Pinnacle Systems Dazzle Video Creator Platinum Card

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don't buy it. loaded to my system, immediately needs patches from 10.0 to 10.5, I went to 10.7 receives video through device, sometimes looks o.k, sometimes comes out upside down and backwards. But try burning a dvd, impossible! The more you try, the more problems seem to pop up, until it crashes your system. I read alot of warnings about this product, still tried it. Didn't bother calling for help since product just didn't work and I don't have $15 to give away for each call after the first one. I have a friend who uses the pro high-end version that generally works, he warned me too.

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I purchased the Dazzle Video Creator Platinum (by Pinnacle) June 4, 2007. Spent an evening and a day (with some help from Pinnacle's tech support) trying to configure the Dazzle to work with MS Vista Business. We followed the instructions online to install the 10.8 version update. The following option, "Select a Custom installation so that you can elect to NOT install Pinnacle Media Manager. This application is not supported in Vista.", was not available for the Studio version 10 that came with the Dazzle I purchased. Nothing worked. Too much time and money was wasted. The Pinnacle tech agreed that I should return the item and get my money back.
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Purchased Dazzle Video Creator Platinum to pass video from my sat receiver to my pc running Vista. I simply liked to have a window on my screen showing me the analogue output of my sat receiver; somehow USB sat devices are rare.
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<br>Software in the package was pinnacle studio 10.5.2 and instant DVD recorder 1.7. Both obsolete (january 2006, purchased in shop 12 may 2007!). The box has a sticker saying "Works with Windows Vista" and "free driver download".
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<br>The first silly thing is you have to install the software before you can download later versions. The original install and a download of a patch to upgrade to studio 10.6.2 both produce the blue screen of death in windows Vista when you start studio 10 (another Vista WoW experience).
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<br>It turns out you have to download a complete beta version of studio 10.8 that in the end seems to work (a 2 hour download I wouldnt personally refer to as a "free driver download").
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<br>Then the next funny thing is that their web site states you wont get any support on this or any beta version.
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<br>And then the Instant DVD recorder does not work at all on windows Vista, the donwloaded installer kindly suggest it better uninstalls DVD Recorder as it will not work with windows Vista.
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<br>Well, after spending a lot of time on this garbage I gave up. Will return my Dazzle to the Media Market and suggest they remove the "Works with Windows Vista" stickers.
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Straight from the box, the installation CD (Instant DVD Recorder) locks up upon install ... although the cd indicates version 1.7, the setup exe is only v1.6.46.
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<br>Online Support function was useless -- the tech didn't respond (15min)
<br>Phone Support function was an amusing joke (apologies to the struggling techs trying to help with lousing software and management).
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<br>first, they had me copy the first installation cd to the hard drive (Instant DVD Recorder) and install from there. you have to successfully install this app in order to register online and thus get the patches.
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<br>next, they asked i download patch versions 1.6.1, 1.6.2 & 1.8b. either the 1.6.1 link is wrong, or their software management is as bad as their online support because the link downloads a VERY old version that is older than the initial CD...you could hear them discussing this in the background ... "da, opps"
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<br>next, they changed strategies -- just run the 1.8b patch after the initial install.
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<br>and finally, after telling me to call back because they had more calls waiting (how's this for support ???), i finally got them to admit that the other 2 cds in the installation package will have the same problems as the first one. they also instructed that i needed to download the FULL patch for Studio 10 10.7 (93m) AND the FULL patch for Studio 10 Plus (90m) CAUTION: THESE TWO FILES HAVE THE EXACT FILENAME!!!!!! how's that for software management...
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<br>and finally, let's discuss their support -- there's little good that can be said. the first call i was hung-up on. and although i have a trouble ticket number, the next operator said she was unable to re-connect me with the original tech because "HE'S ON ANOTHER CALL"... i got hung-up on because another call came in, according to her. when i asked to speak with a supervisor, after about 7 minutes of waiting, the tech returned saying "NO SUPERVISORS WERE AVAILABLE" ... and i wasn't surprised.... BUT GUESS WHAT, she continued...the original tech was now miraculously available!!! WE BEEN SAVED--GOD SAVE THE QUEEN! unfortunately, the original tech failed to meet even the lowest of standards for acceptable support.
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<br>So ... a bit of a warning before purchasing this product, and this coming from an application engineer in a former life -- THIS COMPANY AND PRODUCT HAS SOME VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS ... this product is unacceptable.
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<br>ps: the third disk (Studio 10 Plus) is defective and can't even be viewed -- apparently this is a known production error -- don't even bother with cd, just run patch 10.7 after Studio 10 is patched.
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alaTest has collected and analysed 81 reviews of Dazzle Video Creator Platinum from international magazines and websites....

Comments:
Dazzle Video Creator Platinum provides a simple, fast way to record great home video. With its simple plug-and-play USB 1.1 or 2.0 connection, you can record your videos from a camcorder, a VCR, or any video equipment with analog outputs. It handles real-...