Features:
- Intelligent 125-channel TV tuner
- Enables video wallpaper
- Schedules TV viewing
- Captures still and motion video
- PCI-bus TV tuner
Description:
There are three basic reasons to buy a TV tuner card: to watch television on your computer, to input data via a camcorder or VCR into your computer, and for video-editing purposes. When it comes to performing all three duties, the ATI-TV Wonder is the Cadillac of TV tuner cards. Installing the TV Wonder and getting it to work is simple enough. After connecting cable TV to it, we were watching TV on our PC in a matter of minutes. By far, this is the TV Wonder's most attractive feature. There's nothing like a Golden State Warriors game conflicting with "Martha Stewart Living" to cause serious angst among family members. But the TV Wonder is also useful for maximizing your TV-watching efficiency. With its ability to monitor a show's dialogue, the TV Wonder's accompanying software can signal you when shows are on that include specified words. If, for example, you program the software to search for the words "love, men, sex, or Dexatrim," it will alert you that Ally McBeal is on. But the TV Wonder is more than just a tool to aid your TV-watching fetish. ATI claims that making and editing your own videos on your computer should be easy with the TV Wonder. But while it is possible to get your videos on to your computer with the TV Wonder, editing videos is anything but easy. If video editing is why you're looking to buy the ATI-TV Wonder, expect a pretty steep learning curve. If you're looking for a solution that will enable you to watch TV on your computer, the TV Wonder can't be beat. And for less than a $100, it's a great gift item. However, if you're interested in creating and editing your own videos, the TV Wonder can help you get started, but don't expect to make Sundance-quality films any time soon. --Julian Strate Pros:
Cons:
- Picture quality isn't that great
- Video-editing isn't as easy as advertised
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