Replace VCR with Dell desktop running Vista Ultimate and dual TV cards?

How viable would it be to replace my VCR with a Dell desktop running Vista
Ultimate and dual TV cards? I need to replace the VCR and would like to
record to a hard drive rather than tape. Has anyone done this and would you
like to share your experience?
Thanks

Actually, I am considering the same thing, except I have vista home 32 &
want to run hdtv cards & use an external h/d as a dvr then media stream to
my hdtv in the other room.

"M" wrote in message
...
How viable would it be to replace my VCR with a Dell desktop running Vista
Ultimate and dual TV cards? I need to replace the VCR and would like to
record to a hard drive rather than tape. Has anyone done this and would
you like to share your experience?
Thanks

I find Snapstream's BeyondTV to be a better TV choice. Media Center
works, but records to a DRM-secured format.

-----Original Message-----
From: Justbob30 ]
Posted At: Sunday, November 09, 2008 6:46 PM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: Replace VCR with Dell desktop running Vista Ultimate and
dual TV cards?
Subject: Replace VCR with Dell desktop running Vista Ultimate and
dual TV cards?

Actually, I am considering the same thing, except I have vista home 32
&
want to run hdtv cards & use an external h/d as a dvr then media
stream
to
my hdtv in the other room.

"M" wrote in message
...
How viable would it be to replace my VCR with a Dell desktop running
Vista
Ultimate and dual TV cards? I need to replace the VCR and would
like
to
record to a hard drive rather than tape. Has anyone done this and
would
you like to share your experience?
Thanks

I am not really that bothered what software is used, I would even by happy
with Linux if it does the job. What I would like is for the PC to go into
some kind of standby so it does sit there fans wiring and draining power
24/7 when its not being used.


"Tom Scales" wrote in message
news:5BA64AC2647841F1BE1D26CB52E8B97E@M2010...
I find Snapstream's BeyondTV to be a better TV choice. Media Center
works, but records to a DRM-secured format.

-----Original Message-----
From: Justbob30 ]
Posted At: Sunday, November 09, 2008 6:46 PM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: Replace VCR with Dell desktop running Vista Ultimate and
dual TV cards?
Subject: Replace VCR with Dell desktop running Vista Ultimate and
dual TV cards?

Actually, I am considering the same thing, except I have vista home 32
&
want to run hdtv cards & use an external h/d as a dvr then media
stream
to
my hdtv in the other room.

"M" wrote in message
...
How viable would it be to replace my VCR with a Dell desktop running
Vista
Ultimate and dual TV cards? I need to replace the VCR and would
like
to
record to a hard drive rather than tape. Has anyone done this and
would
you like to share your experience?
Thanks

Can't comment in Media Center, but BeyondTV does that. Wakes up 60
seconds before the show, records it, does any post processing and goes
back to sleep.

-----Original Message-----
From: M ]
Posted At: Monday, November 10, 2008 2:13 PM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: Replace VCR with Dell desktop running Vista Ultimate and
dual TV cards?
Subject: Replace VCR with Dell desktop running Vista Ultimate and
dual TV cards?

I am not really that bothered what software is used, I would even by
happy
with Linux if it does the job. What I would like is for the PC to go
into
some kind of standby so it does sit there fans wiring and draining
power
24/7 when its not being used.


"Tom Scales" wrote in message
news:5BA64AC2647841F1BE1D26CB52E8B97E@M2010...
I find Snapstream's BeyondTV to be a better TV choice. Media Center
works, but records to a DRM-secured format.

-----Original Message-----
From: Justbob30 ]
Posted At: Sunday, November 09, 2008 6:46 PM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: Replace VCR with Dell desktop running Vista Ultimate
and
dual TV cards?
Subject: Replace VCR with Dell desktop running Vista Ultimate
and
dual TV cards?

Actually, I am considering the same thing, except I have vista home
32
&
want to run hdtv cards & use an external h/d as a dvr then media
stream
to
my hdtv in the other room.

"M" wrote in message
...
How viable would it be to replace my VCR with a Dell desktop
running
Vista
Ultimate and dual TV cards? I need to replace the VCR and would
like
to
record to a hard drive rather than tape. Has anyone done this
and
would
you like to share your experience?
Thanks

On Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:12:30 -0000, "M"
wrote:

am not really that bothered what software is used, I would even by happy
with Linux if it does the job. What I would like is for the PC to go into
some kind of standby so it does sit there fans wiring and draining power
24/7 when its not being used.

If you're open to other OS's like your post says, you may want to
consider a Mac Mini in January after they are upgraded (likely to
happen).

I use a MacBook as a PVR with dual HDTV tuners (USB) and it records
without a hiccup. With Elgato's EyeTV software, both tuners can be
used at the same time, recorded from at the same time, and you can use
picture-in-picture from one tuner's window inside the other.

I also use a Hauppauge PVR (older one, not HDTV) on my Windows desktop
with Beyond TV. As Tom mentioned, there are some advantages to Beyond
TV compared to Windows Media Center.