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Can the Solitaire and the newer S3000 process .avi and / or .dv files? I ask because I would like to use an external video recorder with my camcorder (a Panasonic DVX100A) to capture long events then play back from the recorder into my Solitaire to edit. The manufacture (http://www.datavideo.us) informed me that although I can play back the recorded digital recording via a fire wire etc., the recorder's (a datavideo 200) primary design purpose was to provide a .mov or .avi file which can be copied as a simple file transfer. I'd appreciate any comments.

I can't answer your question, but I personally take my prestige on location and record directly to it. The time saved doing transfers more than off sets the time required to change out the editor at the studio as it will take real time to make the transfer anyway. Actually, I have an extra Prestige that goes on location eliminating the need to change out at the studio. Perhaps someone else can answer your original question. If your are doing a lot of long format programs, recording half of the program on one hard drive and the other half on a different gives you the opportunity to edit one hard drive and finish the "add Film" and "burn DVD" on your extra Prestige while editing the next part of the program on the second hard drive. This nearly reduces your post production time by half. The generation III machines take a MUCH longer time to render out the finished storyboard in the "add film" section and do not make economical sense to me. I can edit and burn master DVDs for a six hour seminar in about 4.5 hours total. NO input time involved. My S4000 Pro will take about 12 hours to do the same project without the swappable hard drives and slower software rendering process. YMMV!

Although I hate the thought of taking my Solitaire "on-location", it may just need to become a new practice. Since the search is becoming rather complicated. Thanks Bob for your feed back and have a good day / weekend.

Bill, I have a Prestige that I take on location. I do all my editing and DVD mastering on 2 faster Renomee Plus units. The hard drives are interchangeable. So my Reno + units stay in the studio. I'm not sure about swapping hard drives with a Solitaire, but I think it works if they are on the same OS. Even the same OS may not be necessary. A Prestige/Renomee unit can be added to your inventory pretty cheap now for location shooting and DVD burning. You don't need one loaded with extra software for location recording. Just a thought.
Bob F.