[MEncoder-users] Mencoder vs. hardware based devices...

[Brian Keener]

I've achieved fairly consistent and good quality with Mencoder, at this 
point.  My disk space restricts me to capturing at 352x480 or 352x240 
(depending on length).

I was looking at new hard drives at my local store, and I saw some 
inexpensive PVR devices (PVR-250 and PVR-150 from Hauppauge), and the 
thought crossed my mind that they might be adequate for my purposes.

Can mencoder give significantly better quality than one of these 
stand-alone devices?

I'm not looking for perfection; I'm only interested in encoding some 
children's VHS movies, old family videos, etc.

Brian K