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My favorite gizmo of the season definitely is Pinnacle Systems' Dazzle Instant DVD Recorder. "Foolproof" is the best way to describe this fabulously simple video-to-DVD converter. It's one of those rare devices that gives you instant results and complete satisfaction.
For many users, the most challenging - read: frustrating - aspects of working with digital video is the labor of transferring video from the camcorder to your computer, then burning it to DVD, with or without menus and chapters. Though not a difficult task, it's complex enough to challenge even the hardiest newcomers.
Pinnacle takes all the guesswork and scary technical stuff out of the picture with Dazzle. It basically creates a one-way bridge between your camcorder - analog or digital - and your PC, where you can capture video and burn it straight to DVD.
The very eye-catching product design sports a sort of teardrop or paisley shape, with a nearly 6-foot USB 2.0 cord extending from the top. The bottom of the unit houses input jacks for composite audio/video, as well as an S-video port. These correspond to the output jacks on a camcorder, VCR or any other compatible device.
To use, simply connect the two, plug the Dazzle into your computer and fire...