[markb8705]

My new 20'' iMac will be here Monday and will be taking it to college next year and want to save some money by not buying a TV and just getting some sort of tuner for my iMac

I just want something simple doesn't have to record or anything... just a way to watch TV in full screen mode and it be good quality...anybody have any expierence with any of these? (A remote would be nice too for bedtime viewing)

[iDaver]

The Eye TV Wonder USB is the only thing I"m aware of but I have no experience with it. You can buy a TV for less money. Link

[mitchell_pgh]

I LOVE ElGato... great company. If you just want to watch TV (and not record) I hear the elgato is great.

If I were looking for such a product, I wouldn't hesitate purchasing the EyeTV Wonder USB 2.0.
http://www.macworld.com/2005/04/revi...er20/index.php

[Lateralus]

1) Please conform to the signature guidelines: Four lines, including blanks or a 200x50 image and one line.
2) All of the links in your signature are session-specific and have all expired.

[trip]

Originally Posted by markb8705

My new 20'' iMac will be here Monday and will be taking it to college next year and want to save some money by not buying a TV and just getting some sort of tuner for my iMac

I just want something simple doesn't have to record or anything... just a way to watch TV in full screen mode and it be good quality...anybody have any expierence with any of these? (A remote would be nice too for bedtime viewing)

I'd buy a digital box that has firewire 400 ( a non-HD cable box should cost you $50) then use VLC. Not sure which Digital cable boxes VLC supports, but i'd imagine if it's got firewire then you're good.

My understanding is that you can view or record.

http://macteens.com/more.php?id=410_0_1_0_C

I haven't done myself yet. VLC doesn't work with 10.1.5 so I am waiting for my new iMac to come in - then I will.

[iDaver]

Originally Posted by trip

I'd buy a digital box that has firewire 400 ( a non-HD cable box should cost you $50) then use VLC.

Can you point me in the direction of where to buy such a $50 box? A Google search didn't turn up anything.

[trip]

Originally Posted by iDaver

Can you point me in the direction of where to buy such a $50 box? A Google search didn't turn up anything.

You'll need to search your local cable companies websites. I live in Canada so the only one I know of is Shaw. They always have promotions if you subscribe to their service. The example below is like $200 Canadian, but you get $100 credit off your bill over a year so you actually pay $100 for the box. I have seen the ads for as low as $59. $100 CDN = $75 US ...so I assume you should be able to find something for $75 US.

http://www.shaw.ca/en-ca/ProductsSer...ial+Offers.htm

I'm pretty sure they all have firewire since the law requires firewire to be enabled on all boxes after 99 or something, but you can always check before you buy.

If you really wanted a deal - you could try ebay - just make sure it's got firewire (IEEE 1394).

You need take a chance that the box you buy will work - so make sure you can return it if it doesn't. The whole article is based on using the DCT 6200 box (which i already own), but if you read the replies below, in the article, some guy managed to get a different box to work.

Better than the other methods, where you need to buy the digital box then pay $250-500
for their product.

[trip]

If you need to, they do sell the HD box on ebay.

181 CDN = 135 US

http://search.ebay.ca/Motorola-DCT62...fkrZ1QQfromZR8

The other thing is ...check what ever cable service provider you plan to use will support the box you plan to buy. Not sure how cable works in the US.

[iDaver]

Thanks, trip. My cable provider doesn't sell cable boxes, they rent them. Maybe I'll try ebay.

[trip]

Originally Posted by iDaver

Thanks, trip. My cable provider doesn't sell cable boxes, they rent them. Maybe I'll try ebay.

That eyetv wonder may be the easiest for you. Sounds like it may not require the digital box.

$ 150 is pretty reasonable.

http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file...7fb0a380fc983a

[iDaver]

Originally Posted by trip

That eyetv wonder may be the easiest for you. Sounds like it may not require the digital box.

$ 150 is pretty reasonable.

That's kinda what I've been thinking, although the Macworld review (mitchell_pgh linked to) made it sound pretty lousy for recording. I'll just keep the old VCR for that. I've never done much time shifting anyway.

[markb8705]

one of you guys buy the eye tv and give us your review... i dont have the $150 right now

also, on my digital cable box there is a usb port on the front of it... anyone have a clue what that is for.. i cant find my manual and dont have a usb cable that has usb on both ends, i have charter and the cable box is scientific atlanta

[Rychiar]

i have the original usb eye tv i got for college a few years back and im still usin it, works great and records fine

[iDaver]

Ordered the Eye TV Wonder USB 2.0 at the Elgato site, refurbished for $99. Got it today. I'm impressed, particularly with the way its software interfaces with the TitanTV website. You look at the show schedule, click on a show to either watch it or schedule it for recording, effortlessly. I've never experienced Tivo, but imagine it's pretty similar.

Recording isn't so great with my Mac mini. Since there's no encoding hardware in the unit, you need a dual processor Mac to record at high quality. Nevertheless, it does record, about equal quality to a standard VHS VCR; adequate for my needs at the moment.

Picture quality while watching live TV is far superior to my regular TV set. It's not like HDTV by any means but looks great in full screen mode from several feet back on my 23" Cinema.

I've ordered the Remote Wonder from ATI so can sit back and watch like everyday TV (and not have to get up) and might now sell my old TV set. Call me a happy Elgato customer.

[Rychiar]

hmm never realized ya needed a dual tot ake advantage of the mpeg 2 encoding, guess it would be useless to ever replace my eye tv usb until i get a new computer which now that i just got the new imac wont be happening for a few years

[iDaver]

Originally Posted by Rychiar

hmm never realized ya needed a dual tot ake advantage of the mpeg 2 encoding, guess it would be useless to ever replace my eye tv usb until i get a new computer which now that i just got the new imac wont be happening for a few years

You would need the EyeTV 200 for better recording. It has encoding hardware built in so your Mac doesn't have to do it. Eventually I might eBay mine and get one of those, but I'm happy for now.

[Rychiar]

yea them suckers cost too much, id wait a few years till hdtv ones are more prevalent

[the_glassman]

I think the advantage of the EYE TV Wonder is you can use it to play PS2 or Xbox on your Mac if you want. Where as the others there is a compression delay and it would make it horrible for gaming.

[markb8705]

im thinking of making the purchase when i move away to college instead of buying a tv for my room

[hab]

Originally Posted by Rychiar

hmm never realized ya needed a dual tot ake advantage of the mpeg 2 encoding, ...

With the EyeTV 200 I can record full quality mpeg2 on my 800 G4 FP iMac. I even run other apps while recording in the background albeit much slower. Never a problem. Great quality DVD output though certainly not the same as commercial DVDs.

[the_glassman]

Originally Posted by hab

With the EyeTV 200 I can record full quality mpeg2 on my 800 G4 FP iMac. I even run other apps while recording in the background albeit much slower. Never a problem. Great quality DVD output though certainly not the same as commercial DVDs.

That's because the EyeTV 200, processes (encodes) the video as where the Tv Wonder your Mac does the processing of the video. That's why the Wonder is so much smaller and you can play video games using it.

[Benton]

look at www.miglia.com

[iDaver]

Originally Posted by the_glassman

That's because the EyeTV 200, processes (encodes) the video as where the Tv Wonder your Mac does the processing of the video. That's why the Wonder is so much smaller and you can play video games using it.

Given the choice, I'd prefer the EyeTV do all the work, since I don't play video games and it takes about 25% of my Mac mini's processor power just to display live TV. It's not a huge deal, but one more thing to consider before a purchase.

[southtdi]

If you are looking at the EyeTV 200 don't forget to look at teh Plextor Connectix box. It uses the EyeTV components inside, incuding the software, but it also gives you teh ability to connect analog sorces to your mac so you can dub off on them. Just a little more than the EyeTV 200 and you get the hady extra features.

[hab]

The EyeTV 200 also has composite video inputs for capturing from analog sources. I note that the Plextor has S-Video input however which is not on the EyeTV 200 box.

[an0therdumbsn]

I had the ati 9600 all in wonder for my pc awhile back and it was laggy and buggy and just plain horrible, it came with a remote which suddenly decided to stop working after about 3 weeks.
I was looking into the eye TV for my upcoming iMac purchase and had reservations as to whether it would be the same story.

[funkboy]

I just purchased the ATI TV Wonder USB 2.0 - the Windows model. It looks exactly the same as the ElGato ATI product, and I'm guessing they are functionally identical; does anyone know if this is true?

Is there any way I can purchase the EyeTV software to use on my Mac? I can use it on my PC box, but I'd much rather watch TV on my Mac.

[icibaqu]

quick question

would this eyetv also work on a mini?

[iDaver]

Originally Posted by icibaqu

quick question

would this eyetv also work on a mini?

I'm using the EyeTV Wonder USB 2.0 on a mini. Works fine. Is that what you were asking?

[funkboy]

Originally Posted by iDaver

I'm using the EyeTV Wonder USB 2.0 on a mini. Works fine. Is that what you were asking?

I am asking if the PC version would work with the Mac - the hardware seems identical.
Is there anyway to purchase the EveTV software from ElGato by itself?

[icibaqu]

Originally Posted by iDaver

I'm using the EyeTV Wonder USB 2.0 on a mini. Works fine. Is that what you were asking?

that is indeed what i was asking.

[pbook28]

I would also like to know if there's a way to purchase the eyetv software and if that would work with the "ati tv wonder usb 2.0" non eye version. I bought it expecting it to work, but am unable to figure it out. If someone knows how to get os x to recognize the wonder, it would be greatly appreciated. I am also wondering if this will work for archiving my old vhs tapes to dvd? Thanks

[funkboy]

I still don't know, and the USB 2.0 Wonder I bought for my PC doesn't seem to work; the software installed, but it says it can't start up TV, even though everything seems to be okay. I'm a wee bit frustrated

[f1000]

Originally Posted by funkboy

Is there any way I can purchase the EyeTV software to use on my Mac? I can use it on my PC box, but I'd much rather watch TV on my Mac.

I believe that you can download it from their website for free.

[pbook28]

Quote "I believe that you can download it from their website for free."

could you post a link if you can find it?

[funkboy]

It's right on the front page of elgato.com, actually. But it requires an Activation Code, something that's not included with this PC box.
If I could purchase a code from them I think I would at this point, simply for convenience sake (and it's a cool thing), but... we'll see, I guess.

[pbook28]

I've put in a question to elgato by both email and through their system and I'll let anyone know any updates.

[gametime10]

Keep us updated... The ATI TV Wonder can be purchased for less than the EyeTV, so if this works, that would be a great deal.

[pbook28]

ElGato sent me a reply to the email and they said for people in my situation, bought the PC version expecting it to work on the Mac because it is the same item -software, that they would sell me a key to the device. The only kicker is that they want to charge me $50 for the key, which would still be cheaper for me since I got the usb device from best buy this week for $60. That puts my total at $110 instead of ElGato's price of $150. I'll let you know how it goes.

pbook28

[markb8705]

i dont know if it is worth the money

[funkboy]

Wow, that Best Buy deal is great! I actually just purchased mine for $95 on Friday - was this an in-store price? If so, I need to make sure and get some money back from them. I hope they have a price guarantee... I think they do.

I also got the same note from ElGato - they said in special circumstances. I imagine they don't want everyone and their dog picking up some deal and just buying their software on the side. However, they probably still make the same amount of money either way... dare I say they make more by just selling a key for $50. Who knows.

But I got it, and it's turning my this ATI hardware that is UNUSABLE on my < 2 year old Windows box to the saver of my cable TV. Now if only I can get CyTV working I will be absolutely giddy.

[pbook28]

The best buy deal was an instant rebate in this weeks add. You said you got the software key? How does it work with the hardware? I'd like to be able to hook up my vcr and make dvds out of my old home videos. Will this work? Thanks

[funkboy]

Works real nice so far, though I haven't recorded anything yet.
It should work though, yes - just know that you can only record at VCD quality unless you have a dual G4 or dual G5.

[applenut1]

what happens if you already own an eyeTV USB and want to upgrade. I already have the software. Will it still work or will it not activate the new hardware without this code.

[f1000]

Originally Posted by funkboy

It's right on the front page of elgato.com, actually. But it requires an Activation Code, something that's not included with this PC box.
If I could purchase a code from them I think I would at this point, simply for convenience sake (and it's a cool thing), but... we'll see, I guess.

When I downloaded it, I just clicked cancel or something and got the dialog to go away. I don't know if that was with the most recent version, though.

[gametime10]

So let me get this straight... the ATI TV Wonder USB 2.0 for PC works on Mac with the El Gato software?

[pbook28]

Yep. Working great! And I only have it hooked up to a normal tv antenna. I can't wait to hook it up to the satellite!

[funkboy]

Originally Posted by f1000

When I downloaded it, I just clicked cancel or something and got the dialog to go away. I don't know if that was with the most recent version, though.

I tried that too, but to actually watch TV you need to activate it, don't you? Did you really get it to work without buying the code?! I tried and it didn't seem to work.

Originally Posted by gametime10

So let me get this straight... the ATI TV Wonder USB 2.0 for PC works on Mac with the El Gato software?

Yes, confirmed. I too have it hooked up to cable. There's composite inputs, though, so I may do that off my TV box... that would probably give me better quality than coax, right?

[f1000]

Originally Posted by funkboy

I tried that too, but to actually watch TV you need to activate it, don't you? Did you really get it to work without buying the code?!

I confess that I've only used the playback component to watch prerecorded material.

[f1000]

Here's someone's review of the EyeTV Wonder USB 2.0

http://obsess.com/blog/000320