Rating: 
Summary: Card is okay, software worthless
Review: I really wanted to give this one star, but that's not really fair to the board, which works fine. The videowave software is extremely limited and doesn't even allow you do do much of what is in the manual. For instance, there are modules to allow adjustment of color and brightness, but they are disabled. So all you can do is look at them. Customer service requires an ID number which is not provided with this version. So the only way you can get help is to pay for phone support. I'm so turned off by this I will likely avoid all Roxio software in the future.Bottom line, buy the board if that is what you want, but don't even think about using the software.
Rating: 
Summary: It was easy !!!
Review: I received my Adaptec AFW 1394/Firewire Card at 1:00 PM by 1:30
I had it installed and was producing my first home video... it was that easy.
The Software that is included, MGI Video
Wave 4SE mad it as simple as pie to set everything up.
Rating:
Summary: Could it get any easier?
Review: I was able to install the card with minimal effort or difficulty. The whole process was actually easier than I thought it would be. Within about 30 minutes of opening the package I had read the installation paperwork, installed the card, and had begun capturing video from my DV camcorder. The accompanying video editing software was also easily installed and useful as an application for novice editors. I installed it into a Dell Dimension 4600 running Windows XP Pro and my camcorder is a Canon Optura 20 if that makes any difference.
Rating:
Summary: Could it get any easier?
Review: I was able to install the card with minimal effort or difficulty. The whole process was actually easier than I thought it would be. Within about 30 minutes of opening the package I had read the installation paperwork, installed the card, and had begun capturing video from my DV camcorder. The accompanying video editing software was also easily installed and useful as an application for novice editors. I installed it into a Dell Dimension 4600 running Windows XP Pro and my camcorder is a Canon Optura 20 if that makes any difference.
Rating:
Summary: Easy to install
Review: I was worried that I would be too inept to have the skill need to install this into my computer. It was a breeze! No installation problems, at all. Any idiot can do it. Great product.
Rating: 
Summary: My update from a previous review
Review: In a nut shell, I had a bad experience with this card ... period. I purchased two of them and the problem was identical. It wasn't an XP configuration problem (i never got that far). Simply put, I couldn't even power-up my PC when this card was installed in the PCI slot. Anyway, I only needed one 1394 FireWire port, and I was using audio "built-in" to the motherboard ... so ... I purchased a Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS (with an integrated 1394 FireWire port). Now I have awesome sound & the port that I needed all for about 30 bucks more than I would have spent for the FireConnect 4300 alone. In retrospect, I'm glad this card never worked.
Rating:
Summary: Easy to install
Review: Insert card, plug in Firewire device. That's it!
Rating: 
Summary: Easy, Quick Installation, Video Software is OK
Review: Installation was a snap. Installed the card, fired up my Windows 2000 machine, and there it was. No drivers to install, Windows took care of it. No drivers to install for my video camera (Sharp Digital Viewcam). Once I plugged in my camera, Windows 2000 loaded the default Microsoft DV driver, and that worked great. MGI VideoWave 4 SE software that comes with product could be a little better; (more effects, more video formats, etc) but overall, very good product. Total time to install product/software: 10 minutes. I run a Pentium II 350, with 196 MB RAM. It took about 45 minutes for the software to convert a 9 minute AVI file to MPEG. I recommend having as much memory and processor speed as you can have.
Rating:
Summary: FireConnect 4300 causes PC not to boot
Review: Installed OK and worked for a few days, then PC (Dell Dimension 4400, Windows XP Pro) wouldn't boot anymore. Removed FireConnect 4300 and PC was fine. Will have to return this card as incompatible.
Rating:
Summary: Works great under XP
Review: Installed the Adaptec AFW-4300 card into a XP machine. XP recognized the card and installed the default drivers. Plugged in a Sharp Vl-NZ50 camcorder, started up the video editing software and in came the movies. No problems, no hassles. I'm not overly impressed with the MGI VideoWave 4 software, but I'm very happy with the hardware. I'm sure when I find the ideal video editing package, the hardware will still work fine.
| 
