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Review: ComWorld Digital Video Converter System KDV-500
Last weekend BBQ let me borrow his Com World Digital Video Converter KDV-500. This is a set top box that looks and feels like an old fashion external modem. This thing is a digital filter and video converter that is designed to turn a NTSC, PAL or SECAN video signal into a NTSC or PAL video signal. You can take a DVD player or video game system from anywhere in the world and hook it up to another TV device from most of the rest of the world.
Now BBQ and I do not have any PAL or SECAM video equipment laying about but this thing has another interesting use. It will strip the Macrovision encoding from a video signal so you can copy any DVD to video tape or DVD-Recorder without any error warnings or video lock out. BBQ uses it to copy DVDs to his VHS VCR and I found out that I could use this to copy a DVD or protected VHS tape onto a DVD+R.
The only real problem is that it reduces the resolution of the signal quite a bit. It really looses something when you copy to a DVD+R but BBQ says that he does not notice care because it looks just as good as regular VHS tape.
They have made a newer version that supposedly works at a higher resolution but they have them listed at 300 bucks. I would love to take advantage of my fair use rights and stick it to the DMCA and the MPAA but I will probably wait for something cheaper or try a software option when I get my iBook with a DVD burner.
Jake at February 14, 2005 
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Comments
cool thing. but waaaaay to expensive.
hope HDTV is the solution for WORLDWIDE STANDARD.
Posted by: Jim at February 15, 2005 7:14 AM
Have you ever tried DVD shrink on the PC? Works like butter.
Posted by: Anthony at February 15, 2005 11:44 AM
DVD shrink is "teh g00d!" It is without a doubt the best! Simple to use and fast! brilliant!
Posted by: ray hook at February 15, 2005 12:46 PM
