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If you're not afraid of opening your PC, and don't have technical reasons for getting the USB version (like using a laptop), I would recommend the PCI card. The PCI card is about half the cost of the USB, and the PCI bus allows faster data throughput than using the USB.
SnapStream actually works BEST when there is NO digital cable or satellite service in place. The Hauppauge card is a legitimate TV tuner, providing most of the functions of a normal stand-alone TV set, obviously without the large glass display. So, if you have standard analog cable or even a rooftop antenna, you just plug that into the Hauppauge tuner card and you're ready to go.
If you had satellite service or digital cable, the configuration is much more difficult because the signal must pass through a receiver box before getting to your PC. SnapStream often cannot initiate channel changes on these types of setups, meaning that it's not a fully integrated solution (yet!)
For Win XP, just make sure you go to the Hauppauge web site and download the latest drivers before installing SnapStream. The most recent drivers are only a couple of months old. If you buy a card now, chances are it may come packaged with older non-XP software.
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