Vista - TV tuner

I am pretty computer illiterate. I have been researching TV tuners. I went to Best Buy and they said they have phased them out and are replacing them with a software package. Does anyone know about this???

They may have been confused with your question. Widows Media Center works directly with TV tuner cards for your PCs. You can get a bit more info here: Windows Media Center: TV Tuners and Remotes.

Cheers,

Claudeya,

I am also looking at TV tuners. Newegg.com has a bunch of them and most have customer ratings. There are some pretty decent ones (based on ratings) in the $89 - $120 usd range.

R.

Thank you both for your information!!! I am grateful!!!

Sincerely,
Claudeya

While I'm not going to outright endorse a reseller, there are a ton of great online (and brick and mortar) stores that sell these tuners. Make sure you ask (or do your research) to make sure they'll fit in your system.

Cheers,

I have only a TV atena. Would the only advantage to getting a TV tuner be that can watch on my computer? What other advantages would there be???

Sincerely,

Claudeya

In brief, depending on what you do with your computer at home, a TV tuner on your computer provides you with the possibility of watching TV while doing other tasks you normally do on your computer if your brain can mulitask in that fashion. And more importantly it can turn your PC into a DVR so you can record and watch your program later.
Also depending on your setup, it can allow other household members to wath shows you have recorded on your pc from their own.

Thank You for your help!!!


Sincerely,
Claudeya

I recommend a Hauppage HVR 1800. It has dual internal tuners that can be used for NTSC, ATSC or QAM which gives you the ability to watch one channel while recording another.

My main home PC has become more or less a Home Theatre PC. Using the tuner above and hooked up to my 42" 1080P plasma with Windows Media Center is a fantastic Tivo+ device. I'm typing this on my TV as I watch a Giants game in a window. I can NEVER go back to just TV.

Support for the WinTV-HVR-1800

WoW!!!Thanks so much!!!

Sincerely,
Claudeya