VANITY: Need FReeper Notebook PC/TV Tuner Advice

[hispanarepublicana]

I'm in the market for a desktop replacement notebook that we can also watch TV on, but I'm not finding many that have built-in TV Tuners like some desktops have. I'm especially interested in a Dell or an HP, unless a FReeper can talk me into something else. But, I don't want to have to buy any bells/whistles that I don't really need, and I have no idea what to configure. Just based on my basic research, I'm thinking a good screen resolution and a large hard drive would be very important, and that I likely should go with a USB TV Tuner attachment. If I do that, do I need a TV Tuner Card? Do I need Windows XP Media Center edition?

[hispanarepublicana]

In my research, I found that a computer equipped with a TV Tuner and Windows XP Media Center edition will serve as a Tivo without the pesky Tivo subscription. But for that, you'll need a HUGE hard drive because all those shows take up memory, from what I read.

[avg_freeper]

But how do you schedule recordings? Opening up the TV-guide book and skimming through it would be a hassle. The big deal about tivo is the ability to do things like season passes to a show you watch.

Is there some kind of on-line schedule you can link your recording software to?

[general_re]

Well, then you should be all set. Of course, as you noted before, if you want to record that video, then you're going to want a boatload of disk space, probably more than you can really get in a laptop without spending a boatload of money.

[Echo Talon]

Is there some kind of on-line schedule you can link your recording software to?

If you get a desktop, or BUILD a PC like i do... get an ALL-in-WONDER it comes with guide plus... with that you can schedule programs that you want recorded. it connects to the internet and get tv listings doubles as a tv guide. very nice program. ATI All-in-Wonder video card/TV Tuner is the way to go. :D

[hispanarepublicana]

I read that Windows XP Media Center edition allows you to download a "tv guide" type screen. Keep in mind that you'll need an installed TV Tuner CARD for this....

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I JUST DON'T WANT A BIG OLD CLUNKY TOWER

Look for a used Dell Optiplex. They are in a very small case and you can find tons of them on eBay for poco dinero.

[hispanarepublicana]

dell outlet has those refurb optiplex too; wonder how they stackup versus a dimension 4700C (very small tower) and WHY are there so many used/refurbs?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

and WHY are there so many used/refurbs?

The Optiplex is probably the #1 lease machine in the USA. At corporations (like the one I work for) they are ubiquitous. We recently had thousands of them go off lease and got the new black optiplex with P4s in them as replacements.

[Terpfen]

HTPC is an acronym for Home Theater PC.

Basically, it's a PC in a case that can fit onto a shelf or rack, like a DVD player. It hooks up to your TV, and can function like a normal PC, in addition to giving you TiVo-like functionality (without paying the subscription!) Set up a home network and you can stream DVDs from a central server and watch them on your TV, without having to get up and load DVDs.

They're extremely useful pieces of computing, and will eventually replace the desktop, IMO.

[Terpfen]

Yeah, pretty much. I look at laptops as portable computing utilities, not desktop replacements. I use a laptop at school, and they're great little gadgets, but they aren't replacing the desktop, at least not yet.

Go HTPC!

[HAL9000]

Does anything like that exist yet?

The Elgato EyeTV includes software for recording, including HDTV. I think it has an online schedule too.

Macs can also run MythTV to provide TiVO-like functions.

[HAL9000]

No hablo MAC.

It's easier and more fun to use a Mac instead of Windows. Check out the $499 Mac mini at BestBuy, etc.

For a world-class video system, hook up the Mac mini to an HDTV set like a Samsung DLP monitor.