HOT: IO magic TV tuner + PVR $19.99 after MIR @ Compusa

[FredFlinstone]

<< question simply refuses to give you what they promised, aside from a lawsuit you can call the BBB, that's about it as far as I can see. >>



Might also try complaining to FTC as long as you have kept copies and can document everything. It is either FTC.ORG or FTC.GOV. I dont know what they can do, but if you search their site for REBATE, there is an online form to use.

Personally, I've had mixed results. Of all the rebates i've done, I only had 2 problems and both were from CU$A. The first one was a software OCR packange and was resolved by a letter to the MGR; she offered me a GC to compensate me.

The other problem was a CDRW bought from the other CU$A in town, since the one I previously delt with was OOS. Went there in person and refused to have them brush me off. They finally called the fulfilment house and vendor. The vendor promised me a check and while I am waiting, I am still hopeful.

I will go the FTC route soon if the check does not arrive soon and will also make a point of frequently posing that
CENDYNE SHOULD BE AVOIDED IF THERE ARE REBATES INVOLVED.

There, I feel better NOW !!!
FReddie

 

[may]

it is available online now.

 

[Loricariidae]

<< *snip*(it's a Cyberlink product and I think their interface department is run by poorly trained fish)*snip* >>



What have you got against fish?

 

[necromancyr]

As a side note, there was a thread about the Pinnacle card (I grabbed one for 20$ after a 20$ rebate). IF you are willing to work with it, this card gives a pretty good picture (especially with DScaler). Definitely grab that program to watch TV. As far as for PVR's go - I would get a TiVO. The computer solutions are FAR from being 100% implemented - and this cards craptastic WDM drivers make the matters that much worse.

So, in short...good TV card, good VfW capture card (with VirtualDub,etc), horrendous - as of right now - PVR option. Also, the Pinnacle came with a great remote for the 20$...so, if there is no remote this is an even worse deal.

There ARE suppose to be WDM drivers coming out for the card in the near future (then again, pinnacle could be FOS) which would make it a great for PVR use...but until then its def. not the perfect PVR solution (if any exist based on TV cards for PCs).

 

[Pothead]

Whats with Cendyne? I've gotten thier rebates fine.

 

[Om]

Nope, I/O Magic actually sent me two 'web certificates' good for $10.00 off their website instead of the cash, showing that they did indeed receive the rebates from me, so nothing was lost.

"Keep a copy of the advertisement. If the rebate does not come through, then they are liable"
I will try this tomorrow with CompUSA and let you know, I actually ketp the advertisement from them as well, but I find it highly unlikely that I will see dollar one from them for another companies screw up. But I am willing to try it, let you know what Corp says since I already have a contact there from the last round of calls.

 

[manly]

necromancyr,

So the Pinnacle TV card deal of two weeks ago at CompUSA is a clearly better value?

 

[MrElectric]

I think the IO Magic card can capture full screen video (720x480). Can it?

I believe the other only captures half screen video.

However since they don't like to publish hard specs on their cards I'm not really sure. Does anyone know?

 

[necromancyr]

As far as I see it, the Pinnacle card was a better value given the I/O Magic has no remote. And this card will capture (given that it IS in fact a pinnacle card) at higher resolution (you just cant use overlay mode for doing it - and you need to use another capture program, such as Vdub to do this type of capture).

 

[czyz]

The pinnacle software may have a better interface than the Cyberlink PowerVCR II software bundled with this card, but the PowerVCR software has many more features and is more customizable. I purchased this same IOMagic bundle a while back, and have tried it with the latest Pinnacle software as well as the bundled PowerVCR II, and have decided to stick with PowerVCR II. The biggest reason for me is that the Pinnacle software does not allow the user to set the video compression format or configure the quality in any understandable manner -- the details are hidden from the user. It is also important to note that the bundled PowerVCR software, contrary to what's been posted here, does allow recording from the RCA and S-Video inputs as well as the tuner. I'm capturing S-Video right now.

With PowerVCR II I can record directly to Mpeg2 format with good results, and then later transcode the resulting files to DiVX; formatted .avi files using FlaskMPEG to compress the video and split the audio out into a standalone mpeg2 audio file. Getting the audio synced back up to the video was a trick -- FlaskMPEG can do this automatically, but it left audio dropouts all over the place. I tried converting the mp2 audio file to .wav using Graphedit but it had the same issue. But Winamp was able to write the mp2 audio file into a perfect .wav file that synced just fine in Virtualdub with the .avi video.

With the Pinnacle drivers I was able to run VirtualDub in capture mode, but at 640x480 I was unable to get it to capture without dropped frames on my Athlon 1.4Ghz based machine, and the frames that it did capture had terrible stairstepping edges that the PowerVCR captures didn't have. I'd thought maybe I'd keep the Pinnacle drivers installed just for use capturing with VirtualDub (the cyberlink drivers don't work with VirtualDub for 640x480 capture).

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

<< + the card suc^s

IO junko.. sorry to crap here. I just like to warn people >>



This card is great for the price! I paid $30 for it about 3 months ago, and it's been a really good TV and capture card. I've been capturing eps of Angel and Smallville with it to burn to VCD, and I have no complaints at all. Dunno about the time shifting and all that, but for straight dumping off of DirectTV, you can't beat the price/performance here.

 

[GooberedUp]

<< The pinnacle software may have a better interface than the Cyberlink PowerVCR II software bundled with this card, but the PowerVCR software has many more features and is more customizable. I purchased this same IOMagic bundle a while back, and have tried it with the latest Pinnacle software as well as the bundled PowerVCR II, and have decided to stick with PowerVCR II. The biggest reason for me is that the Pinnacle software does not allow the user to set the video compression format or configure the quality in any understandable manner -- the details are hidden from the user. It is also important to note that the bundled PowerVCR software, contrary to what's been posted here, does allow recording from the RCA and S-Video inputs as well as the tuner. I'm capturing S-Video right now.

With PowerVCR II I can record directly to Mpeg2 format with good results, and then later transcode the resulting files to DiVX; formatted .avi files using FlaskMPEG to compress the video and split the audio out into a standalone mpeg2 audio file. Getting the audio synced back up to the video was a trick -- FlaskMPEG can do this automatically, but it left audio dropouts all over the place. I tried converting the mp2 audio file to .wav using Graphedit but it had the same issue. But Winamp was able to write the mp2 audio file into a perfect .wav file that synced just fine in Virtualdub with the .avi video.

With the Pinnacle drivers I was able to run VirtualDub in capture mode, but at 640x480 I was unable to get it to capture without dropped frames on my Athlon 1.4Ghz based machine, and the frames that it did capture had terrible stairstepping edges that the PowerVCR captures didn't have. I'd thought maybe I'd keep the Pinnacle drivers installed just for use capturing with VirtualDub (the cyberlink drivers don't work with VirtualDub for 640x480 capture). >>



I agree that powerVCR II is a little better than the Pinnacle drivers (plus it's WDM). But, with the Pinnacles you got the pre-WDM drivers so that you could use it wih some of the non-WDM (can't remember the exact name) based software. I didn't have a problem with dropped frames on my 1.4 Athlon using VDub . . . strange. But, I am running a RAID setup with ATA100, 7200 RPM drives.

 

[rutchtkim]

Stopped by this morning but none in stock. The retail manager said they are going to recieve a fresh shipment soon. This is in both CompUSA's in Paramus, NJ.

 

[sonikguy]

uhm. i grabbed one today. i've seen this in the store before. and there were 2 left. in philly, but i dont think people here were all over it. its just prob how much they have in stock.

OT, but anyways. im having trouble with my software, the power vcr. whenever i run it i get something like c++ runtime library error. and it closes the program. i really want to get a tv tuner card for my pc cuz i want to use it at school. i have radeon vivo, but i want it to change channels. i get the same error on both my computers. i dont know whats up. i deleted and uninstalled c++ and the whole visual studio on them, but it still doesnt work. any one help me?

i also saw the ati tv wonder ve i think at best buy for $49.99 with 10MIR i think. would that be a better deal, since its a vid card too? or does this have better capture?

 

[dealsearcher]

I got this card, I must say, I'm very impressed. The quality is great.. capture is lot better than I expected as well... and the best thing.. it works under winxp, perfectly! (I'm running it with deluxe version of PowerVCR, btw)

 

[Aquarius]

Man if this card is good I really wanna get it to cap Dragonball Z episodes.... Are all of these IOMagics really Pinnacles in disguise or just certain ones?

 

[no0b]

i placed my order on monday and i hope it comes before friday
thank you jimmyhaha ive been looking for a cheap tv tuner card.

 

[Joony]

i don't think these are stereo TV cards.

 

[ThinkswithFist]

I also had a problem with IO Magic Rebates for some stuff I bought early in 2001.
(total of $60 on two rebates).

I called them in October to say that I never received the rebates. They said "sorry, but the computers crashed in May and they lost records of the rebates - send in the documentation again."
When I explained that I didn not have the documentation any longer, they said sorry. I said can I talk to a manager. The manager's name was Judy Hoffmiller (she said she was new).
Judy offered a gift certificate on an order through their website. I said that was not satisfactory. She said that okay, If I could send in proof that I bougth the items and that I still had them (box tops), she would take care of the rebates. I went through my drawers (shelves) and found the receipts and cut out the box tops and sent them in to the special address she gave. Within about six weeks I received the two $30 rebate checks.

Point of my story is BEWARE - be sure to document your rebate and make copies of EVERYTHING in case you have a problem. Be especially sure to follow up with I/O Magic, and ask for a manager, if necessary.

Btw - the better business bureau does have a listing for I/O Magic - the entry says that many customers have complained about unfilled rebates.

Hope this helps someone! Regards, TwF

 

[Aquarius]

joony where'd you hear that?

 

[dealsearcher]

Aquarius: these IOMagics are really Pinnacles in disguise.. I think all of them are.

 

[Aquarius]

whoa, I'm a senior member now...sweet! In any event, I am still stuck on whether I should get this card or not. I am hearing good and bad (as with any case), but I guess I'll wait for more posts and opinions....

 

[Rab]

<< joony where'd you hear that? >>



Probably AVSForums.



<< Something else I have noticed. This card is not the PRO version of the Pinnacle PCTV. Althought the board is printed with (pro) it is lacking the chips that the pro includes. So, this board appears NOT to support stereo. Bummer. >>





<< The iomagic card's tuner works, however, as noted above, to my ear it sounded like a mono signal that had been duplicated to come out of both the left and right speakers. >>



So the retail Pinnacle card (Not rebadged I/O Magic) ought to be the better of the two.

 

[zippin44]

This a good card, and everything you could possibly want to know about it has been absolutely beaten to death at www.dbsforums.com in the PVR forum. I don't remember the name of the thread there, but it's been going on since this past summer. If you know how to search you'll find it.

 

[Jened]

I ordered this product online but cannot get the .pdf rebate form to download. The web browser just hangs trying to display it, and finally times out. If anyone who has been able to download the form would be so kind to PM me with offers to email me the rebate form, I would be grateful.