[Solidstate]

The Mother in law wants to put her camcorder footage on a DVD. She doesn't have any interest in editing.

Ideally she just wants to plug the camcorder into the firewire socket, stick a DVD in the PC, press one button and come back an hour or so later and a DVD has been burnt.

Is there any software this simple? - If not, what's the closest available option.

[jetinder]

Try Windows Movie maker that comes free with Windows XP.

[massimo]

How about a DVD recorder? Don't they come with firewire sockets to record from camcorders?

I know my panasonic dvd recorder has one.

[jetinder]

Originally Posted by massimo

How about a DVD recorder? Don't they come with firewire sockets to record from camcorders?

I know my panasonic dvd recorder has one.

Good point but i dont think the cheap ones have firewire built in.

[solidamber]

Even the simplest programme will involve some setup and will involve capturing storing and burning, maybe 6 or 10 clicks but not one, the stand alone DVDr idea is the simplest even then you will have select the dv input and create a menu and finalize the disk if it is to play in all machines.

[Solidstate]

Thanks,

She does have a DVD recorder with Firewire input. I was trying to avoid showing her how to use it as she only uses it as a player at the moment. She's really hard work to explain anything to - but if this is my best option then I'll have to do it.

As far as Windows Movie Maker goes, mine doesn't give me the option to burn to DVD so I'm assuming hers doesn't either. But thanks for the suggestion anyway.

I seem to remember there being a simple version of Pinnacle Studio.

[senu]

Try this
You are right in that Pinnacle studio ( 10 and above) also has a component to it called DVD Recorder

But I personally think if she doesn't want to stick a firewire cable from camcorder into a settop DVD recorder, there is no PC route which is simpler.(including the cut down version of Pinnacle studio bundles with dazzle products Here
There is a need to have some idea how the software works as it is often configurable and one should be able to wriggle out of a jam!

What she needs is a DVD camcorder!

[senu]

Originally Posted by jetinder

Try Windows Movie maker that comes free with Windows XP.

It captures DV AVI as DV AVI or wmv but does not output mpeg2 and does not Author DVDs. Many who use it tend to use it with Nero vision ( which is just as capable of importing from camcorder and ending up with DVD. Apparently the WMM with vista is cpable of doing this as well ( in addition to importing HDV)

As it happens Some Sony camcorders ( in conjunction with Sony latops /Viao desktops have a program "Click to DVD" which help to simplify the process of burning a DVD from miniDV tape

[Solidstate]

Originally Posted by senu

As it happens Some Sony camcorders ( in conjunction with Sony latops /Viao desktops have a program "Click to DVD" which help to simplify the process of burning a DVD from miniDV tape

I think I'm going to try to get hold of this, it sounds ideal.
Many thanks.

[senu]

The program isn't sold separately , tends to be pre-installed on Sony only laptops/ PCs , and only works with Sony camcorders
Sony "Click To DVD"

Have a look at the Ulead Program again ( linked above) it is simple enough and the processes of going from Camcorder tape to DVD are such that a liitle knowledge of how it happens can only be a benefit which I'm sure your mother in law may be persuaded to learn unless she decides to settle for a settop recorder.. ( also need a little know-how!!)