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Is ADS GPL compliant with their Linux based NAS Drive Kit? I've searched their site and they don't have the source on it anywhere.

I have no doubt that you do. Here, I'll even link to such a device in that price range:
http://www.adstech.com/products/API-557-EFS/intro/ api557_intro.asp?pid=API-557-EFS

Will it capture HD over those component inputs, uh, no.

Want one that will? You'll need a bigger check book:
http://www.aja.com/html/products_Io_IoHD.html

Want a cheap solution? This is the closest you'll get right now. It is brand new, eats 400+GB/hour at 1080i, and its not supported in any PVR app:
http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensit y/

Not trying to be an 'arse' here, but pony up some product specs and I'll suspend my disbelief.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ministack/
http://www.lacie.com/products/range.htm?id=10033
http://www.adstech.com/products/USBX-888/intro/USB X_888_intro.asp?pid=USBX-888
http://www.micronet.com/General/minimate.asp

I have a ADS Tech - Dual Link 2.5 and I love it. It does both Firewire 400 and USB 2.0.

These guys (ADS Tech) makes some -- they're external and FW and capture in DV format. I've found the one I linked to for as cheap as $150-ish, which is pretty good considering it has component inputs. I'm sure there are others out there that capture to dv format as well, though.

More Firewire DV and audio stuff:

ADS Pyro A/V Link
Avid Mojo
MOTU 896HD 196kHz Firewire audio interface

Anyway, we recently bought a Pyro A/V Link analog-to-digital converter. It plugs into the Firewire port on my wife's iMac and appears as a video camera to iMovie. Converting our VHS movies to DVD consists of:

1. Open iMovie.
2. Click "Import" and hit "play" on the VCR.
3. Wait until the import is finished.
4. Export the project to iDVD.
5. Click "Burn".
6. Profit. In this case, that means don't spend more money on the DVD version of a movie we already own than the cost of the blank DVD-R.

The killer app for us is being able to move our kids' movies to a more future-compatible format. As a bonus, we can use the same device to burn content from our DVR without having to mess with its broken Firewire port.

My wife mumbled something about "wedding video", so I guess everybody has their own pet use.

They forgot to mention this device as well. A coworker has it, he says it's fantastic in terms of quality, features, and software.

--Dan

Oh, I guess this doesn't exist then. :)

I have one and it records a pretty decent picture from the component inputs. The included software doesn't work like a PVR, it looks to the system like a DV video camera. But any open PVR software could probably be adapted to take DV input if they don't already.

I use an external firewire chassis and put an IDE hard drive pullout tray in it. That way, whenever I need to swap in a new drive, I just power down the firewire enclosure, swap drives, and power it back up.

The solid state is great because you can shake, rattle, or roll you camera and not worry about losing the fottage you're shooting. The HDD solution requires you to tether a special Firewire device to your camcorder to record to a HDD. "Why?" you ask? Because the something needs to understand the format of the drive and interface to the file system, so that the video can get properly recorded to the drive. Then, the drive can be disconnected from the camera and plugged into any arbitrary computer's 400 Mbps Firewire port and be identifyed as a drive.

The problem here is that these devices are EXPENSIVE, since the market is relatively small. Here's an example comparison list, including prices.

In additon, ADS Tech was supposed to have had a $500 version "Pyro DV Drive" available last year, but it's pretty much vaporware. Shame, as it would have been the cheapest one available.

Most home users with their digital handycams are happy with using their DV tape, and don't think about needing a drive recored that costs twice what their camera costs.
However, those of us in the professional or semi-professional arena really need it! I just finished a 2-day, 11-hour shoot in Vegas, and it would be nice to have such a device, rather than the 11 Mini-DV tapes that I will have to play back at normal playback speed through my camera in order to download them into my editing station. (For those of you who might suggest a mini-DV VTR, check out the prices again, they're alsmost as bad as the HDD recorders!)

End Rant here: I'm really looking forward to inexpensive HDD recording, and future SS recording.

I assume the less expensive drives obtain power from the port

I thought all firewire devices got there power from the bus not an external plug.

Make your own. Buy an ide drive (ide,umda/33/66/100) and pickup a firewire drive kit (I bought the one by ADS).

So far, it kicks ass. I take it to/from work & home, no more carting around tons of cd's and zip disks.

Install the ADS Cadet ISA card, compile the Linux device driver (standard in 2.2.8 kernel). AM/FM with RDS (I think RDS on FM only).