TV cards (was: Re: I pull my modem and my TV tuner works)

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 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

Vic Smith <thismailautodeleted@comcast.net> wrote
> 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.

I like it because I have replaced the VCRs with a single PVR.

> And It might be useful for those anticipating getting
> one to discuss whether or not it's a good idea

Yes.

> 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.

I watch very little live, prefer to watch stuff when I choose
to watch it, not when its broadcast, and prefer to be able
to skip the ads and the crap I choose not to watch too.

> 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.

I dont game at any level higher than FreeCell Pro and I basically
just play that instead of watching the TV when watching TV progs.
I prefer to listen to the TV and be able to glance at the TV when
something interesting is going on, and when there isnt much
obvious from the sound as to what is going on.

I actually do that on a separate PC, but thats because the PVR
can record 4 channels at once, tho its usually only recording 3.

> 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.

See above. I wont watch much live except the daily national
news and even with that, its very handy to be able to mute
the sound and have the PVR carrying on recording it so I
can watch what I missed when the phone call finishes etc.

> The AIW eventually burned out, and it's replacement
> doesn't have that hardware/software overhead.

No big deal here, the PVR uses what used to be the main
system at one time. Its otherwise the test machine.

> I do have plenty of space, so that wasn't a consideration.

Yeah, and I watch the recorded stuff on a full widescreen
glass TV anyway, so the PVR doesnt save much space,
just the pile of VCR tapes basically and the VCRs.

> Anyway, though it is "neat" to have TV capabilities
> on the computer, it does have its downsides.

The only one I find is that it does use hard drive space like there is no tomorrow,
2-3G/channel/hour and I usually do need to run some stuff out onto DVD+RWs
to make more spaces, usually on sunday night when I often need 50G free.

While it makes no sense to be continually moving stuff to DVD+RWs that
will never get watched, we are just now running into the off season here and
I'll be getting some stuff back off the DVD+RWs to get something to watch.

I do tend to accumulate some docos with subtitles particularly that
I never get around to watching, because of the way I prefer to play
Freecell when watching TV and the subtitles get in the road of that,
you cant play freecell and read the subtitles at the same time.

On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 18:35:30 -0600, Vic Smith
<thismailautodeleted@comcast.net> wrote:

>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.

Ok, but that's you. Why would anyone else necessarily make
the same choices?


>Additionally, since I game, I couldn't play and have TV at the same
>time, even to listen to the news.

This makes no sense. You're essentially claiming you, not a
computer with a video capture card, can't multitask.

You can in fact have a tuner card tuned to the news,
outputting on speakers while you're playing a game on same
system. Maybe not with 9700 AIW, but it's only virtue is
that it has the tuner/capture on the same (AGP) video card.

Listening to the news and game sounds on the same speakers
might be a problem, but so it would be if gaming while the
traditional TV set was on.

>The same goes for web browsing,
>which often includes running video/audio which can conflict with
>the TV drivers, causing hangs/reboots.

That's one of the reasons to not use ATI TV/Capture cards,
their drivers can be hit-or-miss. It would be a rather
unusual thing from most cards.


>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.

If it suits your needs, great. That doesn't mean it's the
best choice for others but it is a good point, to really
think about whether the reality of TV on a PC is as good as
the idea seems at first.


>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.

I wonder if you'd have felt the same way if it weren't for
the limitation of the particular product you had. There's
nothing wrong with having BOTH, TV on the PC and the main TV
to watch when that's the primary focus.

On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 17:57:11 -0800, "William" <nospam@pacifier.com>
wrote:


>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.
>
Sound like a good setup. Since I often game while listening/watching
to TV, the AIW was unsuitable.
Do you have separate sound for TV and "other"?
For instance, can you hear Internet audio while listening to TV audio?
I often hear something on TV that interests me enough to give full
attention to while I'm playing a game, or watching for example, a
Youtube video. In those cases I pause the game, or mute/stop the
internet activity. The TV is far enough away that the sound doesn't
distract from computer activities unless I allow it.
I like the idea of TV card/2 LCD's if the sound/perfomance of
gaming/internet activities don't suffer.

--Vic

"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.

On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 13:06:50 +1100, "Rod Speed"
<rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote:

>Vic Smith <thismailautodeleted@comcast.net> wrote

>> Just curious about why you like a TV card.
>
>I like it because I have replaced the VCRs with a single PVR.
>
Yes, I preferred the PC recording over using a VCR too.

>> What I found is that I hardly ever watched
>> what I recorded, and just filled up hard drives.
>
>I watch very little live, prefer to watch stuff when I choose
>to watch it, not when its broadcast, and prefer to be able
>to skip the ads and the crap I choose not to watch too.
>
Another good reason for PC as PVR.
In fact, I did time shifting when I had mine, and always watched those
recordings. But that was only when there were 2 shows I wanted to see
that were scheduled for the same time slot.
Though recording many TV offerings was an initial draw for the TV
card, that proved to be something I didn't utilize.

>> 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.
>
>I dont game at any level higher than FreeCell Pro and I basically
>just play that instead of watching the TV when watching TV progs.
>I prefer to listen to the TV and be able to glance at the TV when
>something interesting is going on, and when there isnt much
>obvious from the sound as to what is going on.
>
Yes, this is essentially what I do.
But I play resource demanding games such as Far Cry, Oblivion, etc.

>I actually do that on a separate PC, but thats because the PVR
>can record 4 channels at once, tho its usually only recording 3.
>
You must have a large collection of recordings.

>> 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.
>
>See above. I wont watch much live except the daily national
>news and even with that, its very handy to be able to mute
>the sound and have the PVR carrying on recording it so I
>can watch what I missed when the phone call finishes etc.
>
>> The AIW eventually burned out, and it's replacement
>> doesn't have that hardware/software overhead.
>
>No big deal here, the PVR uses what used to be the main
>system at one time. Its otherwise the test machine.
>
Yes, I think a separate system would be the best option for me if I
wanted to record.
That I often play modern games but want the TV option at the same time
is why the TV card didn't work for me.

--Vic






>> I do have plenty of space, so that wasn't a consideration.
>
>Yeah, and I watch the recorded stuff on a full widescreen
>glass TV anyway, so the PVR doesnt save much space,
>just the pile of VCR tapes basically and the VCRs.
>
>> Anyway, though it is "neat" to have TV capabilities
>> on the computer, it does have its downsides.
>
>The only one I find is that it does use hard drive space like there is no tomorrow,
>2-3G/channel/hour and I usually do need to run some stuff out onto DVD+RWs
>to make more spaces, usually on sunday night when I often need 50G free.
>
>While it makes no sense to be continually moving stuff to DVD+RWs that
>will never get watched, we are just now running into the off season here and
>I'll be getting some stuff back off the DVD+RWs to get something to watch.
>
>I do tend to accumulate some docos with subtitles particularly that
>I never get around to watching, because of the way I prefer to play
>Freecell when watching TV and the subtitles get in the road of that,
>you cant play freecell and read the subtitles at the same time.
>

On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 14:33:15 +0800, "fondue" <me@wrk.au> wrote:

>
>"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.
>
>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.
>
Do you listen to the TV and other computer audio such as that from net
video at once? Or if you are listening to a TV news program and
execute a Youtube video does the video take charge of sound?

>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 ;-)
>
Sounds neat, but I've never heard of "internet as PVR." Can you
briefly explain that?

>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.
>
Yes, I find that when I'm playing an intense part of a game my brain
turns off the TV sounds. If this is extended for a while I turn the
TV off at the first break. Sometimes I miss something I wanted to
watch because I am completely involved with the game. That's ok.
It is more usual though that when something comes on TV I'm interested
in, I stop gaming. I then continue web browsing or ng reading during
commercials.

>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.
>
Well, some modern games can be played for months, full-time.
I just interrupt the game at the point where there is something on
TV that overrides the game according to my personal priorities.

>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
>
Yes, that's nice.

>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.
>
I do watch many cable political programs despite the dreck. But often
also watch PBS, BBC, History Channel, etc.

>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.
>
Yes, the VIVO was a selling point, but frankly I didn't foresee that I
wanted to play games like Far Cry while keeping the TV on and having
its background presence allow me to switch from one to the other.
But experience tells me that is what I want.
As to the hardware issue, I don't yet see anyone answering the issue
of multiple audio (we can listen to 2 streams at once), or the
resource issue of running a game like Far Cry while recording video,
though Rod's separate box solution covers that.
We each have different "needs" and I enjoy learning how others deal
with it. The 2 LCD solution would be an alternative for me, but given
my gaming habits I would need a separate computer such as Rod uses.
Since I find recording unnecessary, the less expensive TV works fine.
Of course I may have read all of this thread before I made my AIW
choice and gone ahead anyway and found it inadequate.
Experience was the best teacher in this case. But it doesn't hurt to
lay out that experience for others in case it's relevant to them.

--Vic

Vic Smith <thismailautodeleted@comcast.net> wrote
> Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote
>> Vic Smith <thismailautodeleted@comcast.net> wrote

>>> Just curious about why you like a TV card.

>> I like it because I have replaced the VCRs with a single PVR.

> Yes, I preferred the PC recording over using a VCR too.

>>> What I found is that I hardly ever watched
>>> what I recorded, and just filled up hard drives.

>> I watch very little live, prefer to watch stuff when I choose
>> to watch it, not when its broadcast, and prefer to be able
>> to skip the ads and the crap I choose not to watch too.

> Another good reason for PC as PVR.
> In fact, I did time shifting when I had mine, and always watched
> those recordings. But that was only when there were 2 shows
> I wanted to see that were scheduled for the same time slot.
> Though recording many TV offerings was an initial draw for
> the TV card, that proved to be something I didn't utilize.

>>> 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.

>> I dont game at any level higher than FreeCell Pro and I basically
>> just play that instead of watching the TV when watching TV progs.
>> I prefer to listen to the TV and be able to glance at the TV when
>> something interesting is going on, and when there isnt much
>> obvious from the sound as to what is going on.

> Yes, this is essentially what I do.
> But I play resource demanding games such as Far Cry, Oblivion, etc.

>> I actually do that on a separate PC, but thats because the PVR
>> can record 4 channels at once, tho its usually only recording 3.

> You must have a large collection of recordings.

I try not to end up in that situation, essentially because the volume
inevitably increases over time and you never actually watch it etc.

Thru the peak season I try to avoid archiving too much to DVDs,
and those are just for the dead season during summer, when I
cant find enough to watch and start watching stuff off the DVDs.

>>> 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.

>> See above. I wont watch much live except the daily national
>> news and even with that, its very handy to be able to mute
>> the sound and have the PVR carrying on recording it so I
>> can watch what I missed when the phone call finishes etc.

>>> The AIW eventually burned out, and it's replacement
>>> doesn't have that hardware/software overhead.

>> No big deal here, the PVR uses what used to be the main
>> system at one time. Its otherwise the test machine.

> Yes, I think a separate system would be the best option for me if I wanted to record.

I also play some stuff over the lan on the wireless laptop, mainly
when I'm bottling the beer. Thats a tad boring so its handy to be
able to listen to some stuff that only requires an occasional glance
at the screen, usually current affairs type programs etc.

> That I often play modern games but want the TV option
> at the same time is why the TV card didn't work for me.

Yeah, thats the main difference.


>>> I do have plenty of space, so that wasn't a consideration.
>>
>> Yeah, and I watch the recorded stuff on a full widescreen
>> glass TV anyway, so the PVR doesnt save much space,
>> just the pile of VCR tapes basically and the VCRs.
>>
>>> Anyway, though it is "neat" to have TV capabilities
>>> on the computer, it does have its downsides.
>>
>> The only one I find is that it does use hard drive space like there
>> is no tomorrow, 2-3G/channel/hour and I usually do need to run some
>> stuff out onto DVD+RWs
>> to make more spaces, usually on sunday night when I often need 50G
>> free.
>>
>> While it makes no sense to be continually moving stuff to DVD+RWs
>> that
>> will never get watched, we are just now running into the off season
>> here and
>> I'll be getting some stuff back off the DVD+RWs to get something to
>> watch.
>>
>> I do tend to accumulate some docos with subtitles particularly that
>> I never get around to watching, because of the way I prefer to play
>> Freecell when watching TV and the subtitles get in the road of that,
>> you cant play freecell and read the subtitles at the same time.

Vic Smith <thismailautodeleted@comcast.net> wrote
> fondue <me@wrk.au> wrote
>> Vic Smith <thismailautodeleted@comcast.net> wrote
>>> 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.

>> 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.

> Do you listen to the TV and other computer audio such as that from
> net video at once? Or if you are listening to a TV news program
> and execute a Youtube video does the video take charge of sound?

>> 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 ;-)

> Sounds neat, but I've never heard of "internet as PVR."
> Can you briefly explain that?

It just involves getting the extra episodes using torrent or emule.

I got the entire series with some like The Wire and The Shield
when I saw some favourable comments on them in a usenet group.

Not always ideal tho, some of the more obscure stuff
like the Last Detective arent easy to find and one I
missed on free to air TV has got stuck at 96%.

>> 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.

> Yes, I find that when I'm playing an intense part of a game my brain
> turns off the TV sounds. If this is extended for a while I turn the
> TV off at the first break. Sometimes I miss something I wanted to
> watch because I am completely involved with the game. That's ok.
> It is more usual though that when something comes on TV I'm interested
> in, I stop gaming. I then continue web browsing or ng reading during
> commercials.

>> 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.

> Well, some modern games can be played for months, full-time.
> I just interrupt the game at the point where there is something on
> TV that overrides the game according to my personal priorities.

>> 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

> Yes, that's nice.

>> 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.

> I do watch many cable political programs despite the dreck.
> But often also watch PBS, BBC, History Channel, etc.

Yeah, I mostly watch docos and a small subset of drama series.
I dont watch stuff like the Sopranos, Bones, Criminal Minds, CSI
etc, too artificial for me. I do watch most of the english crime series.

>> 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.

> Yes, the VIVO was a selling point, but frankly I didn't foresee that I
> wanted to play games like Far Cry while keeping the TV on and having
> its background presence allow me to switch from one to the other.
> But experience tells me that is what I want.

> As to the hardware issue, I don't yet see anyone answering the
> issue of multiple audio (we can listen to 2 streams at once), or the
> resource issue of running a game like Far Cry while recording video,
> though Rod's separate box solution covers that.

The digital capture cards would do that fine on the main machine.
It handles 4 of those on a rather elderly 900Mz Celeron with heaps
of cpu capacity to spare. Essentially because since they are capturing
digital TV they just essentiall spool the mpeg streams to the hard drive
and bugger all system resources are required to do that.

> We each have different "needs" and I enjoy learning how others deal
> with it. The 2 LCD solution would be an alternative for me, but given
> my gaming habits I would need a separate computer such as Rod uses.

Yeah, its very convenient, I use Synergy to share the one keyboard and mouse
and have a separate monitor on each PC and each has TV out as well.

> Since I find recording unnecessary, the less expensive TV works fine.
> Of course I may have read all of this thread before I made my AIW
> choice and gone ahead anyway and found it inadequate.
> Experience was the best teacher in this case. But it doesn't hurt
> to lay out that experience for others in case it's relevant to them.

Yeah, specially when the cost of the hardware isnt trivial so it costs to try.