video capture and editing devices

I bought this recently and I am not too happy with this product. It is easy to setup and works most of the time (with XP). However, it may decide to stop working by giving this error - No video signal detected. Powering it off/on and restarting the Arcsoft software (which is pathetic) makes it work again. I called HP tech support (somewhere in India), they asked me to re-install the driver. I re-installed the Arcsoft software since the USB 2.0 driver is already part of XP. No luck.

Also, using the S-Video cable makes the device or the arcsoft software not too friendly (video signal not detected problems)

I also upgraded to a USB 2.0 PC card but burning a DVD takes the same time as using USB 1.1. Not sure what else needs to be done.

In short, buy it if you just want to capture video from your old camcorder and burn straight to DVD. Forget editing the captured video.

I bought this unit to transfer video from old VHS tapes and burn data/video DVD's. My first unit could do the transfers fine, but would invariably fail during a DVD burn. Then it would go "offline" by complaining about having it's USB cable pulled out, or the driver needing to be re-installed. The longer this unit was powered on the worse the problem became.

I called their tech support who are responsive and friendly (in India, but thats ok). It took a couple of calls to go over all the problems and what I had done - I had already tried everything including trying 2 different laptops (Sony and Toshiba), different USB cables, different OS's (WinXP and Win2K). So they decided it was a hardware problem and replaced it.

To my dismay, the 2nd unit exhibited the same problems, only worse. Until that is I noticed it feeling hot. So I placed both the original and replacement on a air conditioning duct and burned without problems. I called support again and they got me a third unit.

Finally I can burn ok without resorting to the air conditioner, although I still have an occassional "no video signal" when transferring which never happened with the first unit.

The software works great, and I like the form factor of the dc4000. But they really do have some quality and product design issues. I'm not convinced that I have a 100% ok unit, but it may be good enough for now.

I really like the support and their responsiveness, and willing to get things working - not so impressed with the product itself.

I saw that some were having problems with drivers in reviews but I hadn't had trouble with HP products before so I thought I would give the product a try, it was a big mistake! After many hours of work I managed to get my computer back online. I though for a time this product had made my hard drive inaccesable. I make my living off my computer and can't afford to destroy it with a faulty product.