Hello Richard, We just started using the Elgato EyeTV 250 Plus connected to an iMac 24 2.8 Ghz Intel core duo with 4GB RAM and various external FW drives available. Our primary intention was to use the setup to digitize old VHS material but we've seen how conveniently it replaces the VHS recording deck.
The digitizing device - EyeTV 250+ - connects to your cable, antenna, dish or VCR. Their software - EyeTV3 - gives you a clean and simple interface for scheduling timed recording. There is also a web relationship with an online scheduling service called TitanTV (www. titantv.com) which gives you local progamming listings. I've had issues with accuracy especially on PBS offerings, but you can manually schedule based on your local last minute listing schedule. Between TitanTV and EyeTV3 it is very simple to schedule recording sessions, when Titan can be depended on, which is most of the time especially with prime time programming. Once your material has been recorded, Elgato provides a very basic editing utility with which to perform approximate surgery such as commercial removal. You can't edit down to individual frames or combine clips without exporting to something like iMovie which is time consuming. To burn to DVD, they provide a copy of Toast which takes over at the push of a button. Picture quality is good - better than VHS - but you might encounter an occasional "hiccup" or split second glitch, as we do. Not sure whether that can be blamed on the EyeTV device, or DVD burning, but it's not something I've encountered with straight VHS recording. The EyeTV 250 gives you dedicated digitizing, leaving your computer's power alone. I'm not sure what the possibility is for viewing these recordings directly on a networked home entertainment HD LCD, or how Apple's Apple TV device might be made part of the configuration (note that Apple does offer the Elgato EyeTV 250, possibly suggesting a synergistic relationship). That would be something worth looking into, but we don't have a very sophisticated "home entertainment" center. Check out Apples web spot for the Elgato which includes some useful reviews: http://store.apple.com/us/product/TR373LL/A?mco=NDkxMTQ0NQ OWC was our point of purchase, which saved us a bit. Best wishes, Dale _________________________________ On May 11, 2009, at 11:49 AM, aussieshepsrock wrote: > > Hi - > Thinking of getting some used &/or new Elgato Products. They seem like > 'good' Mac-like products that do what they do in a nice way (hardware > & software). Any thoughts someone might like to share. > > I am currently operating on a G4 Mini 1.25ghz/1gig/40gig with 10.4.11 > and lots of external storage! 500+320+160gigs. > > Shortly to upgrade to a MacPro Tower (New is quite likely - but used > isn't ruled out). > > I really like the "concept" of the AppleTV, but these elgato products > seem to offer dvr, tuner, capture and conversion, etc etc. > > More bang for my buck type of idea is my thinking. > > Richard --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed Low End Mac's G3-5 List, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list?hl=en Low End Mac RSS feed at feed://lowendmac.com/feed.xml -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
