My Panasonic DVR is malfunctioning. Rather than pay to fix it, I’m thinking it’s time to build an HTPC. I’m not a gamer. I do have an HD-ready TV but I don’t intend to pay Cox for an HD signal – perhaps in the future. For the moment, I want to enjoy the digital tiers that I get, and the advantages that come with a PVR.
A CNET review of a tv tuner card says: “Viewing and recording TV signals through your PC is at best a messy affair, with a wide variety of hardware and software combos attempting to replicate the simple utility of the popular TiVo set-top box. [b]Even when everything works out perfectly, you’re usually stuck with a signal that’s seriously degraded when compared to that of a basic cable-box-to-TV connection.[/b]”
I’m pretty happy with the signal as it appears now, flowing through the DVR. Am I misunderstanding the reviewer? What can I expect, quality-wise, from an HTPC?
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