Using Mac OS 10.4 (Tiger), and currently iMovie '06, and Canon MV550i.

Camcorder now chewing tape on rewind, so looking to replace it with a
flash or a HD camcorder - camcorder only used for holidays, family
events, local community activities, so very high quality output not
essential.

iMovie '06 absolutely requires a Firewire (iLink) connection, which the
Canon has. I believe that iMovie '09 can accept input from flash, HD and
other sources: my question is, can iMovie '08? That version is available
on eBay at a price I can aford, but I can't justify to her indoors the
£70+ for full iLife '09 which includes iMovie 09 but also several apps
which I never use.

I'm also rather vague about length of shooting times I can get from
either flash or HD camcorders, so any help here would be appreciated.

TIA,

BS