I'm not a videophile, and need (simple?) help...

[bamffl]

I almost hesitate to expose my idiocy in a post here, but I don't have a lot of alternative sources of information. I'm in kind of a crunch with a bit of a nasty divorce, and I desperately want to grab old home video and make sure I have them burned to DVD. I figure I'll make the offer to burn them for my soon-to-be-ex as well, so hopefully that'll work.

Anyway, I've read a LOT of posts here, but you guys are way over my head and probably way more concerned with the nuances of video capture, etc. What I need is a solution that will allow me to save my kids' old video (with a plus being saving their old VHS Disney movies to DVD - NOT pirating, though!)

Here's what I have:
Dell P4-1.6 GHz laptop (Inspiron 2650) w/256MB
6.5GB free space
2 USB ports (1.1, I think)

Requirements:
Burn VHS and 8MM to DVD that will play on a regular DVD player.

Desirable:
Copy Commercial kids movies for personal use.
A solution that would allow me to re-use the gear for CD burning, DVD backups, etc.

Limitations:
Divorce-Induced shoe-string budget

Options:
Either external devices (DVD, Capture piece, maybe an external Hard Drive, all-in one unit) that will plug into my laptop
- or -
Buy a cheap desktop that has most of what I need built in

Any suggestions for a desperate novice?

[OldFeller]

It would help if you would complete your profile to include more details on how your computer is equipped. That would allow people to see what you need to add to your computer for your project.

[cbsmooney]

If the laptop is USB 1 you may want to look at getting a desktop, since connecting an external device may have slow data transfer rates (runs slow and sluggish). Also may be too expensive to upgrade or limited by space. You can ask Dell what upgrades are possible or do a Google search.

I would buy a desktop with at least a Pentium 4 2.0 or higher, at least a 60GB hard drive, 512 ram or more, a DVD + and - burner and a capture card. If you buy a cheap desktop with the processor, hard drive, and ram I referenced above, you could install a capture card and burner yourself (very easy, just do a Google search and it will tell you how to do it). Check with the company to ensure this does not void your warranty.

A good source for shopping is pricegrabber.com.

Then read the how to guides on this site and you will be in business.

[bamffl]

So basically, get a desktop for the video burning, then.

OldFeller, I put specs in the post. I thought I put the pertinent info in, but maybe there's more info needed? I apologize in advance for leaving important stuff out. I'm just not sure what to include besides memory, processor, and hard drive...

[fritzi93]

Hover your mouse over someone's computer details and you'll see what OldFeller means, it can be useful information. If someone has to scroll to a particular post to refer to something, he might just decide not to help you. That's all.

[oldfolk999]

Given what you stated, it might be cheaper and easier to get a stand alone DVD recorder for copying old VHS tapes.
As for your kids' Disney, cost and time might not justify doing it. They may outgrow Disney before you know it.
Just a thought.

[pijetro]

(with a plus being saving their old VHS Disney movies to DVD - NOT pirating, though!)

Why do that?? It's easier to rip the DVD's. Better yet, give it a year, and they'll show you how to do it...

Oldfolk999 has the best answer..Buy a standalone burner. Hit record and walk away..
Sell your computer for the lawyer fees..

[gshelley61]

Yes, a DVD recorder is the easiest and fastest way... if your soon-to-be-X hasn't cleaned out your bank account yet! :P

[Roundabout]

Ecost has a great deal right now on a GoVideo Standalone DVD recorder - only $179.99 - you said you were on a budget, this is the cheapest price I've seen for this model yet. It also has free shipping. It has front panel DV/Firewire input, so if your camera is a DV camera all you have to do is plug it in and start recording. It also has all the other inputs you'd expect for flexibility. Read the product detail toward the bottom of that webpage I linked here -

Click HERE to see the website details.

Maybe this will fit your needs.

[OldFeller]

Here's the way I make DVDs from my 8mm home tapes. First, I convert the analog tapes to DV and transfer the DV files to my hard drive. I use a Canopus ADVC-100 "capture card" for this purpose. The transfer to the computer requires an IEEE-1394 (firewire) cable and an IEEE input on my computer. I convert the DV files to MPEG2 files using software which came with my IEEE card. I import the MPEG files into Ulead DVD Movie Factory to author (add menus, delete portions, etc.). Finally, I write the finished product onto a blank DVD using an NEC 2500a DVD burner.

The capture and conversion to MPEG2 takes so much time that I usually take my camera to a friend who has a Panasonic standalone and come home with a finished DVD that I can either use, as is, or output to Movie Factory to add menus, etc. If I were to do it all again, I'd buy the standalone at about the same cost.

BTW, I was curious as to what you had so I could judge what you needed. Hope this helps.

[lenti_75]

you have 2 options:

1. the laptop is history....you need a desktop pc, with 512MB ram, 120G hard, AMD XP or Pentium 4, burner, capture card, firewire card....this is about 6-700$ IF you biuld it + the monitor.

2. buy a standalone dvd burner, they start from $200. much easier and faster.