usb adapters

I've been looking for a way to watch TV on my laptop for years now. It's admitedly difficult to navigate the murky depths of no-name USB TV tuners out there. As a provider of professional computer services to many clients over the last ten years, let me give you my word that this is an amazing product. Installation is a breeze (I'm on Win2000, but noticed there are drivers for XP), without that usual hassle of "be sure to install the drivers first!" -- the installation says to plug it in, wait for Windows to detect it, then let it search the CD, and you're there! Well, one caveat, you do need to manually fire the software setup, but that goes easily. The software is not only very easy to use, but it's just simply very nicely done. The buttons make sense, and it's frankly easier to operate than the PowerDVD software bundled with most DVD-equipped machines. The remote control is *super*, even has a mute button, and it's so easy and fun to take snapshots of what you're watching. Remote also has a power button which will start up the application, as well as volume and all buttons you might need. Though it's easy to name the channels, unfortunately the name doesn't show up onscreen when you're flipping channels. It also comes with Ulead's VideoStudio, so with S-video input you can also use this thing to archive your videos onto CD/DVD! Before I purchased this, I went to several manufacturer's web sites, assuming I'd be needing to download additional drivers and software -- luckily I didn't, but I was very pleased to find startech's web site easy to navigate, drivers readily downloadable, and a decent support section. But you don't need to be as wary as me, just go ahead and buy this, and soon you'll be taking snapshots of The Simpsons and watching your VHS porn on you laptop just like me!

I bought this unit because I like to have financial news stations running in the corner of one of my screens. I do run more than one screen, so I do not know if that has a negative effect on operation. Installation took a few times, picture is fair to poor at best. The program is slow and unstable. The program runs ok on my desktop running XP professional, but won't run at all on my laptop running XP home. Its fine for what I'm using it for, but if I really wanted it to watch tv as a goal, I would have ended up returning this item. The USB feature is just too convenient.

The product I received was called a "Cute TV USB" so at first I thought I received the wrong item, then I saw the Startech decal on the device (other resellers do use the Cute TV name). The manual was in broken English, and a little hard to understand. The instructions weren't correct and I had problems with files it couldn't find. I got past that, got it installed, and got an error when I tried to use the app "Init H/W failed". Support is non-existent at either Startech, other resellers, or the Taiwan firm that actually makes the product, so I returned it.