For $15 I got a Canon consumer camcorder which shoots in VR format. For another $50 I got an older Final Cut Express which will run under X10.4. Unfortunately, FC will not read the VR format but I wonder if there is any way to change the format the was you do in Photoshsop when you change a TIF to a JPG or something else. Any ideas?

As I recall it, vr files are really mpeg2 files with some extra info appended; it may be as simple as renaming the file extension to .mpg. Failing that, try mpegStreamclip (Squared 5 - MPEG Streamclip video converter for Mac and Windows (http://www.squared5.com)) which will -- again searching my memory--convert them to .mov files. Excellent freeware you should have anyway if you have FCP.

You may also try quick media converter. Thats what I use alot for all my media files. Its from cocoon software