"Vic Smith" <thismailautodeleted@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:o3i4m2tdoa2p03sevn0dvod290sc4cbdb7@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 10:50:22 -0800, "William" <nospam@pacifier.com>
> wrote:
>>Anyway, I am going to enjoy watching my TV on my computer for Thanksgiving
>>and work out this problem later.
>>
> Just curious about why you like a TV card.
> And It might be useful for those anticipating getting one to discuss
> whether or not it's a good idea
> I had an All-In-Wonder 9700 Pro card for a long time, and used the
> TV functions, including recording shows, etc.
> What I found is that I hardly ever watched what I recorded, and
> just filled up hard drives.
> Additionally, since I game, I couldn't play and have TV at the same
> time, even to listen to the news. The same goes for web browsing,
> which often includes running video/audio which can conflict with
> the TV drivers, causing hangs/reboots.
> So I bought a 27" TV for 30 bucks at a second hand dealer.
> It has a beautiful picture, and works fine with a 6 buck universal
> remote I also had to buy. It sits across the room, and I can
> listen/watch to it without it interfering with anything I do on the
> computer at the same time.
> The AIW eventually burned out, and it's replacement doesn't have
> that hardware/software overhead.
> I do have plenty of space, so that wasn't a consideration.
> Anyway, though it is "neat" to have TV capabilities on the computer,
> it does have its downsides.
>
> --Vic


Vic:

I have been asking myself the same thing. I have noticed that I felt like
half of my computer has been missing without having the tuner running these
last few days. Perhaps it is just familiarity. I run two LCD's at
1280x1024. The one on the right has the tuner window, Yahoo widgets running
weather, RSS feeds, time, month, system properties, internet traffic,
picture windows from Photo Gallery, DeviantArt, and local hd files. The
monitor on the left is my system monitor, with the task bar, icons, and
where I read and compose messages, surf the Internet, do work, and what not.

I find having the tuner on the computer screen convenient. It is always no
more than a click away. Easy to run the volume up or down depending on
what's on. Flip-flip-flip. Doesn't take up an room on the desk either.


William