USB, Simple vs PVR ?

[mll]

I am about ready to purchase a TV tuner capture system (Note: My primary system is a 2.8GH 512 MB P4 and the backup is a 466MH 192 MB Celeron) and then probably use it with SnapStreem and what to know if:

1) There are disadvantages to say, the Hauppauge USB vs a PC card system... If all I have to pay is $50 extra, then the USB gives me some flexability. On the other hand if the quality and/or CPU load is much higher for a USB system, then I may consider a tuner card.
http://www.hauppauge.com/html/usb_data.htm

2) I also note that for an extra $120 or so, I can get a hardware MPG2 encoder in the capture system? Is this very desirable or will I probably want to use other encodings, Dvix, etc. anyway.
http://www.hauppauge.com/html/wintvpvrusb_datasheet.htm

P.S. I note that the The WinTV-PVR-usb has its own PVR type software. I assume that SnapStream is better, but wonder if anyone had any experience with the bundeled software.

Thanks.

[RobertH]

the hauppauge usb pvr is not supported with snapstream, if you are going for portabiltiy between the systems then usb is going to be the easiest route, the only usb hardware encoder snapstream supports is the adaptec videoh! device ( http://www.snapstream.com/Products/P...VS3_SysReq.asp ) although if you are shopping for 2 tuner devices youd be better off going for a pci card for those systems (assuming they are desktops)

the standard wintv usb device only captures at 320x240 at 15fps if im not mistaken (it might do full fps video but the res is limited) the pro model is supposed to support higher res.

for the 466 you are going to be able to use it with a hardware encoder for only recording, that slow of a system is not going to have the umph to do playback.

[noodleNT]

Also note that multi software encoder cards requires multi sound cards.