issues with a $700 SVR camera that will have run into with a $300 HD camcorder.

Any help that is given will be greatly appreciated. My wife is due to have our first child any day now and this video camera issue was unexpected and has suddenly become an unneeded point of stress. Oh, on a side note, I went to an Apple store yesterday and they gave me two suggestions.

1) Use an iPhone.

2) Come on these forums and ask...which is what I did.

That was the best they could do, as they weren't really familiar with this problem.

Thanks, in advance!

Jason