tv tuner cards

Has anyone else come to the conclusion that, unless it is really necessary, that a TV Tuner Card in a computer is a waste of time and computer power and that it would be better just to run the cable to a real TV. My wife likes to dominate the TV so having a TV Card means that I can watch what I want when she is watching what she wants. However, if by myself, I would rather just watch TV on the TV.
William

Not to mention that a decent 25 inch TV costs about the same as the tuner card...
"William R. Mosher" wrote in message Has anyone else come to the conclusion that, unless it is really necessary, that a TV Tuner Card in a computer is a waste of time and computer power and that it would be better just to run the cable to a real TV. My wife likes to dominate the TV so having a TV Card means that I can watch what I want when she is watching what she wants. However, if by myself, I would rather just watch TV on the TV.
William

Well, what about people that record live TV to the hard drive, make custom DVD and CD, etc. I have an HD cable box that has built in hard drive. Yeah, I can record a show and watch it later, but I cannot get it into the PC because the content is totally encrypted. Now, with my tuner card that actually has an s-video input, I can take the s-video out of the tuner box and capture LIVE cable into the PC. Then I can do whatever I want with the recording.
There are indeed useful reasons to have a tv tuner card in a PC.....

"Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message

Not to mention that a decent 25 inch TV costs about the same as the tuner card...
"William R. Mosher" wrote in message Has anyone else come to the conclusion that, unless it is really necessary, that a TV Tuner Card in a computer is a waste of time and computer power and that it would be better just to run the cable to a real TV. My wife likes to dominate the TV so having a TV Card means that I can watch what I want when she is watching what she wants. However, if by myself, I would rather just watch TV on the TV.
William

You and I are in total agreement, but the person who started the thread was not doing any recording, at least according to his post. He merely is using his computer as a live broadcasting monitor to watch SPIKE when his wife is using their television to watch Oprah.
"Keith Schaefer" wrote in message Well, what about people that record live TV to the hard drive, make custom DVD and CD, etc. I have an HD cable box that has built in hard drive. Yeah, I can record a show and watch it later, but I cannot get it into the PC because the content is totally encrypted. Now, with my tuner card that actually has an s-video input, I can take the s-video out of the tuner box and capture LIVE cable into the PC. Then I can do whatever I want with the recording.
There are indeed useful reasons to have a tv tuner card in a PC.....

"Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message

Not to mention that a decent 25 inch TV costs about the same as the tuner card...
"William R. Mosher" wrote in message Has anyone else come to the conclusion that, unless it is really necessary, that a TV Tuner Card in a computer is a waste of time and computer power and that it would be better just to run the cable to a real TV. My wife likes to dominate the TV so having a TV Card means that I can watch what I want when she is watching what she wants. However, if by myself, I would rather just watch TV on the TV.
William

More likely ESPN, History Channel, the Science Channel or the Military Channel. There really isn't too much out there that I feel compelled to record. I can if I want to but that is rare. My wife prefers VH1, Forensic Files (and shows like that), and Dr. Phil.
William "Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message You and I are in total agreement, but the person who started the thread was not doing any recording, at least according to his post. He merely is using his computer as a live broadcasting monitor to watch SPIKE when his wife is using their television to watch Oprah.
"Keith Schaefer" wrote in message Well, what about people that record live TV to the hard drive, make custom DVD and CD, etc. I have an HD cable box that has built in hard drive. Yeah, I can record a show and watch it later, but I cannot get it into the PC because the content is totally encrypted. Now, with my tuner card that actually has an s-video input, I can take the s-video out of the tuner box and capture LIVE cable into the PC. Then I can do whatever I want with the recording.
There are indeed useful reasons to have a tv tuner card in a PC.....

"Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message

Not to mention that a decent 25 inch TV costs about the same as the tuner card...
"William R. Mosher" wrote in message Has anyone else come to the conclusion that, unless it is really necessary, that a TV Tuner Card in a computer is a waste of time and computer power and that it would be better just to run the cable to a real TV. My wife likes to dominate the TV so having a TV Card means that I can watch what I want when she is watching what she wants. However, if by myself, I would rather just watch TV on the TV.
William

"William R. Mosher" wrote in message Has anyone else come to the conclusion that, unless it is really necessary, that a TV Tuner Card in a computer is a waste of time and computer power and that it would be better just to run the cable to a real TV. My wife likes to dominate the TV so having a TV Card means that I can watch what I want when she is watching what she wants. However, if by myself, I would rather just watch TV on the TV.
William
If all you want to do is watch TV, then yes, it is a lousy solution. If you want to timeshift multiple shows, including 7 standard def tuners and 2 high-def tuners, and watch them at my convenience on everything from my 1080p HD set to my old big screen SD TV to my computer to my Dell Axim to any browser with internet capability, then it is simply unbelievable.
Tom

I am one who also finds benefit from it. I DVr shows for my son, I watch sports while he(or my wife) are watching the HD TV, I DVR shows to be put out on DVD. It is nice to have running in a window when I am doing other stuff on my widescreen monitor. "William R. Mosher" wrote in message More likely ESPN, History Channel, the Science Channel or the Military Channel. There really isn't too much out there that I feel compelled to record. I can if I want to but that is rare. My wife prefers VH1, Forensic Files (and shows like that), and Dr. Phil.
William "Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message You and I are in total agreement, but the person who started the thread was not doing any recording, at least according to his post. He merely is using his computer as a live broadcasting monitor to watch SPIKE when his wife is using their television to watch Oprah.
"Keith Schaefer" wrote in message Well, what about people that record live TV to the hard drive, make custom DVD and CD, etc. I have an HD cable box that has built in hard drive. Yeah, I can record a show and watch it later, but I cannot get it into the PC because the content is totally encrypted. Now, with my tuner card that actually has an s-video input, I can take the s-video out of the tuner box and capture LIVE cable into the PC. Then I can do whatever I want with the recording.
There are indeed useful reasons to have a tv tuner card in a PC.....

"Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message

Not to mention that a decent 25 inch TV costs about the same as the tuner card...
"William R. Mosher" wrote in message Has anyone else come to the conclusion that, unless it is really necessary, that a TV Tuner Card in a computer is a waste of time and computer power and that it would be better just to run the cable to a real TV. My wife likes to dominate the TV so having a TV Card means that I can watch what I want when she is watching what she wants. However, if by myself, I would rather just watch TV on the TV.
William

Okay I see your point. However, I like two shows on at the same time. The Unit and Law and Order. So nice to record one on the computer to watch at my leasure. I especially like zipping through the commercials. Watch a TV 2 hour movie in 1hr 35 min........
Watching my Yankees as I write this....
"William R. Mosher" wrote:

Has anyone else come to the conclusion that, unless it is really necessary, that a TV Tuner Card in a computer is a waste of time and computer power and that it would be better just to run the cable to a real TV. My wife likes to dominate the TV so having a TV Card means that I can watch what I want when she is watching what she wants. However, if by myself, I would rather just watch TV on the TV.
William

TIVO and Slingbox. Only way to fly!
"Tom Scales" wrote in message
"William R. Mosher" wrote in message Has anyone else come to the conclusion that, unless it is really necessary, that a TV Tuner Card in a computer is a waste of time and computer power and that it would be better just to run the cable to a real TV. My wife likes to dominate the TV so having a TV Card means that I can watch what I want when she is watching what she wants. However, if by myself, I would rather just watch TV on the TV.
William
If all you want to do is watch TV, then yes, it is a lousy solution. If you want to timeshift multiple shows, including 7 standard def tuners and 2 high-def tuners, and watch them at my convenience on everything from my 1080p HD set to my old big screen SD TV to my computer to my Dell Axim to any browser with internet capability, then it is simply unbelievable.
Tom

Your TIVO can record 7 SD and 2 HD at the same time, like my PC?
:) "Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message

TIVO and Slingbox. Only way to fly!
"Tom Scales" wrote in message
"William R. Mosher" wrote in message Has anyone else come to the conclusion that, unless it is really necessary, that a TV Tuner Card in a computer is a waste of time and computer power and that it would be better just to run the cable to a real TV. My wife likes to dominate the TV so having a TV Card means that I can watch what I want when she is watching what she wants. However, if by myself, I would rather just watch TV on the TV.
William
If all you want to do is watch TV, then yes, it is a lousy solution. If you want to timeshift multiple shows, including 7 standard def tuners and 2 high-def tuners, and watch them at my convenience on everything from my 1080p HD set to my old big screen SD TV to my computer to my Dell Axim to any browser with internet capability, then it is simply unbelievable.
Tom

"Course not, but I do have 4 TIVO's and a little freebie hack that sends whatever I want, live or playback, to my laptop or my PDA via Wi-Fi.
So handy at the airport or the hotel, catching up on all those back episodes of Drawn Together!
"Tom Scales" wrote in message Your TIVO can record 7 SD and 2 HD at the same time, like my PC?
:) "Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message

TIVO and Slingbox. Only way to fly!
"Tom Scales" wrote in message
"William R. Mosher" wrote in message Has anyone else come to the conclusion that, unless it is really necessary, that a TV Tuner Card in a computer is a waste of time and computer power and that it would be better just to run the cable to a real TV. My wife likes to dominate the TV so having a TV Card means that I can watch what I want when she is watching what she wants. However, if by myself, I would rather just watch TV on the TV.
William
If all you want to do is watch TV, then yes, it is a lousy solution. If you want to timeshift multiple shows, including 7 standard def tuners and 2 high-def tuners, and watch them at my convenience on everything from my 1080p HD set to my old big screen SD TV to my computer to my Dell Axim to any browser with internet capability, then it is simply unbelievable.
Tom

If all you want to do is watch TV, then yes, it is a lousy solution.

I multitask a lot, and sometimes I want a TV on. I already have a CRT and 3 LCD panels on my desk, so I don't need a TV to take up even more room, or need the TV display to take up an entire screen. So, a tuner card is a great solution for me.
If I want to actually take the time to sit down and watch something and not do anything else at the same time, that's what my projector (also coming out of the PC) is for.