Unlike most of its
predecessors, EyeTV 500 is a practical product with the addition of being able
to handle superior DTV and HDTV content. It fulfills the promise of a
computer-based digital-television tuner with easy-to-use recording features. At
first I was wondering about the market for this product. It is somewhat
expensive at around $299, but after trying it I found it to be ideal for people
who spend a lot of time in front of their Macintosh computer.
It’s also
possible, if one were so inclined, to connect the system to a large-screen TV. I
hooked my PowerBook up to a 50-inch plasma TV via the DVI signal and found that
it worked well. Add a Bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse and the whole
package would make an impressive internet-friendly entertainment system.
RATING: EXCELLENT
Description: EyeTV external DTV tuner for Macintosh
High Points:
Incredibly simple setup; excellent tuner finds numerous local stations; easy to
make widescreen DVDs from HDTV recordings
Low Points: Occasional audio sync
problems; requires significant processing power and hard drive memory to operate
efficiently
Contact: Elgato
www.elgato.comPrice: $299
