Frustration

I am so very frustrated right now, I don't even know where to start. I have spent a lot of time and money trying to find a way to convert VHS tapes onto DVD. I initially thought I could do it via my computer. I bought a "kit" that included software and hardware to attach both a VCR and a camcorder to my computer to allow me to transfer the videos to my computer, edit them, and burn them to a DVD. After countless tries and no success, I gave up on that particular "kit" and asked some techs at work how to do it. They gave me their advice on how to do it, and I followed it. Still no go. So, I gave up the idea of doing this via the computer and I bought a DVD/VHS player/recorder that said it would "burn my home movies to DVD with the touch of a button."

Yes, it did do that, but the video format is unknown to any other DVD player I have and will not play on my computer, either. The ONLY UNIT the DVDs will play in is the unit that burned them. How is this useful to me??? Is this a sick joke? I read all the instructions word for word. I followed every direction. I consider myself pretty adept in figuring these things out, but I have had it with this.

I have 4 VHS tapes of my brother that I want to put on DVD to preserve them as the tapes are old and might not last long. I used +R and -R DVDs thinking it might make a difference. I "practiced" on my own home movies as I didn't want to risk over playing the tapes of my brother. I want to make copies of said DVDs for his mom, our dad, and my sister - and whoever else might want one. But I cannot do it! All this time and money and no results. Words cannot even describe how frustrated and mad I am at this entire process. I am now going to see if I can just find someone to do it for me.