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
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