Digital video recorder (mini VCR) for lipstick cams - $50

MuffinMan · 07:47 AM

Whoops, I killed the info by mistake. Here it is again.

If anyone is interested in the "mini VCR" reference in this thread, it's on sale for $50 at WOOT. Items sell out very quickly on that site, so if you want one, jump on it!

Craig 930 RS · 10-12-2005, 07:44 AM

Whuh happened to the info, Rob?

MuffinMan · 10-12-2005, 07:47 AM

fixed

Jgordon · 10-12-2005, 08:04 AM

What's the difference between the $170 model and the $50 model? I don't understand technology.

MuffinMan · 10-12-2005, 08:07 AM

I believe it's the same item, rebranded. One thing you can count on with technology is the price will always fall, with time

RickM · RickM's Garage

From the attached discussion the performance is pretty poor. Mediocre encoding and max @ 15fps.

Chuck Moreland · 10-12-2005, 09:31 AM

I just ordered one.

I read the groussing about video quality too. But those guys wanted a Tivo for recording TV/movies. They expected high quality vid.

I'm not going to use it for DVDs. This is small, light, DC powered and solid state. Perfect for an in-car cam.

For $50 how can you go wrong?

and when the video Ipod comes out in a few months, I'll just unplug this unit and plug that one in.

Jack Olsen · 10-12-2005, 10:26 AM

I have one of those, and I ordered this replacement for it yesterday.

Here's what I don't like about that model:

1) No monitor - you can't verify that your camera is pointed where you want it without plugging a monitor into the system. I had to go to ebay for a flip-screen monitor from an SUV, which eliminated the weight savings of the smaller unit and added a TV screen (yikes!) to my interior.

2) No 'record' light, even. The only way to know if it's on and recording is -- again -- if you have a monitor wired in.

3) It uses a remote. I eventually had to epoxy the remote to a nylon strap so it would always be there, pointed at the infrared receiver. It works, but I'd rather not have to deal with a remote control in my car.

The Mustek one I have on order seems like it will address all of the above -- although it is $40 more expensive.

Chuck Moreland · 10-12-2005, 10:42 AM

Your post was about 55 minutes too late for me. That does look like a better unit.

I'll be anxious to hear your impression of it.

MuffinMan · 10-12-2005, 12:47 PM

Chuck, you can always cancel that Woot order and fire up a unit like Jack selected. I ordered two of the $50 jobbies, but I may cancel in favor of something with a screen, after a bit more research.

RickM · RickM's Garage

The Mustek is looks to be real nice for the $$$. I'd be curious about performance as well. More info: http://www.mustek.com/html/prod_pmc/PVR-A1.html

Chuck Moreland · 10-12-2005, 01:18 PM

Rob

I don't see anyway to cancel my order, at least not online. Is there a trick?

KobaltBlau · 10-12-2005, 01:18 PM

Jack, what kind of camera do you use? I'll be interested in your feedback on the mustek too.

MuffinMan · 10-12-2005, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Moreland
Rob

I don't see anyway to cancel my order, at least not online. Is there a trick?

Go to woot.com, and click "my account" on the top right. Copy the order number on the page that pops up, then email service@woot.com asking them to cancel the order. I apologize for the saga, I should have researched more. Alas, for $50 it's still an extremely inexpensive way to capture lipstick camera "data".

Craig 930 RS · 10-12-2005, 01:36 PM

Is the actual video quality of the Mustek better than the one at WOOT?

jpnovak · 10-12-2005, 01:36 PM

I have a system similar to Jack's new one. Mine has a 40G hard drive so I don't have to worry about running out of memory. That should be good for 80 hours of track time. Plus it doubles as an MP3 player since I don't have a radio in the car for those 3 hour drives to the track.

It works really well so far.

Chuck Moreland · 10-12-2005, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MuffinMan
Go to woot.com, and click "my account" on the top right. Copy the order number on the page that pops up, then email service@woot.com asking them to cancel the order. I apologize for the saga, I should have researched more. Alas, for $50 it's still an extremely inexpensive way to capture lipstick camera "data".

Agreed, it still looks like a good deal. But Jack raises some valid issues, especially the part about no screen.

Hopefully the Mustek unit doesn't have other problems.

Jamie, what unit did you get? Do you have link?

Plavan · Plavan's Garage

Chuck.... The magic arrived today. The new Video Ipod. 30 gig and 60 gig versions. $299 and $399.
More info here:
http://www.apple.com/ipod/ipod.html

So glad I did not order that Ipod Nano last week.

I do not know if you can record to it from a lipstick camera yet.

jpnovak · 02:19 PM

Chuck,

It is the same as the Mustek pVR-140

http://www.mustek.com/html/prod_pmc/PVR-H140.html

Its just packaged as a different company. I got mine of ebay for about $250 new with warranty. Surprisingly, it works really well. It is easy to transfer files to and from the unit. The included software is simple but WinXP recognizes it as an external hardrive so an explorer window is usually faster to transfer files.

edit: this also ended up being a bit cheaper when you factor a 500mb or 1G SD card into the price for the other version. Time will tell how long this hard drive lasts.

Jack Olsen · 10-12-2005, 03:42 PM

I got the Mustek unit from the UPS guy today. At first glance, it looks good. It's a nice bright screen. It's smaller and lighter than the VCR thingy it's replacing, and it has a (replaceable and) rechargable battery -- although I'll probably still hard-wire a 5V supply into the car. But I like the fact that I can take the unit out to review videos and not need to worry about a power cord.

It will also hold MP3s, so it could conceivably liberate the iPod I normally use in the car. It has none of an iPod's grace or 'feel,' but it's a cheap alternative to something like the video iPod.

Surprisingly, it even comes with a leatherette-type case, which I think I can adapt to fit in the same holder I use for my iPod.

I'll be interested to see if it fails the one other big limitation of the WOOT-sold VCR thingy, which is that you lose the current recording in the event of a power outtage. What this takes away, in terms of in-car video, is the 'black box' utility of video taken in a crash. If the car gets turned off, either by the operator or a corner worker, you don't want that last precious footage to be instantly deleted. My workaround previously was to wire in a switched 'always on' line for the VCR thingy. I may or may not still need it with the Mustek box. (My guess is that I will, but I won't know until the battery's charged, which will probably mean it gets tested tomorrow.)

The hard-drive Mustek is even more like the iPod, and I agree that $50 for a 1 gig SD card is a hidden cost (although this is true of both this unit and the old VCR thingy). Frustratingly, I invested in two 2-gig CF cards for the old VCR (which took either CF or SD formats), and the new one only takes SD. The new recorder should be able to offload to those CF cards through the USB port, but not live. So I may need to invest in more SD cards down the line.

But what I like about the memory cards is what I liked about the VCR thingy in the first place -- no moving parts. Hard drives are pretty durable, but flash memory is even better, I think.