Bringing TV to my iMac G5

[cphoran81]

Help. I have a brand new iMac G5 20" and the screen is so big I would like to be able to watch tv on it. I have researched a little so far and have only found the elgato eye tv but im not to sure about it. any advice would be great.

 

[blackpeter]

Help. I have a brand new iMac G5 20" and the screen is so big I would like to be able to watch tv on it. I have researched a little so far and have only found the elgato eye tv but im not to sure about it. any advice would be great.

I've setup a 20" iMac w/ the ElGato Eye TV (Firewire model) and it works like a charm, both in full-screen and windowed modes. You've also got TiVo-like options (though, without the time shifting, I think). But being able to record straight to your Mac is nice.

 

[cphoran81]

Im a little confused. Do I just hook up my regular tv cable cord coming out of the wall to eyetv and then connect eyetv to my apple?

 

[rummer]

Im a little confused. Do I just hook up my regular tv cable cord coming out of the wall to eyetv and then connect eyetv to my apple?

Yes, after that, you install the EyeTV software onto your Mac, and have the software automatically detect available channels. I have an iMac G5 with EyeTV 200, and it works like a charm. (make sure you update the software after install)

 

[ScruffyTheMac]

Here's another vote for EyeTV - I've been using an EyeTV 200 with my 1GHz Powerbook for about a year; works great.

I've just started using an EyeTV 500 with my brand new dual 2.7 powermac to get standard and hi-def DTV from my cable system, and that works flawlessly as well. Good thing I got 800G of disk space to store recordings!

 

[Piarco]

I've used the EyeTV 410 and its absolutely fantastic. A lot more expenice than its PC counterparts, but the design is great and the software is simplicity itself to use - well worth the money! Just persuaded a collegue to get one along with her 20" iMac and she's absolutely chuffed with the results.

 

[cphoran81]

well after looking on the elgato website i have noticed that there are three different products available ranging in price from 150 to 350. whats the difference and is the more expensive one worth it or is the 150 one fine

 

[rummer]

well after looking on the elgato website i have noticed that there are three different products available ranging in price from 150 to 350. whats the difference and is the more expensive one worth it or is the 150 one fine

I had a tough time trying to decide if I should get the EyeTV Wonder USB2 or the EyeTV 200. The differences that I could tell were the following:

1. EyeTV USB2 uses USB 2.0 interface, where as EyeTV 200 uses Firewire

2. EyeTV 200 has a built in encoder, where as on EyeTV USB, the CPU on your Mac does it.

3. EyeTV 200 allows for MPEG2 and MPEG4 encoding, whereas the EyeTV USB only does MPEG2.

4. EyeTV USB comes in a smaller unit

5. EyeTV 200 comes with a remote control (be careful because this remote may not work with some Satellite TV or Digital Cable)


I ended up getting the EyeTV 200 because of the built in encoder and the remote control. In my dorm room, I use my iMac G5 as a TV and a computer, so I wanted less stress on the CPU. The remote is also very useful, though not all the buttons are labeled.

 

[Duff-Man]

Duff-Man says....if price is a factor and you don't really need a remote then also check the Plextor ConvertX as well - it uses the EyeTV software but is about $100 cheaper....I am in the market for a device as well and am trying to decide between the two.....oh yeah!

 

[everybodylikepi]

I'm facing a similar question. Does the ConvertX encode in its own box like the EyeTV 200 or does your mac have to do it? If not, the EyeTV unit might be worth the price difference.

 

[Duff-Man]

I'm facing a similar question. Does the ConvertX encode in its own box like the EyeTV 200 or does your mac have to do it? If not, the EyeTV unit might be worth the price difference.

Duff-Man says....from the ConvertX page:

The heart of the PX-TV402U is its multi-format encoder chip which converts video to the MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 formats as it is being recorded to the Mac.

I personally prefer the firewire interface of the EyeTV model over the USB2 of the Plextor but it is not a deal-breaker either.....oh yeah!