I have been reviewing the Pinnacle Systems MovieBox Plus.
Unboxing
This is a hardware/software bundle containing the Pinnacle 510 hardware dongle, and the latest version of Pinnacle System's award winning Studio video-editing software, Studio 11.
The Pinnacle Systems MovieBox Plus systems comes in a box with the Pinnacle 510, two software DVDs program, bonus materials, a USB cable, a FireWire cable, a quick start manual, and a very detailed Studio 11 user guide.
Testing
To get the most of this system, I decided to use a Canon HD20 HD camcorder as the source input. I also had a Samsung Mini-DV camcorder as a backup unit.
The PC used was a Logikworx WORXstation with 4GB RAM, 512MB Radeon x1950 graphics, oodles of hard disk space, a LightScribe DVD burner, and running Microsoft Windows Vista™ SP1.
Since I had recently made several movies at a personal event, it was quite fortuitous that I had the MovieBox Plus.
Extracting the movies was easy: I opened up Studio 11, clicked on import, and selected the HD camcorder. Studio 11 placed them in a timeline, and I was off to the editing menus.
A couple of the things I have never had the patience to learn are in-depth photography and videography. Studio 11 had me working away like Z.Z. Von Schnerk*!
A dazzling array of features in the program made this possible.
I easily added titles, menus, and transitions to my movies. Still images? No problem.
I even went further, adding voice-overs to some sections of videotape, something I have never attempted to do before.
Burning the finished product was as easy. And foolproof.
Pinnacle Instant DVD Recorder
How would you like to attach any video input to your computer, start up some software, and have a DVD burned for you in real-time?
Well, one of the products I had been waiting for was Instant DVD Recorder, from Pinnacle Systems.
I was pleased to find it is included in the MovieBox Plus package.
I immediately produced several DVDs from Mini-DV tapes lying around, and remain satisfied with the result.
Easy.
A little background on this review
In December of 2007, I lambasted Pinnacle systems about their lack of progress delivering Windows Vista software and/or drivers for their products, especially the Pinnacle Instant DVD product.
My post was seen, and brought to the attention of Andy Marken, of Marken Communications, who, while sympathetic to my plight, wanted to correct my views of the Studio product, and Pinnacle Systems as well.
In fact, in his initial communication to me, he stated,
"…Pinnacle is staffed with exceptionally good people who want to deliver quality and features to the consumer 100% of the time. Do we get it right 100% of the time? …we wish we did, but we try not to over promise...just over-deliver. We'll continue down that path because that's the way we earn the market's trust...hopefully we can win you back again"
Subsequently, he made this review possible.
I stand corrected.
I will also update my December 2, 2007 post to reflect this.
I would like to thank him, his staff, and Pinnacle Systems for the opportunity.
Cons
The constant nag screens and dialog boxes asking users to register online. Please, pretty please, make it stop!
The fact the I did not get the MovieBox Ultimate system to review.
Conclusion
I found Studio 11 to be very easy to use, and very powerful in features. It is also an exceptional value for a hardware and software bundle. Coupled with the fact that you can output to not only DVDs, but also Blu-Ray and HD DVDs (why, why?), it is a solution that will be here for a while, further extending the value to buyers.
It also speaks to the excellence of Studio 11 that it is one of the featured Exclusives on the Windows Vista Ultimate site. Folks, those featured Exclusives represent what the editors of that site think are the best products out there right now for the best version of Windows, Windows Vista Ultimate Edition.
It really does not get any easier than this.
I really should have started this review with: 'I have been enjoying the Pinnacle Systems MovieBox Plus…"
I really, truly hate to be wrong about people, things, and companies. However valid my concerns were back then, I am glad that they have been put to rest.
I am looking forward to acquiring some units of the MovieBox Plus (or Ultimate) system for use at Logikworx, SmallBizVista.com, and the Orbiting O'dua (my home, also known as UniMatrix Zero-1).
*Z.Z. von Schnerk, movie director extraordinaire, was a fictional character in an episode of The Avengers, a BBC production, circa 1967.
