MCE 2005 or ATI?

Here's the deal, when I bought my 9300 I skipped on the optional tuner for Windows Media Center 2005. Well, now I wish I had it. I have MCE 2005, but it acts moreso just like an easier, more stream lined version of WMP. So I was wondering, should I send my 9300 back and have Dell install the tuner, as they probably won't just send it to me so I can do it myself. I like MCE for my music and videos and use it often. I also like the whole idea of everything being integrated. Or should I just go with one of ATI's USB 2.0 tuners. I here they are also pretty good and are a decent price. The other question is, I have heard that when playing a PS2 on ATI there is a little lag. Is that true and would that also hold true with the MCE tuner? Any suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance.

 

No ideas? Anybody?...Echo..(eeecccchhheeccchhhoooeccchhoooo).
Guess not.

 

Personally, i hate dangling usb things. Get it internal. If that's what you mean.

 

Yeah, i was leaning toward that route also. What audio/video inputs are on the MCE tuner? Anyone Have either of these tuners? How about the PS2? Laggy? Any other suggestions?

 

I hate asking in 2 folders but i didn't really get any answers in tha assessories folder. Here's the deal, when I bought my 9300 I skipped on the optional tuner for Windows Media Center 2005. Well, now I wish I had it. I have MCE 2005, but it acts moreso just like an easier, more stream lined version of WMP. So I was wondering, should I send my 9300 back and have Dell install the tuner, as they probably won't just send it to me so I can do it myself. I like MCE for my music and videos and use it often. I also like the whole idea of everything being integrated.

Or should I just go with one of ATI's USB 2.0 tuners. I hear they are also pretty good, with many A/V inputs and are a decent price. The other questions are, I have heard that when playing a PS2 on ATI tuners there is a little lag. Is that true and would that also hold true with the MCE tuner?
Anyone own either of these?
What kid of A/V inputs are on the MCE tuner?
Any suggestions or advice would be very helpful. Thanks in advance.

 

The TV tuner for MCE is an external one; Dell does not offer an integrated solution yet.

Before you buy the bulky external tuner, maybe you should wait a bit for the new pcmcia tv tuner from Avermedia that is mce compliant which is going to be released soon. I too have MCE on my new 9300. This new card would be better than the external one, most probably.

Even if you send back your 9300, there's nothing really that can be done for it, except to remove the windows xp media center overlay if you think it is not doing you any good.

I would keep it and wait for a better and LESS expensive tuner which is coming...just don't exactly know when the release date is.

 

Ahhh. So Dell's solution is basicly what i'd be doing myself if I bought an ATI tuner. I should have just got it when i bought the laptop. Thanks for the info, I may just wait pcmcia tuner.
I use and enjoy the MCE interface that's why i would like to use my tuner under it. So if the tuner is MCE compliant, it integrates directly with my software already installed with my laptop? I won't have to use different programming and pvr software?

Do you know of any MCE complient USB tuners.

Thanks again for the info, you have been very helpful.

 

Tomas, combined your threads, you need to stay in the proper forum. Your title is a little nondescript, that might be part of the issue.

 

K...sorry. I'm just getting frustrated. I know people use these things.
I think i know what I want.
http://www.i-tech.com.au/products/2827_AVerMedia_AVerFotoplay___Plug_n_Play.asp
I just need to find where I can get it in the US.

 

I used to run MCE 2005 on my Dell Laptop (Latitude D800) and the tuner I used was the Hauppage WinTV PVR2 USB2. It has hardware encoding, which was the only external TV tuner that offered this option. It still retails for around $150. This is know as the best external TV tuner on the market, especially if you are planning to run it in the MCE shell.

I currently have my slightly used PVR2 up for sale on ebay with a Buy it Now of $100. Here is the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5228709821&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MESE:IT&rd=1

Let me know if you have any questions regarding this tuner. I used it off and on for a few months, so I have troubleshooted quite a bit. Any integrated TV Tuner solution is better, but as far as laptops go, this is the best money can buy.

 

Thanks for the response. I will check back on it in a few days and see what the bid is at. I have been looking at that one as well. Have you ever hooked a ps2 up to it? Does it lag at all?

 

MCE inside has video processing, so with PS2, you'll get at least a 0.5s lag making games VERY annoying to play. If you use a hardware encoder, you'll get 0.5s lag. So MCE + Hardware encode = 1+s lag, which IMO won't do it for PS2.

BTW, ATI's TV Wonder USB 2.0 isnt MCE certified yet, but may be in the future.