HP Device to Convert VHS Movies to DVD

[MachineMan]

"A new Hewlett-Packard Co. device aims to make it easier for consumers to transfer their memories from analog VHS tapes to the increasingly popular, longer-lasting digital format of DVDs."

More Info

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/030811/hp_dvd_product_2.html

[handyguy]

a quote:
"The Movie Writer, priced at $399, will be available in mid-September, the company said.

The gadget combines features to complete a task that often requires separate purchases of software, a video capture card and a DVD burner. It connects to a computer through a USB cable and can record videos from a VHS, Hi8, Digital 8 or Mini DVD player onto a DVD."

They should just call it a dvd recorder.

[ktjensen]

Here is the HP name for it. Think about it though. HP is now giving to consumers the ability to copy any DVD movie. I am sure it will have built in Macrovision protection.


hp dvd movie writer dc3000 (Q2114A#ABA)

[CPimaging]

Here's another a slightly more in depth article about this product: http://www.forbes.com/2003/08/11/cx_ah_0811tentech.html?partner=yahoo

It seems like HP is trying to create some kind of cross over machine, but you can't get much easier than a standalone DVD recorder. I don't think it will make it.

[Bob W]

I wouldn't touch one simply because it's from HP. Also a DVD recorder and a separate VCR gives you better control of any copies IMO.

[curtw]

Here's another a slightly more in depth article about this product: http://www.forbes.com/2003/08/11/cx_ah_0811tentech.html?partner=yahoo

It seems like HP is trying to create some kind of cross over machine, but you can't get much easier than a standalone DVD recorder. I don't think it will make it.

The Forbes article says it comes with "editing software," so I'd guess that the data still gets an intermediate step on your hard drive. There's no mention of a hardware MPEG-2 encoder either, so this might just "only" be an A/D video converter and burner in one, with PC-based software encoding. It's hard to imagine that they'd be able to put all THREE functions into a single box for $399, but if they *have*, this could be huge.

[tompika]

It's hard to imagine that they'd be able to put all THREE functions into a single box for $399, but if they *have*, this could be huge.

It's not that large. But it is ugly.

[curtw]

It's not that large. But it is ugly.

I meant huge as in "bestseller," not size.For many, it comes down to the choice between a burner or a recorder. To potentially get both in the same box, at the average retail price of one* is fantastic.

(*External burner, that is. An internal is cheaper.)

[tompika]

Right, right...

[mysticgohan17]

It's hard to imagine that they'd be able to put all THREE functions into a single box for $399, but if they *have*, this could be huge.

It's not that large. But it is ugly.

its like a mini coffee table. or a really expensive coaster.