EggXpert

1) looking for an operating system:
-windows media player?
-Windows XP pro
- windows Vista Home Premium (this is what i am leaning towards) - am running vista on my gaming rig now and haven't had a issue with it yet.

 

2) what software - will i need to record

I would go Vista Home Premium or Windows 7 Home Premium (or whatever the equivalent will be called) as both come with Windows Media Center which you can use to record with.  I am running 7 on a test setup and have decided when it is released in October I will put it on my htpc.  I do run Snapsteams BeyondTV on my htpc now and will likely continue to do so, but so far Media Center in 7 seems pretty good as a "free" way to go on recording/playback.  In 7 it supports qam tuners and more and 2 tuners as limited in Vista or XP.

2nd sjr.

Vista Home Premium.

It is your OS and Software all in one. Media Center will take care of all your PVR duties.

 

 

IronMan77:

Media Center will take care of all your PVR duties.

 YES! Only if the tuner is compatible with Media Center. A lot of the tuners are, but some are not (like one of mine.... booh!)

What tuner do you have that is not compatible with Media Center?  I know with XP and Vista versions you were limited to 2 tuners and qam support was limited at best but both issues should be fixed in 7. 

products:

IronMan77:

Media Center will take care of all your PVR duties.

 YES! Only if the tuner is compatible with Media Center. A lot of the tuners are, but some are not (like one of mine.... booh!)

LMAO.

OK. That there is a fault of your tuner selection process not media center. I can't think of a single piece of PVR software with more tuner support than WMC. WMC support is the standard by which all tuners are judged (whether you end up using WMC or not). Better luck selecting next time. 

 

Oh sure, I didn't know better back in 2005-2006. :p There were far fewer tuners then and a more percentage of the tuners used to be not compatible WMC. I picked MyHD 130 or maybe 120 just because I saw it on a website to try out. I was just saying they should make sure whatever they buy is compatible with WMC if they want to use WMC because not all tuners are compatible. 

 Personally, I like WMC support, but... LOL!!! That sounds a bit dramatic to me. Is WMC support THAT important a factor in judging a tuner?  caz it could not pick up QAM until very recently, until the TV pack distribution began on OEM computers. And I got the capability for the first time with Windows 7 RC whereas other soft had QAM support way before, plus it still SUCKS at picking up QAM channels, doesn't allow Picture in Picture and can't record in mpg or ts for easy editting. I like WMC for being very reliable when it comes to scheduled recording though. 

I guess none of those WMC's weakensses bothers you if your source is ATSC and don't 'edit' recordings on a daily basis.

Thanks! Yeah I now have 5 tuners, and 4 out of the 5 are compatible with WMC. ; )

Running Windows 7 RC on my HTPC right now, loving it.   MC is very nice.    Before Win7, I been using SageTV under XP - also VERY good, I'd say even better than WMC - at least for everything TV.   I probably would use SageTV under Win7, but last time I tried, SageTV could not seem to talk to my Hauppage 2250 tuner card.    (Media Center had no issues)

Can't say anything about Vista.   I am skipping from XP straight to 7.

I'd use Windows 7.