VHS to DVD help

[bodhi100]

Hi all,

My dad is wanting to convert his VHS collection to DVD, I know a little about it (used a PCI TV tuner a while ago).

He's looking at the following products :

http://tinyurl.com/4e74ng

http://tinyurl.com/5y3lgm

Obviously one is more expensive than the other with it being a stand-alone unit, whilst the other plugs into a P.C. If anyone has used either product can you tell me if there is a difference in pixels/framerates etc.? Will they both be a comparable quality? I guess he's looking for '720×576' resolution?

Also he has a number of pre-recorded tapes, i.e purchased from stores, I assume they can't be copied back to DVD because of copyright protection, or can the 'Dazzle' product allow this to be done? Only asking this one because if it can't be done he will have to buy 'Last of the summer wine' all over again on DVD lol!

Appreciate any advice

[redsox_mark]

PAL DVDs will be 720x576, 50i no matter how you do it.
The first link is a cheap settop DVD recorder with a VHS player. It will do the job, though you may be better off with a higher quality DVD recorder, and connect a VCR to it.

There are many PC based devices which convert to MPEG like that Dazzle. I'm not sure how the quality compares.

You could also use a camcorder with AV in, or devices from Canopus which capture to DV avi format; then convert to MPEG in software.