The compression happens between the lens and the tape. Too late for uncompressed DV.
What you may be thinking is that the video is uncompressed on the tape. It is compressed at 5:1 – so as I said. Too late by the time it is on tape.
A Mac captures DV from a camera the same way a PC does, but names if differently and puts a slightly different wrapper on the file. But the data is a file transfer, so the data is the same on Mac as on PC, from Quicktime MOV to Windows DV – all the same.
If you want better codecs to work with, you should upgrade your system to Windows XP and get the latest version of Premiere Pro 1.5 – then you will have a better codec (MainConcept) than before. There is a learning curve, but it will be a significant improvement. And the MPEG export is much better in Premiere Pro than in 6.5 as well.
Steven
Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 / After Effects 6.5 Pro https://www.stevengotz.com
Learning Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 https://www.lynda.com
Contributing Writer, PeachPit Press, Visual QuickPro Guide, Premiere Pro 1.5