Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)My goal was simple: Find a device that will allow me to record in HD without the need for a cable card. I'm glad to say that this device delivered! Here's the good & bad I've found with the device so far.
THE GOOD:
1. Very simple "initial" setup. I'm running Windows 7, which I HIGHLY recommend. I'll save Win7 for another review, but wow is it a great product especially for video playback. Just connect audio/video to the device, load the software that ships with the unit and the device is ready to capture HD.
2. Superb recording quality. Using the ArcSoft software that ships with the unit you can capture files in crystal clear HD. The software allows you select your record rate up to 13.5 MG/second. It also allows you to record content in Blue-ray, XBOX or Playstation format. I was able to watch all three file types in Windows 7 with exceptional picture quality and very good audio quality.
3. Ships with all hardware/software for the job. No need to buy any extra add-ons to get a "basic" HD recording solution in place. The box contains a capture unit, channel changer, video cables, audio cables, remote control and video software. No extra trips to Radio Shack to get going.
THE BAD:
1. Does not work with Windows Media Center. This was a MAJOR disappointment for me. There is a third-party solution at [...] that supposedly overcomes this limitation. However, I could not get it to work reliably. So, I bailed on MCE for now. Hopefully, Hauppage will fix this soon.
2. Records in SageTV, but I couldn't get it to play content in SageTV. SageTV is much more powerful than the ArcSoft software that ships with unit. SageTV does work with this unit, but it only captures video. So, you can't watch live HDTV, pause it, etc. Or at least I could not figure out how to get SageTV to do anything beyond recording.
3. The supposeded "XBOX" recording format is a misnomer. To watch the file on XBOX, you need to use the ArcSoft video converter software to convert the file first. YIKES! That means 3-4 hours of conversion time per movie. I'll pass. The files are clearly meant to be watched on a PC, not a XBOX.
Overall, great device. My only issue is that the device needs to support Windows Media Center. It also needs more complete and user-friendly support for SageTV. Those are two most popular PVR software solutions on the planet. Once Hauppage delivers support for popular software then I'll raise my rating to 5 stars. Until then, 4 stars.
That said, the ArcSoft software that ships with the unit does work. It has limited features, but works. The software essentially turns your PC monitor into a HVTV. It also records HD content to your hard drive. Gotta love that.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Hauppauge HD PVR - Record your high definition TV programs for your computer using H.264
Product Description:
Hauppauge HD PVR - Record your high definition TV programs! HD PVR is the world's first High-Definition video recorder for making real-time H.264 compressed recordings at resolutions up to 1080i. Works great with ElGato EyeTV (not included).
Want to read more honest consumer review about Hauppauge HD PVR - Record your high definition TV programs for your computer using H.264 now ?
