Questions from a PVS Newbie

[sownow]

here is my story

I like to record TV and re-watch it ... usually more than once

so my nice 6 head VCR is dying and I figured I would build
myself a computer to do it cause well VCR tech is dying and
the tapes degrade

I have bought the Hauppague WinTv PVR card ...
and after a week returned it because well the software sucked

Then I was turned on to snapstream by a friend ...

I am in the planning stages of his project and will be bulding this box from the ground up

but I have a few questions

1) What is the best Video card for the TV out
(Assuming the TV picture is suppose to be done via my video cards TV out)

2) How well do the different remotes work and how much
functionality is used from the different ones?
(Im leaning toward Pinnacle because of the remote)

3) With V3 of snapstream will you be able to effictively set the
"shell" of windows to snapstream and access all functions via a
remote control?
( A la Tivo)

4) How difficult will it be to write to DVD using The files that are
generated?

5) Will DVD writing be something that will be added to V3?
(nero plugin perhaps?)

5) What capture board is the best overall?
(Looking toward V3.0)

[attisb]

1) What is the best Video card for the TV out

The best video card would be the WinTV card series. SnapStream seams to support these the best. When using SnapStream you do not need to you Happague's software. The only thing of theres would be the drivers that they supply. You will also need to update the drivers if you plan on using Windows as the operating system. Goto Happague.com for them. The picture that is send out is very good and does not deform like other cards do sometimes.

2) How well do the different remotes work and how much
functionality is used from the different ones?

WinTV sells some of there boards with remotes. These work well. You must download a program called Girder to make it work with SnapStream. Any remote requires Girder. You can buy a IR reciever for around twenty dollars. Reply and I will send you the link to it. This IR will work with any remote. TV, VCR, Universal, etc.

3) With V3 of snapstream will you be able to effictively set the
"shell" of windows to snapstream and access all functions via a
remote control?

SnapStream has a fullscreen feature in version 3. It works great. In the current beta it does not start up in this mode, however SnapStream said they have added this feature in beta 4.

4) How difficult will it be to write to DVD using The files that are
generated?

By default SnapStream saves them as Windows Media. There is an option to save as MPEG which in theory should be able to burn to DVD.

5) Will DVD writing be something that will be added to V3?
I doubt they will add this option, but just use Nero to do this.

5) What capture board is the best overall?
WinTV cards seem to have the most support and the least amount of problems with SnapStream. SnapStream has created a good interface to them over the other companies. (I have tried four companies' cards.)

Hope these help.