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Will Apple ever put HDTV tuner in iMac?

S

swingerofbirch

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Oct 24, 2003
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The Amalgamated States of Central North America
I don't know much about HDTV, so this question might be out there...but with a gorgeous display on the new iMacs, and front row built in..would it be difficult to include an HDTV tuner so that you could just plug your cable line into the back of the iMac?

I know that there are external solutions ( http://www.elgato.com )

but to be quite honest their website confuses me.
 
Apple has a different strategy regarding Mac/TV compatibility. It's called Apple TV.
 
I think something like that is probably still left to a third party. Not everybody needs or wants a tv tuner in their computer... and it would just add to the expense.

There's also the complication of different formats being used in various countries. Plus, Apple would probably rather have you pay for the tv shows through iTunes.

If you just want to pick up the over-the-air HDTV signals (ATSC if you're in the US), then the EyeTV Hybrid is very good. I have one, and since I live in a fairly large city, I can get a good signal and around 20 usable channels.

If you have cable, and you want to get tv from your cable box into your iMac - then I think it gets more complicated.

This page should help you choose which product would be right for you:
http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyetvmain2&countrytogo=36&signal=all
 
Never say never :p

But i do agree with what is being said in this post, the best option is elgato, there are other companies that do similar products but most recommend elgato.
From what i have read about the antenna it is a small antenna that just sits on your desk but people have had different experiences with the antenna saying it is quite weak. But you can simply just buy a better antenna at many shops and cost very little. Also the only way to get HD content through the device is via the antenna because it only has composite and s-video(or somin) links not a component or hdmi port.
I know the hybrid offers the least lag time which is why it is recommended for use with games consoles and it definately comes with the antenna, the other products i am sure about but elgato has a good, straight forward comparison chart on their website:
http://www.elgato.com/matrix/index.php
 
Dare to dream of the day..... 30" iMac with HD Tuner & Blu Ray drive... and maybe some other goodies?
 
swingerofbirch said:
I don't know much about HDTV, so this question might be out there...but with a gorgeous display on the new iMacs, and front row built in..would it be difficult to include an HDTV tuner so that you could just plug your cable line into the back of the iMac?

I know that there are external solutions ( http://www.elgato.com )

but to be quite honest their website confuses me.
Click to expand...

Never say never, but when the EyeTV Hybrid costs only $150 and is basically just a little bulge in the cable chain between the Mac and the antenna wall plug, is it really something anybody needs that desperately?

I have both an EyeTV 500 and a Hybrid, and one thing I've noticed is that the tuner itself runs HOT. The iMac (or Mac mini) would probably be either a lot bigger or a lot louder if you stuffed an HDTV tuner inside of it.
 
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