Mac Mini HDMI PVR

Did you forget the first time you asked this question:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...036&highlight=

The Hauppauge device has been discussed for years, the EyeTV device is very new, late to the game as El Gato usually is, not sure a single user here has bought it yet. Both will work with your DirecTV box. No one here has ever posted about using the Gefen with a Mac.

I have neither of th devices. The Gefen HD PVR is just a PVR that does not need a computer. It can be good if you are try to record from a computer's HDMI or other device that has HDMI output. It has its own hard drive and ability to copy from the hard drive to the SD card. The RS-232 is a way to control the unit from a computer.

The reviews at newegg.com for the Hauppauge HD PVR saids it is OK if you do mind getting around some issues. One is heat and other is the bling factor. My problem will be is the S-Video is in the front. This is OK for some people but for me it is not OK. At this time my cable box only outputs to S-Video. It will look weird. Sure it has digital audio in and out. Though it does have a component out to monitor what is being recorded, but the reviews say that the quality of the box is not good.

The Elgato EyeTV HD might be better. It does not have a way to monitor what is being recorded and it does not have digital audio. From what I have been reading, Elgato seems to make good software since their software is popular for the use in a PVR setup. I prefer to use it before I give my stamp of approval. I do not have a Mac to do the test right now and probably not this year. There multiple reviews for the device. You check the reviews at Amazon for starters.

I am planning to get a Mac Mini because Apple revise it to include nVidia graphics and other components. If I had to choose between the Haupauge HD PVR or Elgato EyeTV HD, I would pick Elgato EyeTV HD because it does not clash with the design of the Mac mini and other components. It looks like the Elgato EyeTV HD gets its power from USB, so I will be a little worry how much power the USB ports on the Mac mini can handle after plugging in a keyboard and mouse. USB from motherboards is not always up to spec. Some are under spec and others are on spec. Few are over spec. I am not sure with Apple's Mac mini, if the USB is rated to be over spec or at a normal spec. I suggest a USB powered hub to use with this device.

I have the Hauppauge! HD PVR and an EyeTV 500, which isn't exactly what you're looking for, EyeTV 3.4, of course, and also the HD PVR Capture software so I'm familiar with many of the components you're looking at.

If I were buying today, I'd get the EyeTV HD box because it's more than $100 less than what I paid for the Hauppauge!, the EyeTV software upgrade and the HD PVR Capture capture software. I mostly use the EyeTV software because it's simpler and faster than using the other software for my needs, but even without it, the EyeTV hardware plus software is substantially less expensive and likely to be better supported.

The Hauppauge! is basically a Windows product that Elgato supports in software as does the HD PVR Capture software. If you ever wanted to use it with a Windows box, then that's definitely the way to go, but that's not an interest that I have.

Dennis