Laptop PVR questions

[coaxial]

Hi guys,

As you can see I'm new here but I have searched the forums and read documentation. I'm looking to turn a laptop into a PVR and have a couple questions. I'll be using gbpvr for basic cable TV, dvds, and media files from the laptop to a projector (100" screen).

-Recommended decently priced PCMCIA or USB tuner that will work with GB-PVR ? Preferably something I can easily pick up on EBay

-If you are using gbpvr and a keyboard and mouse, what would the remove that comes with the tuner be used for ?

-Should I take XP pro off the laptop and install MCE ? is there any benefit ?

I greatly appreciate the help, thanks!

[Torque]

No benefit installing MCE if you're gonna use GBPVR... actually it'll make things more difficult.

I hear people have good luck with the Hauppauge PVR USB tuner, like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6815116624

Remote makes navigating GBPVR from your couch very easy.

[coaxial]

No benefit installing MCE if you're gonna use GBPVR... actually it'll make things more difficult.

I hear people have good luck with the Hauppauge PVR USB tuner, like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6815116624

Remote makes navigating GBPVR from your couch very easy.

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll use the gyro mouse and/or the remote for navigating gbpvr.

I'll likely pick up a hauppauge PVR USB2 from EBay, there are some cheap ones. I'll just be sure to get the non-MCE version.

THanks!

[coaxial]

Hmm.. any recommendations that are more affordable than the auppauge PVR USB2 ?

[Torque]

I have read a ton of people using the Haup USB and it seems like the best external solution.
So I really haven't paid any attention to others, sorry. You might check in the Home Theater PC section on avsforums.com or in the forums at htpcnews.com

[nitrogen_widget]

I don't think it's been touched on here, but what type of laptop horsepower would you need to use it with gbpvr?

Yes a 1 ghz cpu or faster & probably nothing less than 1 GB.

Do you need to upgrade the HD to a 7200 model? Can you use the archive plug-in to go to an external HD. Can a laptops USB port handle that many connections even with a powered hub?

External drive
external tuner
usb controller.

What kind on integrated graphics would be required to run GBPR smoothly?
If a projector is being used tv-out isn't an issue.
But from what i've read TV out isn't the best on a laptop.