Does anyone know the cheapest and easiest way to convert my HI8mm and vcr tapes to DVDS? Thanks Dot?

They actually have little players that convert a VHS tape to a dvd now, and really they are not that expensive! with the price of DVD's, even for older movies, you really pay for the machine pretty fast!
Office Depot has a Sylvania brand Recorder that sells for $188.95
specifics are:
The Sylvania 450SL8 DVD Recorder/VCR combination lets you copy VHS tapes to DVD and DVD to VHS tapes at the touch of a button. Record your favorite television shows and treasured home videos to either videocassette or DVD-R/RW discs (sold separately). And with a progressive scan video output, you can enjoy them in clear, sharp, lifelike picture quality every time. This DVD player plays DVD video, DVD-R/RW, video and audio CD, CD-R/RW, MP3, JPEG and Kodak® Picture CD. The ZV450SL8 has a built-in ATSC tuner so it can receive digital TV broadcasts without a separate set-top box. The 4-head VCR's Hi-Fi stereo recording system offers excellent sound quality, with a high dynamic range and a wide frequency response from 20Hz to 20kHz. Inputs and outputs include front and rear stereo audio/video and an RF input/output for the VCR. For the DVD player the ZV450SL8 includes component-video, S-video and composite-video outputs. Features include multi-angle, closed captioning, 5 speeds for up to 8 hours of recording, plus editing functions such as scene delete, title delete and adding chapters. Remote control is included. Backed by the manufacturer's 1-year parts and 90-day labor warranty.

Also there is the Ion player VHS to PC if you have a dvd burner on your pc that sells for $165
specifics are:
urn your home movies into convenient, portable video files with VCR 2 PC. You probably have a collection of old VHS tapes left over from the VCR era. And if you have important events stored on those tapes--baby movies, birthdays, weddings, or graduations--you probably would like to find a way to enjoy them again. VCR 2 PC is the easiest way for you to stop collecting dust on your precious memories and start rediscovering and enjoying them on your PC, iPod, mobile phone, or any other video player! VCR 2 PC is a VHS tape player, just like a VCR, and it features a simple, easy USB connection so you can connect your computer and take your videos wherever you want them. Because it uses standard, plug-and-play USB, you only need the single, included cable to send both audio and video straight into your computer. And the included EZ VHS Converter software was designed specifically to make it easy to enjoy your videos on DVD, iPod, PSP, or computer. You can even watch videos on your compatible mobile phones! Once you save your videos to your computer, they will be saved forever in pristine digital format. You'll never again have to dig through a bookshelf of unlabeled tapes to find the clip you're after. And because a digital file has no moving parts, you never need to worry about a tape breaking. Remember all those other types of camcorders, such as VHS-C or 8mm? VCR 2 PC can save their videos too. Just connect the camera to the front panel jacks on VCR 2 PC and you're ready to roll. Not only does VCR 2 PC conveniently digitize all of your videos, but it also works as a standard VHS player with auto-tracking, so you can continue to enjoy your VHS tapes. Standard VCR controls including variable speed slow motion, playback, and rewind are all available on soft-touch, backlit buttons. There's also a PAL version of VCR 2 PC with SCART output so no matter where your VHS tapes came from, ION Audio can help reconnect you and your videos. VCR 2 PC makes rediscovering your memories convenient, easy, and fun!

• VHS tape player with computer output
• Plug and play USB computer connection
• Standard RCA and composite outputs for connection to any TV or home theater system
• Standard RCA inputs for connecting video cameras
• Auto-tracking, variable speed slow motion, playback, and rewind
• Soft-touch, backlit buttons
• Also available: PAL version with SCART output (not included)
• Transfers NTSC Content Only
• Minimum system Requirements:
• PC running Windows XP or Vista 32-bit
• USB port Includes:
• VCR 2 PC player
• Software CD
• USB cable?
• Quick start guide

As for HI8mm, here are the steps:

1. Transferring Hi8 tapes to DVD with a DVD burner is the easiest option. Simply connect cables from the Hi8 output to the DVD recorder input. Play your Hi8 tapes on your camera and press "Record" on the DVD recorder. You will get a DVD in real time.
2. Step 2
   Use a Digital 8 camcorder to convert your Hi8 tapes to digital. This is another simple option, and it gives you higher-quality copies. Play the analog tapes on the Digital 8 camcorder and send the information to your computer through a "firewire" cable. The Digital 8 camcorder will convert the Hi8 tapes to DV. You can then burn the information to a DVD on your computer.
3. Step 3
   Try a capture device that converts Hi8 tapes to MPEG2 files. This process is a bit more cumbersome than the previous two. You have to buy a piece of hardware that you may not use more than a few times. Connect your analog Hi8 camera to the digital MPEG2 converter box. Press "Play" and "Record." The device will burn your DVD.
4. Step 4
   Go through your computer if you want to edit your video before burning to a DVD. You can do this if your computer's editing software converts analog to DV. Connect your Hi8 camera to your computer. The result will be MPEG2 files of your Hi8 video. This will take quite a bit of time and fill up a lot of memory, but you will have the flexibility of editing your video before burning it to a DVD on your computer.
5. Step 5
   Pay someone to do it. This is the best option if you don't have the time or patience to dub piles of Hi8 tapes. There are many companies that will convert your Hi8 tapes to DVD for a price. But be sure you are dealing with a reputable company. If you aren't, you might not get your tapes and DVDs back.