USB 2.0 capture device for new laptop - ADS Instant DVD 2.0?

[Dentaku]

I know someone who has a nice Athlon 3000+ laptop that she would like to use to capture allot of VHS-C tapes then burn with her new DVD burner.

She doesn't want to have to re-encode anything, just capture directly to decent quality MPEG-2 files and burn.

I've had experience with an ATI Radeon AIW 9600 and it's quite dificult to capture video at a "decent quality" but still get 2hrs on a "suppposed" 2hr DVD. I guess I didn't mess around enough with the settings (the presets in ATI MMC are junk).

If she was to get an ADS InstantDVD 2.0 http://www.adstech.com/products/USBAV702/intro/usb702intro.asp?pid=USBAV702

QUESTIONS
Would it be simple for her to just capture 2 hrs of mpeg-2 and have it always fit on a 4.7GB DVD with the ADS Instant DVD 2.0? My fear is that these external devices don't have enough control over resolution and bitrates so if you decide you would like more than 2hrs on a DVD you would be stuck because you have not enough control over bitrates etc. and would have to go through the extra time of running it through TMpegEnc or someting just to make the file even smaller.

Are there any better external USB 2.0 devices in the $200Can price range?

ALSO
Would it help stop the other problelm I found with the ATI Radeon AIW 9600 where old damaged VHS tapes where mistakenly taken for macrovision copy protected video by the ATI software and "messed up" on purpose even though these tapes obviously didn't have any copy protection at all because they where just home movies? It's infuriating!

[snafu099]

I have had the ADS InstantDvd=2 since it was introduced to the market.
Actually upgraded from the first version.

It has been on and in use since purchase, still going strong.
Full control of resolution and bitrate, I think in 1/2 mb/s increments
VERY consumer friendly, excellent quality results
NO MV problem.

Bad source vhs tapes can be promlematic, but I think that is true for all capture devices (atleast all 3 that I have). It "may" handle short degraded spots in the tape, but blank spots void of any signal usually cause it to reset. These tapes need to be captured in segments and then joined

The IDVD-2 has a loopback to facilitate mpg output back to analog to put back on vhs.
The DvdExpress lacks the loopback option and is a little cheaper with same capture ability and quality

Best bang for the $ ??? To much of a value judgement, however if you can find the DvdExpress on sale for $50-us after rebate, then YES it is good value for the $

The only downside complaint that I have is the lack of tv tuner & pvr software

I would recommend the Compro usb VideoMate Live for the same $ except mine died after 3 months or so while the ADS device is still working

[mazinz]

or you could also get a time base corrector and this will fix those blank/drop out spots on your video tapes. It will cause your capture card not to see them as dropouts but as a strong regular signal--

[Dentaku]

I would recommend the Compro usb VideoMate Live for the same $ except mine died after 3 months or so while the ADS device is still working

The Compro DOES look ineteresting.
http://www.comprousa.com/products/vmlive-spec.htm

Of course this now makes my choice (it's not even for my computer but I'm just helping someone) even more difficult.

As long as it lets us have control over the compression and doesn't have trouble with messed up tapes both of these look good.

You see, AIW cards have this problem with thinking old VHS tapes are actually Macrovision protected even though they aren't. It's infuriating!

[Dentaku]

or you could also get a time base corrector and this will fix those blank/drop out spots on your video tapes. It will cause your capture card not to see them as dropouts but as a strong regular signal--

Aren't time base correctors expensive? Someone brought one over and we tried it and the tapes that where messed up now worked fine but I was led to believe it wasn't a cheap piece of equipment.
It's ridiculous that ATI would make a product that mistakenly thinks completely legal tapes are Macrovision protected.

[mazinz]

it all depends on the one you get. They go from anywhere around 200 plus- up to a few thousand.

their are also patches out there to make the ati cards macrovision free