Video-In for laptops

[DataFly]

Does anyone here know of any high quality yet not too pricey (yes, I know that's contradictory...) PCMCIA or MiniPCI video input cards? I've looked around, but haven't found anything besides big, bulky external USB devices. It must have RCA and Coaxial jacks. I don't need anything else, although extra connectors certainly wouldn't hurt.

Thanks!

 

[VBboy]

A USB videocard? Uhh-huh. 1.5 MB/sec max bandwidth of USB. Let's see. 1024x768x16 = 1.573 MB per frame. You'll be getting a juice one frame per second on a USB videocard, regardless of its internal fillrate or polygon pushing capabilities.

Other than that.. I don't know. I've seen one a couple of years ago, but now any built-in ATI or other will be better than what I saw.

 

[DataFly]

Erm, please read more carefully before you respond. I'm not looking for a high performance 3D video card for a laptop. That's what my GeForce 440 GO is for. I want something I can put in the notebook that will allow me to watch and record TV on my laptop.

 

[DarkManX]

maybe somethin for a I1394 (firewire) port?

 

[VBboy]

Originally posted by: DataFly
Erm, please read more carefully before you respond. I'm not looking for a high performance 3D video card for a laptop. That's what my GeForce 440 GO is for. I want something I can put in the notebook that will allow me to watch and record TV on my laptop.

Didn't you say this: "I've looked around, but haven't found anything besides big, bulky external USB devices."? Did you mean a TV-tuner adapters, or videocards? Are you looking for an external TV tuner or a "high-performance 3d videocard"? No USB videocard will give you good performance, but a USB adapter like the one made by ATI and Hauppauge will allow you to watch TV and get video-in. So which is it?

 

[MWink]

I'm in the same boat as you. I'm using an Inspiron 8200 as a desktop replacement and the only thing it is missing that my desktop had is a TV tuner. I would kill for one I could use with this. Let me know if you find one (non-USB).

 

[TheCorm]

This is a USB device, not sure if it's too bulky but thought I would give then info anyway

Dazzle Digital Photo and Video Maker USB PC/MAC

"my desktop had is a TV tuner. I would kill for one I could use with this. Let me know if you find one (non-USB)."

Can you get TV tuners is anything other than PCI or USB...have they got a firewire version yet?...and would it require more than 12mb/s bandwitch anyhoo?

Corm

 

[MWink]

Can you get TV tuners is anything other than PCI or USB...have they got a firewire version yet?...and would it require more than 12mb/s bandwitch anyhoo?

I've only seen ISA, PCI, and USB TV tuners. I'm quite sure it would require more than 12mbps of bandwith. If I capture video at high resolution the files can come out at 20MBps.

 

[DataFly]

Originally posted by: VBboy

Originally posted by: DataFly
Erm, please read more carefully before you respond. I'm not looking for a high performance 3D video card for a laptop. That's what my GeForce 440 GO is for. I want something I can put in the notebook that will allow me to watch and record TV on my laptop.

Didn't you say this: "I've looked around, but haven't found anything besides big, bulky external USB devices."? Did you mean a TV-tuner adapters, or videocards? Are you looking for an external TV tuner or a "high-performance 3d videocard"? No USB videocard will give you good performance, but a USB adapter like the one made by ATI and Hauppauge will allow you to watch TV and get video-in. So which is it?

Once again, please read more carefully. Note that I said video input cards. If I wanted a 3d accelerator, I would have asked for one...



Thanks for all of the help everyone. So far I've not been able to find anything besides USB. Nothing for Firewire/I1394, MiniPCI, or PCMCIA. The search continues...

 

[TheCorm]

I can see them releasing USB 2.0/Firewire versions in the future....just because they are becoming industry standard but surely PCMCIA slots are going to become obselete in favour of legacy free systems.

Corm

 

[Furor]

ATI TV wonder USB will work, only difference from regular pci version is mono sound, I think.

 

[MWink]

ATI TV wonder USB will work, only difference from regular pci version is mono sound, I think.

If I knew that was true then I would buy it in a second. I'm just concerned that USB has nowhere near the bandwidth needed for a TV tuner.

 

[TheCorm]

Does a TV Tuner need much bandwith....I mean when it comes to Coaxial cable for TV's, that can't be super high bandwith, it surely can't be more than the old Coaxial Networks 10mbps HD.

Corm

 

[crypticlogin]

The company's been bought out since by Zoran, but Nogatech once put out a PCMCIA Type2 TV tuner with at RCA inputs, *maybe* a coax (I can't fully recall) on a dongle. At end of life, buy.com was clearing them out for ~$50 so if you can find any, they shouldn't be too expensive. I wouldn't say it was high quality but it was certainly doable watching TV or hooking up a video game console.