Watch TV on your Laptop
September 21, 2008 at 04:10:57 PM, by Sourabh Kalantri
If you are somewhere lacking access to a television or potentially cable, “you may ask yourself-well...how did I get here?" (Sorry, I had to use a Talking Heads reference).
Overview
If you are somewhere lacking access to a television or potentially cable, “you may ask yourself-well...how did I get here?" (Sorry, I had to use a Talking Heads reference). Well, as long as you have an Internet connection, you too can rectify this dire situation and join the vast American populace in their love-hate relationship with the tube. With these sites you can watch your favorite episode of America Idol or perhaps if you’re a bit more incline towards the food-based reality television, you can check out who just got sliced from the competition with some Top Chef. Get those nimble fingers ready to do some major bookmaking for today is the day you learn some of the best sites and ways to view television on your computer.
1. Hulu
The end all and be all of free, ad-supported streaming video which includes TV shows and movies from NBC, FOX and a variety of others. The quality is a bit lower than actually watching it on television, but the simple to use interface and massive index of shows makes up for it. If you check out only one site on this list I highly recommend Hulu.
2. TIOTI
An aggregator that collects information about your favorite TV shows from every deep, dark crevice of the net. They also point you in the right direction towards downloads and streaming sources of those shows. They have a wide selection that runs the gamut from 24 to Weeds.
3. Joost
A great site that features over 20,000 shows, so there has to be something worth watching. Joost features quality video, an easy to use interface and as is quite fast to boot. Joost is P2P based and comes from the people who brought you Skype so you know it has to be pretty decent.
4. ABC
ABC has a good majority of their lineup available in full episodes and great quality on their site. If you’re a fan of Jack, Kate and John Locke then you will be in for quite a treat as you can relive all of your favorite LOST moments in streaming HD.
5. GreatStuffTV
A little known aggregator site that collects shows from around the web and even features multiple copies of a show with varying hosting sites, so as to ensure the best fit and quality for you. Most episodes usually show up a couple of hours after airing and as they have newer movies, I would suggest viewing at your own risk.
6. Tv-video.net
TV-Video is in essence just a giant link list, showing you the path to your favorite content around the web. The material runs the gamut, so there is something for everyone. However, Mac users beware the site doesn’t seems to be Safari so if there was ever a reason to upgrade to Firefox this would be it.
7. Freetube.110mb.com
Freetube is as simple to use as they come, its simply a list of content hosted elsewhere. The site is pretty sleek and very organized so to the individuals with OCD among us…have at it.
8. Blip.tv
The site is somewhat unique in that it features a variety of user created video, which are surprisingly good. The site has a simple and quick interface, which allows for more video watching and less mouse clicking.
9. DontwatchMe
An easy to use list of streaming and torrent based content right at your fingertips for your viewing pleasure. They have a vast list of content so even if you have a hankering for Real World 2, you can fulfill your RW craving.
10. ChooseAndWatch
A multimedia portal featuring hundreds of streaming online TV channels. It features a nicely organized list of current and older TV episodes. The only downside is that it opens in Windows Media Player, but the video quality more than makes up for it.
Hardware Options:
No doubt, there are a slew of hardware options made by various companies to allow TV viewing on your laptop. Some however, are better than others, whilst some should be ventured by only newer, more powerful laptops. For those Mac users out there in Internet land, here are some more hardware-based solutions.
The ATI TV Wonder™ HD 650 Combo USB TV tuner for Mac
The ATI TV Wonder connects to your laptop via the USB port and turns your Mac into the ultimate media center. You must have an analog TV cable connected to the Wonder unit which takes a bit out of the mystique of having TV on your laptop, but the ability to record, rewind and do everything else a DVR is well worth it.
Elgato EyeTV 250 Plus
EyeTV 250 Plus is a complete cable/analog video solution that includes a powerful video encoder for higher quality viewing, recording and even smaller video files. By attaching a cable cord to the EyeTV you get all the TV you can handle and you can even record your achievements on XBOX360 or PS3.
PC users of course I’m not leaving you out in the cold, here are some options for TV viewing on your laptop if it doesn't already come with a TV tuner built in…
Cinergy Hybrid T USB XS
TerraTec electronics offer up a simple solution for watching TV on your laptop in the Cinergy XS. The unit uses a cable connection or can be used with an attachable antenna to pull basic cable out of thin air and make it viewable on your computer. The unit allows you to record programs in MPEG2 and the small size of the unit makes it extremely portable.
Pinnacle Systems PCTV mini stick is about the size of a thumb drive and offers all the features of large Tivo box. The stick delivers dazzling quality in HDTV via the USB port. The Pinnacle unit no only lets you record, timeshift and all the standard functions of a DVR, but you can also edit your recordings using the Pinnacle software.
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Comments
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