Is there a device that I can connect to the back of my four year old
Compaq Presario computer, maybe via USB or parallel port(s), that will
create video and audio lines out (just like it already has video and
audio lines in for video capture) that I can then connect to my VCR
thus allowing me to record the mpeg video to VHS tape?  I have been
searching the Web for three days and I can not find an answer to this
question.  I would like to get this project done by Oct. 15, 2002. 
Thank you in advance for all your help.

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Request for Question Clarification by alienintelligence-ga on 28 Sep 2002 23:32 PDT

Hi europa1000,

Would you mind clarifying exactly which
Compaq Presario you have? Processor speed
and memory. And the model # too please.

There are several items out there that you
can use but they will be very dependant on 
the computer's power.

Can you tell me what sites you have been to
so I don't duplicate your results? Did you
find products you deemed unusable?

thanks,
-AI

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Clarification of Question by europa1000-ga on 29 Sep 2002 21:54 PDT

alienintelligence-ga,
Here is the question clarification you asked for:
I have a Compaq Presario 4800 Series with an Intel Pentium 1
processor, a 6 GB Hard Drive with 32200KB of RAM.  I hope that's
enough information.  Thanks again for your help.

Europa.

---

Clarification of Question by europa1000-ga on 30 Sep 2002 09:02 PDT

alienintelligence-ga, 

More question clarification for you:

I searched for an answer at Cnet.com, TechNow.com, desktopvideo.com
and askdrtech.com and couldn't find the answer I needed.

Thanks again for your help.

Europa

Hello.

What you want is a VGA to TV converter. Most devices available on the
market are compatible with both the US (NTSC) and European (PAL)
television standards.

One such device is the AVERMEDIA KEY 100PRO, COMPUTER TO TV CONVERTER.
The company that makes this product is on:
http://www.aver.com

You can buy the product directly from them or one of their retailers
under the "Where to Buy" section.

If you are in Europe, you can also buy it from a UK online retailer by
following the link:

http://www.simply.co.uk/shop/productinfo.asp?sku=66066&prod%5Fid=080B7269%2D8A73%2D482B%2D8D8C%2DE9FF6EAC8C4D&strPricebookCode=W&ibble=8A7AWNQU0TDJ9LT9N7AKP3FWS3JV6TC9

Most large computer high street stores will be able to sell you one
too.

It's inexpensive, it's compatible with both PCs and Macs and it's
hardware independent. It plugs straight to the back of your vga
connector where you would normally plug your monitor in and also
offers you the ability to continue using your monitor while outputting
a TV signal.

You can also select which part of your screen to output to the TV in
full size, so that only the video part of your MPEG movie player
becomes visible (i.e. you don't end up recording taskbars, mouse
cursors etc.)

I hope this helps!

Regards.

Your answer is great but someone, bradtobin@yahoo.com, beat you to it
(he gave me the answer on 10/01).  I immediately took his advice and I
am currently using the TVator.  I got it below the manufactur price at
Amazon.com and it is working very well.  So, I can only give you a
four out of five stars - sorry.  Still very good advice though.
One more thing for anyone else reading this or someone who has the
same problem, you should also pick up a cable called a "stereo
right-angle plug to two phono plugs" (available at most Radio Shacks)
otherwise you will see the video images from your computer on your
television but will not hear the sound.  I specifically needed to
transfer a mpg music video to VHS tape.  The TVator does that just
fine but it does not transfer the sound.  So you have plug one end of
the afore mentioned cable (plug) into your computer's speaker line-out
jack and the other end into the "left & right" audio-in plugs of your
VCR so that the audio will record along with the video.  Anyway,
thanks to all for all your help and support and I should have my video
completed and in the mail by next week - and I won't have to pay an
overpriced video production house to transfer it to tape. 
Woooohooooo! :)

these ideas seem fine, but if you really get desperate you cud pretty
much just videotape the computer screen...... not much hepl but an
alternative