[g4928]

Hello,

I am looking for an external (USB, or firewire, etc.) TV tuner for my powerbook.

Any suggestions?

I noticed Apple is selling one on their web site: El Gato EyeTV, and it comes with a keyspan remote. Is this one any good?

Thanks for the help.

[SSharon]

I have the ld eyeTV USB and I love it. Its great for a student like me that goes to school in another state and doesn't want to take a tv and large computer. I would look at elgato.com and read more about the product for yourself before buying it. They are also seling a refurb for $130 with remote. If you have the money you might consider the eyetv 200, its expensive ($350) but its firewire. Alternatively formac also makes a TVR which some people in the powerbook forum are discussing. Search the forum also since I know this has been discussed extensively in the past with people posting sample video clips etc.

[GORDYmac]

EyeTV USB is great. Since you are on a laptop, I'd imagine disk space would be an issue. EyeTV's standard quality setting will give you acceptable quuality at around 650MB/hour.

[sbc]

Does anyone have the Eye200 on the 20" Cinema Display? How is the viewing on that size monitor?

[SSharon]

Originally posted by GORDYmac:
EyeTV USB is great. Since you are on a laptop, I'd imagine disk space would be an issue. EyeTV's standard quality setting will give you acceptable quuality at around 650MB/hour.

And don't forget that you can edit out the commercials with eyeTV's own software. thats direct mpeg-1 editing done very quickly. It also means that you can burn the files to DVD without any conversion.

[joe]

Originally posted by sbc:
Does anyone have the Eye200 on the 20" Cinema Display?

Yep

How is the viewing on that size monitor?

Ideal IMHO! I'm replying right now in Safari on the entire left half of the display while watching the finale of The Practice on the lower right at normal NTSC size (720*480 I think). Plus, you can open multiple EyeTV200 windows - like watching a previously recorded show while monitoring a new recording. Just took a screen grab in case you're interested. You can resize freehand and the aspect stays perfect - or choose presets ranging from small to full screen. No regrets on buying my EyeTV200

With respect to full disclosure: It's a new product so there are still some bugs to be worked out. Every now and then it screws up (won't change channels, won't schedule record). Resetting the EyeTV200 brings it back. The latest beta software has reduced that quite a bit. Still no regrets.....joe

[f1000]

How to get a Firewire-equipped HDTV tuner for as little as $5/month:

http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.p...hreadid=213266

[sbc]

Originally posted by joe:
Just took a screen grab in case you're interested.

I certainly am!

[joe]

Originally posted by sbc:
I certainly am!

Sorry, I reduced the screengrab to 720*450 (forum reg) but I'll be darned if I can figure how to upload the JPEG. Clicking the "Image" button in the "Instant vB Code" doesn't have any affect. Though the other buttons (Link, List, etc) seem to work.

Anyway, if you want the full image (1680*1050, 300KB) or the smaller version (720*450, 72KB) then PM me with your email and I'll send it along. regards......joe

[Uncle Skeleton]

you can't upload images here. you have to host them somewhere else and link to it (the img tags are for inline images, which you don't want anyway since they're too big)