Beyond TV 3.5 vs SageTV 2.2 - which is better, to replace Windows Media Center Edition 2005?

[newbee]

I'm using a new Dell WinXP Media Center 2005, 3.4 GHz, 2 GB RAM
system, with Windows Movie Maker Version 2.1.4026.0, an NVIDIA GeForce
6800 video card, an Angel TV tuner card (has two tuners), and an SB
Audigy 2ZS Audio (D8CO) sound card.

I'd like to record old VCR tapes as well as current TV shows into my
computer, manipulate them using Movie Maker 2.1 and/or Ulead DVD Movie
Factory 4 Disc Creator Edition, and then burn them to DVD's.

However, Windows Media Center Edition 2005 only writes in its own
proprietary dvr-ms file format, plus it flags some programs as not
being allowed to be copied. So I need a software program that will do
everything MCE2005 will do, plus write files using more
commonly-shared file formats, readable by Movie Maker and Movie
Factory.

Beyond TV 3.5.3 (http://snipurl.com/f4n1) and SageTV Version 2.2
(http://snipurl.com/f4n3) seem to be the best contenders. What are the
strengths/weaknesses of each? Before purchasing either I'd greatly
appreciate all suggestions.

Thanks.

 

[KDE]

I have no insight on SageTV, but I use Beyond TV and love it. It gives you
total control of every aspect of recording, quality, format, etc... It is
very easy to use, and set up recordings. It has a great web interface that
can be accessed remotely, so you can start, stop or schedule recordings away
from home. you can watch recorded shows or live tv remotely also via the
web interface, so I can stream live tv to my PocketPC or my laptop and watch
TV anywhere I go in the house or yard. I can even stream the shows from my
work, so I have CableTV on my computer at work. it will allow you to keep
recorded programs indefinitely, or it will sump them after a set period of
time. all in all, a really fun program.


| I'm using a new Dell WinXP Media Center 2005, 3.4 GHz, 2 GB RAM
| system, with Windows Movie Maker Version 2.1.4026.0, an NVIDIA GeForce
| 6800 video card, an Angel TV tuner card (has two tuners), and an SB
| Audigy 2ZS Audio (D8CO) sound card.
|
| I'd like to record old VCR tapes as well as current TV shows into my
| computer, manipulate them using Movie Maker 2.1 and/or Ulead DVD Movie
| Factory 4 Disc Creator Edition, and then burn them to DVD's.
|
| However, Windows Media Center Edition 2005 only writes in its own
| proprietary dvr-ms file format, plus it flags some programs as not
| being allowed to be copied. So I need a software program that will do
| everything MCE2005 will do, plus write files using more
| commonly-shared file formats, readable by Movie Maker and Movie
| Factory.
|
| Beyond TV 3.5.3 (http://snipurl.com/f4n1) and SageTV Version 2.2
| (http://snipurl.com/f4n3) seem to be the best contenders. What are the
| strengths/weaknesses of each? Before purchasing either I'd greatly
| appreciate all suggestions.
|
| Thanks.