<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:sc= hemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"= > <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@0...">  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> I have only had the card a few days no= w, but let me see if I can answer your questions:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <ol style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in' start=1 type=1> <li class=MsoNormal style='color:navy;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stop= s:list .5in'>I personally have not experienced the problems they reference i= n that particular review, but I tend to prefer dual processing Intel solutions, as I have found the chipsets for the AMD platform to leave quite a bit to be desired. The AMD platform, while speedy, is not famo= us for compatibility/stability/reliability when it comes to video. This i= s not the fault of AMD proper, but rather the supporting chipsets and motherboards. I suppose that is a debate for another day in another fo= rum, so I won't digress further... J</spa= n><o:p></o:p></li> </ol> <o:p> </o:p> <ol style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in' start=2 type=1> <li class=MsoNormal style='color:navy;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stop= s:list .5in'>The guide feature seems to work pretty well. I haven't "put it through it's paces completely" but It does a good job of scanning the range and adding channels, and the = interface is intuitive. In some respects, it's overall setup is MUCH easier than Tivo - MUCH faster, if nothing else.<o:p></o:p></li> </ol> <o:p> </o:p> <ol style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in' start=3 type=1> <li class=MsoNormal style='color:navy;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stop= s:list .5in'>The remote works AMAZINGLY well. The range is EXCELLENT, and it= has a directional pad similar to that of the Tivo</sp= an> that doubles as a cursor control on screen. You have left and right cl= ick buttons, and it's as if you have a mouse with you in your easy chair. You can literally manipulate your PC from quite a distance. It = uses USB for the antenna, and then RF between the antenna and the remote itself, so it *IS NOT* = line of sight.<o:p></o:p></li> </ol> <o:p> </o:p> I purchased the card from buy.com for around $330.00 - I am thrilled with it so far. Is it a "Tivo Killer"? No, not in my opinion, but they are somewhat different products. It does, however, make a viable home theatre P= C all that more viable though. Inputs abound, so you could easily add it to a= n existing system and make easy manual captures with outstanding quality. <o:= p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The missing link is the device control= . If I knew more about interface programming, I would take it on myself. I just = don't. I can't imagine it is that hard to do though. If Tivo<= /span> managed to add serial control for Sony DSS and IR control for everything el= se in Linux, a Windows port of that functionality can't be that hard!!!<o:p></= o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Rob<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> -----Original Message-----<br= > From: zeetivo [mailto:zeetivo@y...] Sent: December 28, 2001 5:28= PM To: ExtractStream@y...= s.com Subject: [ExtractStream] Re:= Tivo capability in a PC <o:p> </o:p> <tt>Rob, </tt> <tt>I totally agree that if someone can produce = the remote interface </tt> <tt>hardware and provide guide data Tivo becomes= much less attractive and</tt> <tt>a PC solution is possible. The great thing a= bout Tivo is that a 8 year </tt> <tt>old as well as a 70 year old can use it. You cannot say that about</tt> <tt>any PC solution today.</tt> <tt>Can you update me on your experience with th= e 8500DV. </tt> <tt>1. I was thinking about getting an 8500DV bu= t according to several </tt> <tt>reviews the video is not that great. Here is= a link to one:</tt> <tt><a href="http://gamespot.com/gshw/filters/products/review/0,12835,546153,00.= htm">http://gamespot.com/gshw/filters/products/review/0,12835,546153,00.htm= </a></tt> <tt>l</tt> <tt>Have you seen these problems?</tt><br= > <tt>2. How well does the guide data work?= </tt> <tt>3. How well does the remote work? I assume y= ou cannot control</tt> <tt>a dish or cable box?</tt> <tt>I'd love to have a PC solution, I just don't= think we are there yet. </tt> <tt>So Tivo is the best choice.... for now.</fon= t></tt> <tt>Thanks for your input.</tt> <tt>Zee</tt> <tt>--- In ExtractStream@y..., Rob Royse <rob@r...> wrote:</tt> <tt>> Steve,</tt> <tt>>  </tt> <tt>> I agree with you, and I have much of th= e same functionality in my </tt> <tt>new ATI</tt> <tt>> Radeon 8500DV video card, and they have= even added an excellent RF </tt> <tt>remote</tt> <tt>> with this card and firewire capability = to boot. I can see this card </tt> <tt>being</tt> <tt>> VERY popular with those trying to integ= rate the PC into their home </tt> <tt>theatre</tt> <tt>> setups. The PC is a logical "Tivo Killer" for all the reasons you </tt> <tt>cited,</tt> <tt>> except:</tt> <tt>>  </tt> <tt>> The only problem I see with it is a com= mon one that all the PC-based</tt> <tt>> products seem to stumble over:</= tt> <tt>>  </tt> <tt>> 1.      Simply= no mechanism for controlling the source tuner if it </tt> <tt>isn't</tt> <tt>> broadcast "over the air" or i= n basic cable not requiring some sort </tt> <tt>of set</tt> <tt>> top box. Same thing with DBS Satellite systems. The one thing Tivo </tt> <tt>does</tt> <tt>> (among others) EXTREMELY well is to control/change channels of DSS </tt> <tt>receivers</tt> <tt>> and Cable Boxes. I have yet to see any = sort of viable solution on </tt> <tt>the PC,</tt> <tt>> despite the fact that the PC has even m= ore robust connectivity than </tt> <tt>a Tivo</tt> <tt>> does. I don't know about you, but 95% o= f the programming I am </tt> <tt>interested in</tt> <tt>> archiving to a CD or DVD from my Tivo i= s what I consider to be </tt> <tt>"premium"</tt> <tt>> content, and it requires intelligence f= rom either the PVR or the PC </tt> <tt>to</tt> <tt>> change channels. I know it isn't rocket science, but I haven't seen </tt> <tt>it yet</tt> <tt>> on the PC.</tt> <tt>>  </tt> <tt>> I would be extremely surprised if someo= ne either hasn't developed </tt> <tt>such a</tt> <tt>> solution or isn't working on one. I jus= t haven't looked into it yet. </tt> <tt>I wish</tt> <tt>> whoever the best of luck and I hope to = see such a product soon!</tt> <tt>>  </tt> <tt>> I would love for my PC to become the "hub" of my entertainment </tt> <tt>system, at</tt> <tt>> least as far as archiving and distribut= ion inside my home is </tt> <tt>concerned. I</tt> <tt>> already have several sources inside my = home modulated for output to </tt> <tt>unused</tt> <tt>> cable channels so that I can watch any = source in any room of my </tt> <tt>home, but</tt> <tt>> the PC just has to develop the proper c= ontrol mechanisms...</tt> <tt>>  </tt> <tt>> Just my two drachmas,</tt> <tt>>  </tt> <tt>> Rob</tt> <tt>>  </tt> <tt>>  </tt> <tt>> -----Original Message-----</tt><= br> <tt>> From: steve bryan [mailto:steve_bryan@m...= ...] </tt> <tt>> Sent: December 28, 2001 2:37 PM<= /tt> <tt>> To: ExtractStream@y...</tt> <tt>> Subject: [ExtractStream] Re: Tivo capab= ility in a PC</tt> <tt>>  </tt> <tt>> There is now a working TiVo-style produ= ct available product from </tt> <tt>> Creative Labs for about $100. So instea= d of trying to cobble on an </tt> <tt>> ethernet connector and bypass the inten= tional obfuscation of the </tt> <tt>> captured signal you get access to every= thing just as we expect with </tt> <tt>a </tt> <tt>> PC (as differentiated from consumer electronics boxes). Of course </tt> <tt>the </tt> <tt>> image is on a PC monitor rather than yo= ur TV (unless you have the </tt> <tt>> necessary ingredients of a HTPC) but th= e results are very nifty. </tt> <tt>> Because it does the mpeg-2 encoding in = a dedicated chip there is </tt> <tt>> almost no burden on the main processor (around 5% has been </tt> <tt>reported). </tt> <tt>> You can easily be playing "Return = to Castle Wolfenstein" in the </tt> <tt>> foreground and not even realize it is recording in the background </tt> <tt>> (you need to leave the program running = in standby mode in the system </tt> <tt>> tray). You could be viewing other recor= ded programs while recording </tt> <tt>> or even do the standard TiVo trick of v= iewing earlier parts of a </tt> <tt>> program while recording the later parts= . This really seems to be the </tt> <tt>> realization in a $100 pci card of a 'di= gital' TV product first </tt> <tt>> introduced in the early nineties based = on a SGI workstation (anyone </tt> <tt>> remember the name of that product?).</f= ont></tt> <tt>> </tt> <tt>> I wouldn't say there is nothing to be improved in the scheduling </tt> <tt>> software or the steps needed to make th= e files available to other </tt> <tt>> applications but this is the real item.= There is also no interface </tt> <tt>to </tt> <tt>> any of the electronic programming guide= s. However, in every other </tt> <tt>way </tt> <tt>> this is even better than the revamped ReplayTV or hacked TiVo. I've </tt> <tt>> not seen the product in a store yet but= it can be ordered directly </tt> <tt>> from Creative Labs.</tt> <tt>> -- </tt> <tt>> </tt> <tt>> </tt> <tt>> </tt> <tt>> </tt> <tt>> Yahoo! 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