TV or TV Tuner
We succumbed to the exercise generation and brought a reticulated excercycle the other day, way more comfortable compared to the upright veriosn I must say, will be interesting to see if we will actually use it more.
Anyway we decided that a Television in the vicinity of the exercycle will increase our usage in the evenings. The exercycle is in the same room as our PC, which has a 19 inch LCD monitor so logically I thought TV tuner card in the POC was the best option to go.
Price comparisons are favourable with a tuner card being in the $100-$200 range compared to a 20inch LCD TV in $750-$850 range, so one for the TV tuner card
But the TV is a pop into the shop and hang it on the wall option, versus the rip open the PC cover, insert card, install drivers, hope and pray option (buy a Mac I hear my Xero colleagues say), so one for the TV.
We currently have a Hard Disk recorder in the lounge (one of our most used toys) and love the on demand of pre-recordered programs, not to mention DVD movies. The TV tuner card can record to the PC Hard disk, the TV requires a seperate unit, one for the TV tuner card.
When we get to the usability arguement the TV wins hands down, push the remote and it goes. The PC will require eductation for the better half, mmmm. One for the TV.
So overall a decision between ease of use vs cost and functionality. The TV will win out, only because it will be less hassle that the PC. If it was just me using it the Tv tuner card would probably win.
Makes you think if somebody created a set-top style device for my PC they would solve both my problems and get my business.
