*NOT WORKING/DEAD* Viewsonic VB50HRTV Video Processor (TV Tuner/Media Box) - $57.99? *UPDATE*

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Dragnov

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2001
6,878
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******PLEASE DO NOT PM ME ASKING FOR COUPON CODES, I WILL NOT RESPOND*****

*UPDATE* Some Office Depot stores do have this in stock, but unfortunately it is for $129.99

I've been eyeing this guy for a while now, trying to find a good deal. Heres what I've come up with.
ViewSonic VB50HRTV Video Processor (TV Tuner/Media Box)

Office Depot - $112.99
This is according to the Office Depot website. However, it is a "special order"as well as "non-returnable".
Item # 649612
I'm going to find out if these are available at Office Depot B&M stores.
However, they are available at Best Buy and CompUSA B&M for sure.


Coupon - $20/$25
There are several Office Depot online coupons out there. However, for some reason they do not work... possibly because it is a special order/non returnable? I plan on calling Office Depot and finding out. However, Office Depot B&M stores are supposed to accept competitor coupons (Staples, Office Max). You can easily find a $20 or $25 off $100 coupon from those stores.

Rebate - $30 MIR from Viewsonic link
According to the Viewsonic, Office Depot does qualify for this rebate. link
I don't know if it's valid for online orders. I plan on calling Viewsonic to verify both.

So if everything works out right...

$112.99
- $20/$25 coupon
- $30 Viewsonic Rebate

Total = $57.99/$62.99 (depending on coupon)


I posted this as 2/6/03 at 10:15pm Western Time. Office Depot and Viewsonic are closed therefore I cannot verify anything till tomorrow morning. Lets try and get this one guys. :) If worst comes to worst, you can always get Best Buy or CompUSA (both valid for the rebate) to pricematch and then send in the rebate. Lose out on $20/$25 savings through coupon.
 
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KameLeon

Golden Member
Dec 5, 2000
1,788
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I might jump in on this deal, if we can find a working coupon.... I've been looking for a TV Tuner, and I've had my eyes on the Asus TV 880.. but for this price, I would go for this one..
 
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theshamu

Senior member
Dec 15, 2001
476
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Interesting. If OD dealwon't go through (if the coupon is not applicable), the best deal would be using BVG to a number of places selling this for around $90 something but buy it at one of the places eligible for rebate.

What puzzles me is the fact this thing is sold at Viewsonic's own online store for $99 and yet CompUSA asks for $129 and BestBuy wants $159 for it! :|
 
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DestruyaUR

Senior member
Jan 23, 2002
869
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The coupons WON'T go through no matter what one does. They're applicable only on in-stock OD-carried items, not special orders. Plus the rebate is restricted to Best Buy, Fry's, MicroCenter, Nexcom, Office Depot, and PC Richard & Son. The fact that OD is special ordering these means you won't get your rebate - I'd bet money on it. Viewsonic has probably requested information about all orders of this box and probably have rejection emails already checked through their legal depts. You'll also be getting these direct from Viewsonic most likely, so your invoices aren't going to be valid. Viewsonic has ALWAYS been restrictive in their rebates, and seem to like the dreaded New Rochelle, NY rebate redemption center more than any other company I deal with on a regular basis.

EDIT: Newegg believe it or not has it for 99.99 shipped free.

Looking at their products, the NextVision N6 looks like a nice piece of hardware. Hardware-based HDTV sampling vs. passive processing for an ATi Component Adapter. (Yes, I'm aware the sampling is done by the chip, but this SHOULD outperform it). Only downside is the 399.99 MSRP. OUCH!
 
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RadioactiveMagpies

Senior member
Jan 24, 2002
551
0
0
8.25% tax in my state of TX kills the deal for me with just the rebate.
cheapest so far is still amazon for $99.64 - 10 coupon = $89.64 shipped/no tax in most states

 
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JeffBot

Member
Feb 24, 2002
63
0
0
I have one of these for my monitor in my dorm room. It works quite nicely, and it was even able to descramble the university movie channel (free movies = good ...). The TV tuning is only decent (you just can't make a low-res tv signal look good on a high-res monitor), but it worked pretty well when I connected my xbox to it. It even has a decent set of picture adjustments for colors, etc. If you are in a position where you need to combine a monitor and tv, this is a great way to go at a great price!
 
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Xionide

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2002
8,679
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81
i dont see why people dont just get these instead of those overpriced 800 dollar 15 inch lcds at BB its just sad.
 
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kenkhanh

Member
Dec 22, 1999
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those of you who have these, how does the quality of the computers graphics look compare to straight connection to the monitor? my guess is there would be some degradation in quality when the signals had to be relayed thru the tuner.<FONT face=Verdana size=1><FONT face=Arial size=2>
may saidswhy don't they support 1280*1024 ?!
Click to expand...
does that mean the 1280x1024 computer resolution will be down scaled to 1024x768?</FONT></FONT>
 
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saber800

Senior member
Jul 31, 2002
425
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0
Have you guys looked at the refresh rate?? This thing is terrible!!

640x480 @ 60Hz
640x480 @ 75Hz
800x600 @ 60Hz
800x600 @ 75Hz
852x480 @ 60Hz
1024x768 @ 60Hz/75sHz

This tv tuner is going to hurt your eyes at 1024x768 with a refresh rate of 60Hz (looks like the max refresh according to the OD site).
 
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justint

Banned
Dec 6, 1999
1,429
0
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Originally posted by: saber800
Have you guys looked at the refresh rate?? This thing is terrible!!

640x480 @ 60Hz
640x480 @ 75Hz
800x600 @ 60Hz
800x600 @ 75Hz
852x480 @ 60Hz
1024x768 @ 60Hz/75sHz

This tv tuner is going to hurt your eyes at 1024x768 with a refresh rate of 60Hz (looks like the max refresh according to the OD site).
Click to expand...

All TV is at 60hz. It is not going to hurt your eyes.
 
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saber800

Senior member
Jul 31, 2002
425
0
0
Originally posted by: justint
Originally posted by: saber800
Have you guys looked at the refresh rate?? This thing is terrible!!

640x480 @ 60Hz
640x480 @ 75Hz
800x600 @ 60Hz
800x600 @ 75Hz
852x480 @ 60Hz
1024x768 @ 60Hz/75sHz

This tv tuner is going to hurt your eyes at 1024x768 with a refresh rate of 60Hz (looks like the max refresh according to the OD site).
Click to expand...

All TV is at 60hz. It is not going to hurt your eyes.
Click to expand...


I know that. But I was wondering since its output is going to a CRT (computer monitor), I thought it might flicker like when you set the refresh rate in windows to 60Hz.



 
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honestabe

Member
Jul 25, 2001
54
0
0
Viewsonic has newer tv tuners. The Nextvision N5 and the N6. N6 is hdtv quality. Cost more, but worth it.
 
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ktg

Senior member
May 2, 2000
544
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SO, the best we can do right now: buy with an AMEX BVG card from BestBuy (product link here) with free shipping for $159.99. then BVG PM to Pagecomputers (product link) for ~$93. Final cost = $63 plus taxes after $30 rebate.

It doesnt even have to be hooked up to a Computer in fact.
Click to expand...

Well, only if your monitor has built-in speakers. Otherwise you won't get any sound.
 
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JeffBot

Member
Feb 24, 2002
63
0
0
When you are using your monitor with your computer, the VB50HRTV just passes the signal from computer through without any changes. So you can still run higher resolutions on your monitor if you would like to. Some people say that this pass through degrades the signal, but I could hardly tell. The 1024*768 resolution is kind of dissapointing, but most of the competitors to this product only support 800*600 so that is some consolation. The $400 N6 sounds like it would work wonderfully, but with $400 you could just buy a nice tv instead - the VB50HRTV is a real bargain when it only costs $60. The only drawback is that the unit only supports stereo sound. It has one minijack output to go to your speakers, so it is kind of a waste if you have a 4.1 or 5.1 sound system for you computer. Still, it is great to have if you are in a situation where you have limited space (especially a college dorm room).
 
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Sirnice

Member
Feb 18, 2001
128
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0
I have this model and TV viewing is excellent. The picture is very smooth. You dont' have to worry about the refreshrates when watching tv on your monitor.
For under 60, it's a good deal. I paid $120 for it a year ago.

 
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TTM77

Golden Member
Dec 21, 2002
1,280
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0
I already have a TV tuner card. This seem pretty good but i am not sure how many A/V you can plug in. I want at least more then 1. If they have this option then I might jump in. I see some websight saling this for $100. All U have to do is look. But the MIR doesn't apply.
 
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Dragnov

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2001
6,878
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0
Okay all. Looks like you cant use the coupon as people have noted.

And yes, I already know you can find this for $99.99, at NewEgg and Viewsonic Online Store but that wouldn't be that much of a hot deal now.

Cheapest place w/o any rebates is at Amazon as someone has noted.

I'm checking if Gateway has the item in stock B&M and then 110% Best Buy PM w/ $30 MIR. Furthermore, their prefferred customer weekend is coming up in which they provide a 10% off coupon.

 
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Overzeetop

Member
Feb 23, 2001
88
0
0
Dammit! I just bought one of these in November to hook up to the 15" Dell FP I got with my 4550. The Dell has a crappy veritcal FOV, but the tuner does a pretty good job. I'm running the sound thorugh the main stereo. I think I dropped $90 on it. I'm unsure about the tru quality of the tuner, since my cable reception is a bit dodgy, and the DVD player is run through an inexpensive ($60) CATV modulator. I wouldn't expect the world from this, but if you're going to drop $100 or more for a redundant TV it's probably worth it.
 
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RU482

Lifer
Apr 9, 2000
12,689
3
81
I've got one of these..

Works GREAT at 1024 x 768 with my LCD

even better...I use it with my LCD and portable DVD player in the van on long trips...keeps the kids entertained for hours
 
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