Dazzle USB 2.0 DVD Recorder and Nero

[kurbads]

There is a great DVD recorder called Pinnacle Dazzle USB 2.0 DVD Recorder.
Before I buy I would like to know:
1) does it compress video on board or on PC?
2) can it be used without PC?
3) can it be used as simple burner to burn data DVDs through e.g. Nero?
Tech specs

[oldandinthe way]

Here is the technical description at CompUSA

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=SEARCH&Ntt=dazzle&N=0&Dx=mode+mat...e_DVD_Recorder

It's a capture box. It needs a PC, the PC has to have a DVD burner. Full requirements are listed.

It comes with software.

[FulciLives]

Most people around here have found that Dazzle products perform rather poorly.

If you want a USB 2.0 capture device that does hardware MPEG encoding then you would be best to get the Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB2 which is NOT to be confused with the Hauppauge WinTV USB2. You want the one with the PVR part in the title.

Circuit City usually carries this or you can buy it on-line from a variety of retail stores such as NEWEGG.COM

If you want a PCI card instead then I suggest the Hauppauge WinTV PVR 350 although that model will have to be bought on-line as retail stores don't tend to carry it.

One thing to consider since it sounds like you are new to computer video stuff ... many products promise to do this or that etc. but most fail or do a half-ass job. It's really weird because I can't think of too many other places in life where such half ass non-working crap is "tolerated" by the marketplace.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman