Video capture on laptop (best options?)

I'm trying to convert some vhs and hi8 tapes (via s-video+composite audio) to digital files on my m17(not x) laptop. I have usb2.0, eSata, and express card slots (for input) available, but am wondering what's the best option out there? I've seen quite a few USB video capture devices on amazon, but all of them suffer from a/v sync problems from the reviews it seems, and that sounds about right trying to capture on the slow speed of usb2.0... I'd love to see something from hauppauge because their name seems to be one of the bigger/better ones in video devices for computers, but I couldn't find anything from them that would do the job.

What sort of options are available to me to capture video from either composite or composite audio+s-video cables to my PC laptop? Is it all pretty crap and I should just try to build a cheap-ish desktop with an actual pci (or whatever) video capture card (or a video card with composite ins (if they even make those still))?

Thanks for any input or suggestions you can help me out with. I'm sick of being sold crappy usb input devices, but if someone can recommend a really good one I'd be more open to the idea and really grateful for the tips

 

Since its just SD content something like the Dazzle, or EZ Cap should work for you fine.

 

Thanks Vicious, though it seems at least 50% of the reviewers on amazon describe both having horrible audio/video sync issues, only worsening the longer the clip (10min+) and all my clips are 50 minutes plus...

Have you used either and these issues are just dumb amazon users or are they pretty problematic?

 

When I used an easy-cap with my old Dell E1405 (Core 2 duo with integrated graphics), my results were only so-so. I tried it again with my new laptop and it worked fine. I suspect many of the bad reviews on the internet are from folks who either didn't use it correctly or who had inadequate machines. Video capture requires some computer "horsepower" for good results.

While you may get even better results with more sophisticated equipment, I can't imagine the slight improvement being worth spending too much more. VHS or analog 8mm, in my case, is pretty low resolution by today's standards.

AM.

 

I have used something similar and didnt have issues with it until I got windows Vista because what I was using was old enough to not have 64bit drivers.

Nothing that is new age and high quality is going to be designed around SD content and S video capture.

You have things like the HD PVR that is great but it uses component video and I see little reason to tell you to buy a product that is like $150 for a small project.

What I used was the Adaptec Gamebridge BTW so if you find one, I can vouch for it working. I used it to both play games on my laptop from a console, and to record footage.