Product Description

EyeTV 250 Plus is a TV tuner and a powerful video converter in one device. Watch and pause live TV on your Mac. Record, subscribe to TV series, and create Smart Playlists. Edit out unwanted content and send your favorites to iTunes to sync automatically. Enjoy sharing EyeTV recordings over a local network with other Macs and accessing them on an iPod or iPhone via Wi-Fi. Store your collection on your Mac or external disc, or burn to DVD-Video using Roxio Toast Basic (included). EyeTV 250 Plus receives free over-the-air (OTA) HDTV, Clear QAM, and traditional analog TV, and comes with a composite video and S-Video break-out cable to connect a set-top box. EyeTV 250 Plus captures high quality video from analog sources such as a VCR or camcorder, comes with a VHS Assistant and iPod Assistant to guide you through the setup. EyeTV 250 Plus' built-in hardware encoder rapidly converts analog video to high quality digital video without using your Mac's processor.

Product Details

• Brand: Elgato
• Model: 10020630
• Dimensions: 7.75" h x 2.50" w x 5.30" l, 1.00 pounds

Features

• Watch, pause, and rewind free over-the-air HDTV, Clear QAM or analog television on your Mac.
• Record TV shows, edit out unwanted content, then export videos in one easy step and synch automatically to your iPod, Apple TV, or iPhone.
• iPod Assistant to convert analog video to iPod/iPhone/Apple TV formats
• EyeTV’s integrated Program Guide harvests the TV listing data contained in over-the-air digital broadcasts as well as online sources such as TitanTV in the USA.
• Record hours of television on your Mac, create subscriptions to TV series and topics of your choice, manage saved episodes, and organize them in Smart Playlists.

Customer Reviews

A rather clunky USB stick that delivers fantastic HDTV and DVR functions to your Intel-based Mac
My MacBook Pro, combined with the EyeTV Hybrid and an over-the-air HDTV antenna, has been my first introduction into the beautiful quality of broadcast HDTV. While the USB stick is a little big and clunky looking hanging off the side of the laptop, the picture and DVR functionality it delivers has been top-notch! I'm certainly buying another one for the new desktop Mac I'm picking up.

I've had this product since version 2 of the software, and El Gato has been great about issuing software updates, bug fixes and interface improvements in the 6+ months I've owned it. Version 3 of the software is very polished and functioning well. Upgrades for software have so far been free and delivered in just a minute or two over my broadband Internet connection. The EyeTV software always checks for any new versions that might be out and notifies you on-screen that a new version is available.

The only thing I don't enjoy about the product is the remote control. It's a bit cheap looking and has some bad ergonomics in regards to controlling the software. Plus it does not take advantage of the Mac's own built-in infra-red remote receiver, but instead uses one on the USB stick. That can make for some awkward aiming to get the stick to see the remote's commands.

Other than that, I'd recommend this product to any Mac user wanting an HDTV connection. I'd imagine this would be a great space-saving device for kids in dorms too! Eliminate space taken by a TV. Your Mac will make an excellent HDTV and DVR with this inexpensive device!

Love it - The quality is AWESOME works with Windows 7 TOO!
I got this to use in my office in New York City. The office building is surrounded by other buildings, which to me means that a signal for HDTV should be impossible. I connected this to my MAC, installed the included software, plugged in a TERK indoor HD antenna, and I was up and running in less then 10 minutes with the NY local networks in HD.

I WAS SHOCKED.

I had perfect signal strength and now a DVR on my mac. I was watching HD TV and able to pause, rewind, record, schedule, etc....

Pros:
MAC compatible.
USB - which makes it portable between home and the office.
Software is top notch.
It works out of the box...no setup issues.

NO CONS I can think of.

I love the software interface and the picture quality.

Enjoy!

UPDATE 01/21/2009
I am a cross platform user, primarily because of job function. I have my MAC setup with boot camp to run Vista, Windows 2008 Server, and now Windows 7 BETA. While I was sitting here one day someone walked in and said there is a plane down in the Hudson River (I am in NYC)...put the TV on your mac. I said I cant...I am in Windows 7 and working....it will take me a few moments. But....I was anxious and thus I noticed that Windows 7 had picked up the Elgato and installed the drivers...WOW!. How to make it work??? Simple...I launched Media Center (I have Windows 7 Beta Ultimate) and started the setup process...took 2-3 minutes. Once completed Windows Media Center allowed me to use the Eye TV Hybrid to get my local networks in NYC and view them in HD in Windows 7. DVR, Guides, and just about all working in Windows Media center without the need to find drivers and or 3rd party software.

Another POINT for this device....

01/30/09
I also tested this device to take Composite inputs from a satellite box at home so that I could use the mac to record shows, etc and move them to a iPhone/Appletv etc... AGAIN flawless. It is easy and setup is as simple as can be.....It comes with a cable that accepts analog video, svhs video, and sound via rca jacks. All connects to the units mini-usb port so you can watch without a coaxial (cable) connection.

As a side note...remember, no tv tuner can descramble satellite or scrambled cable channels. You must use a cable box to record those types of channels...for example HBO, Pay Per View, etc....

Great Product, until it quits working
I've had the EyeTV Hybrid now for about 18 months. It was really great to be able to record TV shows right onto your computer. Recently, I started getting error messages and contacted Elgato about the problem. They told me that in "rare cases" the Hybrid unit fails. If its so rare then why is it the number 6 selection on their support site when you have problems with your unit. I think this problem isn't so rare. Be careful of this product.