? re: Analog capture cards

I am completely new to laptops and want to buy one soon. I checked the posts but didn't see a specific one about what my question is, so please forgive me if this is a double post.

I am looking at Dell's laptop deals and hesitate b/c what I really want to be able to do with my laptop is import old VHS analog and convert to DVD. There are some alternate video cards, but none appear to have analog capture...there are, however some upgrades, but I am not sure if htey are external plug ins.

I don't want to switch the card after I purchase b/c I was todl by an operator that that would void my warranty.

Some fo the ones I see that have video capture are ATI - all in wonder and another one by Pinnacle that says it is a video capture convertor.

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSi...deo/Studio+Family/Studio+500-USB+version+10_5

If anyone could provide me some feedback on which product would be useful if the capture card is NOT available when customizing my laptop - I would be appreciate it. (I also have an XPS desktop that I could use for this instead if a laptop woul dnot be the right machine - but, again - it would need to be some type of adaptor - not a replacement graphics card since I can't void my warranty.)

Thanks in advance...
Colleen

 

This would be a good option:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...-5209754?n=172282&tagActionCode=leoville0f-20
Whatever converter box you get be sure to get FireWire. USB will be too slow and need to compress the video more.

 

thanks - but I am really not familiar with ports and adapters... I looked up firewaire but I don't know if it is something I can add to my computer - or is it something I need to have already when I get it configured?

1. If I am buying the laptop, what shoudl I be looking for?
2. How can I find out if the desktop I have now already has this?
3. Where would I plug it in if I were try to add it on?

Sorry so dense -
Thanks
Colleen

 

Look for a listing under ports for either Firewire or IEEE1394. Most of the Dell notebooks (including the 1505 and 1705) have this.

This page has images of various firewire ports and plugs... for a desktop machine you'll be looking for a 6 pin firewire port like this one.

I'm not too sure what you mean by this. If you want to add firewire to your desktop machine, your best bet would be a PCI firewire adaptor. something like this would do the trick.

 

thanks...my xps 400 doesn't have one according to dell. I just chatted online with them. I amlooking at the 1505 insprion, and that does have the 1394 connection, so I would be good to go.

thank you for your info.
Colleen