"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

I have a separate capture card so have none of the conflicts you refer to.
I make a point of watching what I record, after all that was what I recorded
it for.

I have a two monitors, and usually watch programs at my PC. I hardly watch
"live" television, and if I happen to catch one episode some series I want
to watch, I can use the internet as my PVR ;-)

If I find a myself web browsing, or doing something on the other screen
while watching a program, then it means I am really not interested in the
program, so I stop watching, and delete it. I find it quite a good method of
choosing what I really want to watch/do.

If a game is so uninvolving that I can listen/watch a program in a
meaningful way, (unless it is freecell or something), then it's probably not
worth playing, so I will move onto something else.

I don't have a PVR or set top box so I can record widescreen programs using
the digital tuner, and at least see the full screen

For the most part I tend to only download/record things I want to watch,
rather than something which is vaguely interesting, because I know I will
likely not watch it. IMHO the majority of commecial news services aren't
worth watching/listening to becuase they are so shallow, so I'm more likely
to get my news elsewhere.

Your "downsides" sound like you made a bad choice of hardware for what you
want to do, though I expect the VIVO features of the card sounded like good
value for money at the time.