TV capture card, pro and cons??????

I am thinking of going the TiVo (250$) "route'', but have
also
been considering the video card, plus software, for my personal
computer "route"..... I found one product that with the card, also
a remote+plus software, and I was consider that 'route'.. it ""looks"
like it might be a tad (185$) cheaper, I would like to know if I would
be getting about the same 'bang' for my buck,,,, but I would really
appreciate YOUR input before making any purchases. thanks inadvance
cl. 73

I have both. I have a Sony SVR2000 SA TiVo and an ATI All in Wonder
video (capture) card. There is no comparison. The TiVo beats the PC
option 'route' by far. To use the All in Wonder like a TiVo, I would
need many gigabytes of free space and be content with watching all of
my TV on the PC. There is the output to TV option but it's kind of
lame. I use it once in a while.
There are many, I can't count that high, more useful features on TiVo
than the PC 'route'.
I just read in another thread something that bears repeating ..
"Once you go TiVo, you'll never go back".
My suggestion: Go to ebay and pick up a working unit as cheap as
possible. With lifetime paid subscription if available. Otherwise
you'll have to pay that extra chunk of change.


On Sun, 27 Jul 2003 20:38:27 GMT, (kc5cqa) wrote:

I am thinking of going the TiVo (250$) "route'', but have
also
been considering the video card, plus software, for my personal
computer "route"..... I found one product that with the card, also
a remote+plus software, and I was consider that 'route'.. it ""looks"
like it might be a tad (185$) cheaper, I would like to know if I would
be getting about the same 'bang' for my buck,,,, but I would really
appreciate YOUR input before making any purchases. thanks inadvance
cl. 73

Clearly the TIVO is cooler, mainly because it has the software to
automatically find and record and "season pass" whereas, at least my with TV
Card, just lets me have a digital VCR.
If you want a "cheap" DVR google for buy.com coupons get the $10 off one, go
to buy.com and find the closeout replaytv mod 5040 with $50 rebate and you
are out a total of $139 delivered... (!)

--Mike