[OJ]

After reading some posts regarding the lack of tv tuner peripherals that work in OS X, I came across this. It's an external tv tuner that converts your monitor into a tv. It appears that the computer need not be on. It retails for 129.99 but I've seen it in Amazon for 99.99 (USD). My old 19" Viewsonic has been sitting in a corner since I've gotten an iBook so I'm highly considering getting this. Anyone out there have this or know about it please share your experience/knowledge.

-O.J.

[milhous]

I don't know much about the product in question, but I can tell you that your best bet right now is to get a Tuner from Eskape Labs who are the same people that make WinTV cards for Windows machines. Their driver support for X is primitive, but they seem to be the only company trying their best to bring X support at this point. Eventually, the final drivers will be available. Give them a try.
http://www.eskapelabs.com/products.html

[joe]

Originally posted by milhous:
<STRONG>I don't know much about the product in question, but I can tell you that your best bet right now is to get a Tuner from Eskape Labs who are the same people that make WinTV cards for Windows machines. Their driver support for X is primitive, but they seem to be the only company trying their best to bring X support at this point. </STRONG>

Actually, Formac has had OSX drivers and software out for their TV tuners for several months. They're still beta, but they seem to work as well as the OS9 software except for the multi-channel preview window.........joe

[XPBlows]

I went to Formac to find the Beta OSX drivers....but didn't see them. I'm perhaps they have been removed.

I'm also waiting for some decent TV/FM solution for OSX

regards..

[joe]

Originally posted by XPBlows:
<STRONG>I went to Formac to find the Beta OSX drivers....but didn't see them. I'm perhaps they have been removed.

I'm also waiting for some decent TV/FM solution for OSX

regards..</STRONG>

Just click on the "more info" button near the Formac Studio on Formac's site. Here's a direct link in case you missed it: http://www.formac.com/html/shopforma...cts_studio_osx

Scroll down to the bottom of the page. The OSX software is called Tevion. It's completely different from the OS9 software which is called ProTV. As the Formac Studio is Firewire, you view (and capture) full DV res (720*480 NTSC) without dropping any frames. And since it's DV, it works with the iMovie import button. Though you have to pick the source in Tevion (or ProTV) and exit before starting iMovie.

Tevion isn't quite as polished as ProTV. But it's never crashed either. And Tevion does have one very unique feature - live video in the dock. If you minimize the Tevion display, you can see live video/audio in the dock. You can disable this feature if you want. But it's great if you're doing several things at once .......joe

[iNeusch]

Originally posted by joe:
<STRONG>

Actually, Formac has had OSX drivers and software out for their TV tuners for several months. They're still beta, but they seem to work as well as the OS9 software except for the multi-channel preview window.........joe</STRONG>

This doesn't work with the internal IDE cards right ?

[XPBlows]

aaiiiyyyeeee that thing is expensive.... I was hoping for the $99 TV/FM card to have drivers... oh well...I sit and wait... unless those drivers work for the PCI card....

thanks for the info!

[Jansar]

Originally posted by milhous:
<STRONG>Eventually, the final drivers will be available.[/URL]</STRONG>

Never tried it, but I know the driver exists here.

[pdot]

The viewsonice device sounds interesting. I just don't like the fine print part about "using multimedia monitors." I assume it means all CRTs and LCDs that are out today, but I've learned not to trust advertisements.
Anyway, don't forget you lose the computer/tv-tuner integration. You can't record them onto your hard drive and edit the broadcasts.

On another note, how good is that $400 Formac Studio DV thing for watching TV? Also, how good is the A/D converter? Does the firewire connection make a difference when you're only using the tv tuner?