TV Tuner for laptop

[68falcon]

I'm a freshman at college so I get the worst/smallest dorm there is. I don't have room for my TV so I need a way to watch it on my laptop. I get standard cable through a coaxial cable. My laptop is an IBM T60:XP Pro, 1 GB of RAM, Dual Core 2.0GHz, ATI Mobility X1400 with 512 MB of RAM. I want good quality, at least the best I can get. I've looked around and don't know if I should go with USB or PCMCIA. And what software should I use? Thanks

 

[Twinpeaksr]

Check out Plextor, they have a number of video input devices that use USB. USB should give you less trouble than PCMCIA. I would also recommend getting a cheap VCR and running the coax through that. You will have much better signal quality if you do it and it can be a historical piece that you can show off and show your knowledge of history (Once upon a time, there was a video format before DVD...)

 

[68falcon]

So, you're saying, run the coaxial to the VCR, then from the VCR use composit video and audio to the plextor device, then from that the usb to the computer? Which one would be the best to get, I really am not intrested in recording anything, just need to watch it with the best quality, remembering I am a college student and don't have much money. Thanks.

 

[rbV5]

You could get a TV Wonder USB 2.0. It comes with ATI MMC software for viewing/recording and Gemstar Guide+ interactive guide. It should work fine with the standard analog cable and your notebook with the ATI graphics.

 

[68falcon]

I looked at that one, and read reviews on newegg, and they said that it overheated really bad and had severaly issues.

 

[Twinpeaksr]

yes, coax to vcr, composite to plextor (AV100u is one I have been looking at). I know it is round about, but I have not found any TV Card that can get decent picture without going through a VCR. Total price would probably be about $100. this is similar to what I did in college (I was using a Matrox Marvel at the time, did well, but not fast enoug graphics card for use today).

 

[68falcon]

Ok, thanks for all your help Twinpeaksr and rbV5.

 

[Twinpeaksr]

Glad to help.