[Mr Mushroom]

Is it possible to watch or record TV on a PB? What equipment/software is needed?

Thanks

Mush

[hyperb0le]

Check out eyeTV. They make everything you'll need.

[selowitch]

You can also use the Plextor ConvertX box that uses EyeTV software. I've got one. It's inexpensive and works well.

[Synotic]

Is the Plextor ConvertX still a good deal? Is it possible to connect it to an iMac G5 and then access the stream with a PowerBook on the same local network? Possibly via iChat or some other software? Would it be possible to switch channels and the like? Thanks.

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by Synotic

Is the Plextor ConvertX still a good deal?

Depends on your needs. I think you have to be somewhat patient and experimentally minded as it's definitely not as smooth or as simple as, say, TiVo.

One very valuable thing I've learned is that since it takes forever to convert EyeTV shows to digital video (.dv), create an iMovie project, then finally burn to DVD (and I've burned many DVDs where I get halfway through a TV show or movie on that disc and then it can't go any further -- arrgggh!), sometimes it pays just to replay the movies within EyeTV.

Using the Apple Video Adapter and a Y-adapter attached to the headphone port of my iBook, I can play back my EyeTV programs on my television, no muss no fuss. I think this is a good approach if all you really want to do is use EyeTV like a VCR/DVR, which is probably what most consumers would want.

[TailsToo]

www.elgato.com

They make awesome equipment. I have an older ATI USB TV Tuner, and the eyeTV software, and it's great. I often copy TV shows from my PowerMac to my PowerBook when I travel, and it's almost flawless.