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PC-BASED PVRS
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ATI All-in-Wonder 9700 PRO
Why use your computer as a personal video recorder instead of buying a TiVo? Control. Add a card that digitizes video to your PC and you can record shows, edit out commercials, and burn DVDs. The best systems come with TV-out capability, remote control, and free interactive program guides.
SPLURGE ATI All-in-Wonder 9700 PRO
Built around a powerful 128-Mbyte graphics card, ATI's recorder has impressive features. The free subscription to Gemstar Guide Plus+ lets you watch TV in the corner of the screen while you schedule recordings. And the RF wireless remote lets you control your computer from up to 30 feet away, even through walls. It costs more up front than TiVo, but there are no monthly fees.
$499, www.ati.com.
BEST BUY Nvidia Personal Cinema with GeForce4 MX 440
Nvidia combines a 64-Mbyte graphics card with an external box for video input and output. The infrared remote has intuitive VCR-style controls – the commercial-skip feature is an especially nice touch. The WinDVR software links with TitanTV's Web-based program guide for scheduling recordings, never mind that you can't do this via remote.
$199, www.nvidia.com.
OVERRATED WinTV-PVR-250
The PVR works smoothly, and the bundled Ulead DVD MovieFactory software makes it easy to burn video CDs and DVDs. But it took several attempts to correctly install WinTV's video card and software, which made a bad first impression. And the buttons on the IR remote control are so tiny, it was hard to avoid pressing two at the same time.
$149, www.hauppauge.com.
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