ATI TECH TV WONDER PRO PCI-NTSC ( 100-703138 )

Rating:
Summary: Check compatibility before buying
Review: This card seemed like the perfect solution to my desire to play VHS movies on my computer monitor. Unfortunately, my (new) computer's video card is not compatible with the ATI TV Wonder Pro. After contacting ATI and fiddling around with software drivers, etc. I found that I need an ATI or compatible video board. Of course, they fail to mention this in their advertising or on the packaging. It would sure have saved me a lot of time had they published this in their specifications. The card seems like it does everything except wash windows, but check out your hardware before buying.

Rating:
Summary: Works well - if you can get past the software problems
Review: This is a decent product with loads of features. But the horrible software that comes with it will surely turn away some users - as it almost did me. Despite being a tech-savvy user, I had to spend 2+ hours to get the software (sort of) working, after encountering problems with program hanging and other malfunctions. Tech support was surprisingly helpful and they sorted out two of the problems I had. I did, however, had to register my product online, and then call a Canada number to reach tech support.

Once I got past the software problems, the true potential of the product shows. I have crystal clear pictures on my monitor. I could capture screenshots, record programs and save caption text with a few simple clicks. The included Guide + program works like Tivo - allowing you to find and schedule recording of programs.

PROS: Excellent video quality; decent performance; Helpful tech support (you only get it free for 30 days after registration though).

CONS: Buggy software; TV Guide software doesn't integrate well with the player; Can't play TV on 2nd monitor (major drawback for me).

ADVICE: Do not install from the CD that comes in the box. Directly go to ATI.COM and download the latest driver and software. Register your product while you are there and have a phone handy to call tech support.

Rating:
Summary: Works fine, but not as good as I'd hoped
Review: Well, I've got everything installed properly. Or at least, as good as I'm capable of without buying new hardware.

The installation wasn't too difficult. I use an Nvidia 5600 FX video card, with DirectX 9.0, running under Windows XP. The diagnostic tool in the software installed with this TV Tuner complains about my Video Card not being an ATI Video card, and the ATI drivers not being installed properly(if I don't have an ATI card why would I have ATI drivers?), and DirectX 9.0 not being installed properly(even though it is), but it's just simply wrong, because all the features of the TV Tuner work fine. I'm sure that the diagnostic tool would stop complaining about all 3 of these things if I went out and bought an ATI Card, but why bother when everything still works fine?

Everything works fine, but...

I'd hoped to be able to perform High Quality video captures with this card. The card seems capable of High Quality video capture, BUT when I set it to High Quality the framerate drops dramatically. This makes it impossible for me to produce High Quality captures, because even though the frames are high quality, the frame rate is too low to be called High Quality.

I could probably fix this problem with a faster Motherboard, but with my current hardware there is no hope.

Normal Quality video capture works "perfectly", if you don't mind the fact that it's "Normal Quality".

I probably should've bought the All-In-Wonder 9800 Pro instead.