How can I transfer video from tapes to my computer?

How can I transfer my old VHS tapes to my computer? I have lots of video-plugs in the side of my computer but?

• The last time I checked (about 5 years ago) you had to buy a converter box which took in a coaxial, or RCA inputs (red, white, yellow). I'm hoping that there's now a $5 cable from radio shack that has on one end S-video and one end Red/White/Yellow and that's all I need! I have a $1500 laptop with lots of bells & whistles from this year, has lost of slots which I dont know what purpose they have. Do computers nowadays have VIDEO_IN inputs? Or are they all just video-out? *Update* someone said there are $50 USB devices, can someone confirm or deny this? I was an idiot and transferred my old home-made vacation videos onto VHS and re-recorded over the original camera cassettes. So all my memories of my middle age are fading and losing quality and I hope its now affordable to make the switch.

• Answer:

  Not much demand for video INput to a computer, so as someone said, the connectors are most likely outputs. There is no such thing as an S-Video to Red/White/Yellow converter cable. Here's why: S-video is just that... video. In fact, it's black & white video with separate color information. The Red/White/Yellow cables are composite video (all color electronically combined on the video) along with Red & White audio connectors. Yes, Pinnacle as well as Dazzle, and maybe some others, are commonly available at your computer store, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc that can plug into your computer's USB port. A year or two ago, they cost around $100 up to $150, but they may be closer to $50 now. I'd still bet on the $100, though. That's the hardware. Then you'll need software to actually digitize the captured audio/video into a computer file. If you buy the Pinnacle or Dazzle brands, they will come with software to do exactly that, and also allow you limited, basic editing, too.