I-O Data unveils internal / external Vista-approved TV tuners

In a bid to become one of the first in what's sure to be a mile-long list, I-O Data is launching two new TV tuners that tout Windows Vista compatibility. Making sure that both laptop and desktop owners alike are satisfied, the firm has released both a PCI flavor (GV-MC/RX3) and an external edition (GV-MC/TZ), but both units handle essentially the same capturing and channeling duties, save for the RX3's handy coaxial input, of course. Both units feature S-Video / composite inputs, 10-bit DACs, noise reduction capabilities, and the assurance of functioning perfectly in Microsoft's forthcoming operating system. Optionally, the couch-dwellers out there can spring for the IR remote kit (¥4,230; $36), which provides your standard volume, channel, and playback controls, as well as a few "Media Center-centric" buttons to keep your PVR on track. Both tuners / converters are slated to hit shelves in "late January" to coincide with that looming OS release date, and while the RX3 will run you ¥12,500 ($105), the TZ will demand ¥14,600 ($123).

[Via Impress]

[mark burban @ Dec 28th 2006 11:23AM]

hmmm, so does this mean that every existing TV tuner card will be INCOMPATIBLE with Vista?

[Ceralor @ Dec 28th 2006 11:47AM]

No idea. I've tried two different tuners and both work, but the software to change the country code on one of them isn't functioning properly, and I can't get audio-in working on the other just yet, but I think it's a config issue.

[kwolf @ Dec 28th 2006 12:41PM]

No. I have an ATI TV Wonder that works perfectly with Vista's Media Center. The ATI Remote Wonder Plus also works perfectly. I downloaded existing software right off of ATI's website. BTW, I'm running Vista Ultimate x64.

[John B @ Dec 28th 2006 1:02PM]

What about cablecard tuners!?????

[... @ Dec 28th 2006 12:36PM]

For $100 that card had better have some pretty good hardware compression... I will stick with my $20 SAA7130 based card, one more bit of resolution isn't worth 5x the price...

[William C Bonner @ Dec 28th 2006 12:55PM]

You don't mention what TV standards it supports. NTSC is useful for US Cable TV or US ANALOG TV, which is set to be turned off in two years. ATSC is the US Digital TV Standard for Over the Air TV that supports HDTV. QAM is what most cable companies use for HDTV, and DVB-T Is I think what most of Europe is using for HDTV.

Knowing where this device may be used is pretty important to the story.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Dec 28th 2006 1:46PM]

Where is the PCI-express version?