Definition: Given an Amazon customer review, write a title for the review. The preferred titles are under fifteen words.
Input: As long as you know exactly what you are getting with the Hauppauge HD PVR, you won't be disappointed with the performance of this little black box.  It is designed for PC Windows users only, although Mac owners can use it with some add-ons.<br /><br />First, you'll need to understand and accept what this PVR does not do:  without any memory or hard drive inside, it does not store video itself, making the PVR label somewhat misleading, and it does not burn video to DVD.  To use it, you must hook it up to a PC or Mac (more on the Mac later) for both recording and playback.  And it relies entirely on software running on your computer to record, edit, program, and burn Blu-ray format DVDs.  The box itself has no controls other than a power button.  It has component, composite, and S-video connections (no HDMI) for video, and optical and stereo audio inputs.<br /><br />So what does it do?  It takes the HD signals streaming into it and compresses them in a format that preserves the HD quality in a savable AVCHD file; you can record/save manually or on a schedule.  These signals can come from a set top box, camcorder or other video source that can connect with the above inputs. The included ArcSoft Media software for Windows allows you to record on either the computer hard drive or an external one.  Once the files are saved, you may use your computer's DVD-R drive to burn a Blu-Ray-compatible DVD or HD-DVD, edit, play back on your computer or television, convert to iPod-, Xbox-, or PS3-friendly format (MOV, MP4, M2TS, or WMV), or share playback within the same wireless network.  The included IR blaster can change the channels on your set top box to the one you've programmed to record.  Note: the blaster works with the included software and therefore only on Windows.<br /><br />Chances are, you're going to have to do some thinking before you decide how to set up the PVR.  The conversion box is 7.5\\" w by 6.5\\" d by 2/5 \\" h, so it doesn't take up much space itself.  However, you will need a computer next to the HD source.  For those who don't have their computer in the same room as the set top box, this may mean buying a computer specifically for video, and naturally, that increases the price of the set-up.  However, if you don't plan on recording every day, you can hook up/unhook a laptop very easily - just pull out the USB cable and your connection, if any, to the television.  Hauppauge includes the basic component cables (HD source to PVR) and USB cable (PVR to your computer), but, if you want to play the video back on your TV, you will need to buy the necessary cables/connections for that.  As of June 2009, the bundled PC software includes a program that allows your PC DVD drive to play the PVR Blu-Ray-format recordings.  Depending on your set-up, you may want to add a USB hub, an external hard drive, and/or Apple TV.<br /><br />Unfortunately for Mac users, Hauppauge does not support OS X, which means you'll have an additional software expense.  Two software packages currently work with the Mac and the Hauppauge. The cheaper and less elegant solution is a program called HDPVR Capture, developed and sold privately by a Hauppauge engineer.  The fuller featured, more versatile option is Elgato's EyeTV , but unfortunately, you can't use several of the features because it doesn't communicate with the IR Blaster to change channels.  Both programs are available only online, although EyeTV 3 comes bundled with Elgato hardware products.  If you can find a workaround for the blaster issue, the EyeTV 3 will be nothing short of awesome.  It converts the PVR files to a wide variety of formats used by iLife programs.  Hauppauge really needs to work more closely with Elgato to satisfy the rapidly growing Mac population.  If you are a serious videophile and Mac user, you'll probably also want a product like [[ASIN:B001OLZOW8 Roxio Toast 10 Titanium Pro]].<br /><br />The minimum systems requirements for the PVR are: Intel Core Duo processor, 512 MBRAM (1 GB recommended), graphics card with at least 256 MB memory, and a sound card.  Windows users need either the XP Service Pack or Vista 32.  I'm using a three year old Intel Core Duo MacBook without any difficulty.  I bypass the MacBook's hard drive to save all my recordings on a portable external hard drive, the [[ASIN:B001C5AJLM Iomega eGo 320 GB USB 2.0/FireWire 400 Portable External Hard Drive 34403 (Ruby Red)]].<br /><br />Consumers expecting a DVR with onboard memory and playback may be frustrated with the Hauppauge since it requires a computer, but for those who want to capture HD content and do something with it, you've found your equipment.<br /><br />With special thanks to fellow reviewer Frank Miller.<br /><br />-- Debbie Lee Wesselmannd with at least 256 MB memory, and a sound card.  Windows users need either the XP Service Pack or Vista 32.  I'm using a three year old Intel Core Duo MacBook without any difficulty.  I bypass the MacBook's hard drive to save all my recordings on a portable external hard drive, the [[ASIN:B001C5AJLM Iomega eGo 320 GB USB 2.0/FireWire 400 Portable External Hard Drive 34403 (Ruby Red)]].      Consumers expecting a DVR with onboard memory and playback may be frustrated with the Hauppauge since it requires a computer, but for those who want to capture HD content and do something with it, you've found your equipment.     With special thanks to fellow reviewer Frank Miller.    -- Debbie Lee Wesselmann

A Powerful Device for PCs and, with add-ons, for Macs