AverMedia AVerTV USB HD PVR Poised to Challenge Hauppauge

Getting HD signals from a cable / satellite set-top box to a PC isn't quite as easy and affordable as one thinks before Hauppauge HD PVR. So, the success of the said USB video box that can effortlessly convert 1080i content from a component cable into H.264 encoded files now invites competition. The AVerTV USB HD PVR is AVerMedia's answer to the Hauppauge, and both are pretty much the same thing on the technical side.

The AVerTV USB HD PVR has S-video, composite and one set of component video inputs, which is the closest you can get to HD quality with HDCP shielding HDMI video stream. The on-board H.264 encoder saves CPU processing time otherwise you would at least need a quad-core to transcode the HD stream in real-time. The AVerMedia also tries to differentiate itself from the pack with a HDMI output, which may prove to be useful in some scenarios. Just don't expect native Windows 7's Media Center support yet; that's why AVerTV USB HD PR includes a copy of Arcsoft TotalMedia Theatre with scheduling features. AVerMedia plans to ship its HD PVR in March for $199.99 to undercut the Hauppauge a bit.