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View Full Version : Does an iMac make a good TV replacement?


Chellovek
2006-10-27, 13:07
Well, just as the thread title says. I need to buy some form of new TV but I'm pushed for space. Any comments regarding using an iMac and a DVB tv tuner to create a tv replacement? Anyone out there on the intarwebs use such a setup?

chucker
2006-10-27, 13:11
DVB-T, DVB-S (or S2) or DVB-C?

Wyatt
2006-10-27, 13:13
Lots of people use Macs as TV-replacements. It's not hard at all, and the quality can be very good with the right tuner.

chucker
2006-10-27, 13:17
Lots of people use Macs as TV-replacements. It's not hard at all, and the quality can be very good with the right tuner.

But since an iMac doesn't have HD inputs, nor any interface with the necessary bandwidth for HD input, you're probably limited to something like 720p, if even that.

Wyatt
2006-10-27, 13:21
But since an iMac doesn't have HD inputs, nor any interface with the necessary bandwidth for HD input, you're probably limited to something like 720p, if even that.
Right. I can't think of any HD tuners for Macs at the moment.

[edit]

I stand sort of corrected. (http://elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyetvhybridna&PHPSESSID=b771482e4aa65d159cfe147d4d70129c) The Elgato Eye TV Hybrid apparently will feed HD content to your Mac, but you have to have an external digital antenna. It can't take feeds from a cable or satellite box, though.

chucker
2006-10-27, 13:24
Chellovek, Elgato (http://elgato.com/) makes hardware and software for watching and recording TV. Miglia (http://www.miglia.com/) also makes hardware, but uses Elgato's software.

Chellovek
2006-10-27, 13:35
Well maybe I'll come clean ;)

I bought a Miglia DVB-T 'tv-mini' tuner and the elgato eyetv software about a month ago; it's done me proud for watching tv on my powerbook. However, I was really interested in seeing if folks have made the step of replacing their 'main' tv with a mac, and to see what those suggestions were without any preconceptions of what my existing hardware was.

On the finer details: eyetv does seem to do the trick, but it doesn't really integrate that cleanly with frontrow. Other options (mediacentral (http://www.equinux.com/us/products/mediacentral/index.html), centerstage (http://centerstageproject.com/index-main.php), etc..) just don't cut it. The best I can imaging would be eyetv / frontrow with RemoteBuddy (http://www.iospirit.com/index.php?mode=view&obj_type=infogroup&obj_id=24&o_infogroup_objcode=infogroup-23&sid=2964409Gc3f173107927b793) to do the switching. Ideally I'd like to ditch iDVD and replace it with VLC, but I can't see a simple way of doing that in a manner that any idiot can pick up the remote, wave it around, and get the tv to work.

Wyatt
2006-10-27, 13:38
I thought the newest EyeTV software had a link to Front Row on the menu. You might check to see if you have the latest version.

Also, I think you're confused about iDVD. iDVD is for making DVDs--DVD Player is for watching them.

chucker
2006-10-27, 13:38
Ideally I'd like to ditch iDVD and replace it with VLC

:confused:

Chellovek
2006-10-27, 13:57
Thanks for the speedy responses. I must say, having lurked on applenova for >2 years this is about the most coherent and informed bunch of apple ner-do-wells I've ever come across.
I thought the newest EyeTV software had a link to Front Row on the menu. You might check to see if you have the latest version.

Also, I think you're confused about iDVD. iDVD is for making DVDs--DVD Player is for watching them.
Yes, EyeTV does have a link into FrontRow - however the Miglia remote doesn't always behave when driving FrontRow. Hence I think RemoteBuddy might help, being able to drive both eyetv and FrontRow from the apple remote (or if 5 buttons don't suffice, something larger).

You're right I am mistaken, I mean the DVD player app, not iDVD.

Wyatt
2006-10-27, 14:02
Thanks for the speedy responses. I must say, having lurked on applenova for >2 years this is about the most coherent and informed bunch of apple ner-do-wells I've ever come across.
Thanks. We do love to help.

Yes, EyeTV does have a link into FrontRow - however the Miglia remote doesn't always behave when driving FrontRow. Hence I think RemoteBuddy might help, being able to drive both eyetv and FrontRow from the apple remote (or if 5 buttons don't suffice, something larger).
It's a bit big, but you might try the ATI Remote Wonder. It's a pretty solid remote, and I'm sure you can probably get it to work with Front Row and EyeTV.

Chellovek
2006-10-27, 14:12
It's a bit big, but you might try the ATI Remote Wonder.

http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=tbn:rd6dYDjHBhINaM:http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/rw2/img/remotewonder2_angle.jpg

http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=tbn:DBE8s654-0dmnM:http://www.offshore-technology.com/contractor_images/kanfa/3_oil_tanker.jpg

Thanks! I think the Keyspan Express (http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/urm17a/homepage.spml) might be my best bet if the apple remote is too small!

Wyatt
2006-10-27, 14:15
http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=tbn:rd6dYDjHBhINaM:http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/rw2/img/remotewonder2_angle.jpg

http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=tbn:DBE8s654-0dmnM:http://www.offshore-technology.com/contractor_images/kanfa/3_oil_tanker.jpg

Thanks! I think the Keyspan Express (http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/urm17a/homepage.spml) might be my best bet if the apple remote is too small!
Haha, I love the boat analogy... yeah, it's a big-ass remote. It works well, though (I had one for my Home Theater PC).

Keyspan looks pretty good. I don't know if I'd seen that before or not.