Hardware encoders question

[goobee]

I've narrowed my search down to two models, the

Plextor PX-M402U Click here for specs

or

Pinnacle Studio MovieBox Deluxe USB v9 Click here for specs

I've googled for reviews on both devices and they both have relatively good reviews. The Plextor appears to be the better buy since it will encode to mpeg 1, 2, 4 and also DivX while the Pinnacle only to mpeg 1/2. However, the Plextor appears to max out at 6Mbps bitrate while the Pinnacle appears to go up to 12Mbps.

Thoughts, comments, suggestions? These guys are in the price range I want to pay. Also, I want to go USB so that I can move the device to other computers. Thanks.

 

[zver]

well,i really dont know much about either,just remember that i read on cdfreaks that plextor had some problems with divx-like the files didnt play or something..
Are those hardware encoders much faster then for example cce?

 

[Nunyobiznes]

My question to you is if you will be burning to cd, dvd or if these files are for pc playback? Anything higher than 8mb/s really doesn't improve the quality of the video to the average viewer. Seems to me that the Plextor will do just fine. Maybe you might want to hold off until the HD standard issue is settled and then get the one that supports HD.

 

[goobee]

My main purpose is to convert my entire VHS collection to DVD. Some are home movies that I want to add title pages and special effects to. Since we're looking at ~500 or more "real time" hours, I was thinking that a hardware based converter would speed things along. I tried capturing a 4 hour tape using my ATI AIW card but it took quite a while on my dual MP2800 box.