Currently, a hot topic in computer entertainment is the personal video recorder (PVR). As with many technologies (e.g. electric cars, Linux for desktop computers, and useable real-time MS Windows version), this one has been just around the corner for many years.

The Leadtek WinFast TV2000 XP Deluxe is a great TV-tuner card because it is inexpensive ($85CND; $62USD) and it works well. The package includes the following: IR remote control (batteries included), stereo FM receiver with external antenna, Leadtek WinFastPVR (PVR software), Ulead VideoStudio 6 SE DVD (video-editing and authoring software), Ulead COOL 3D 3.0 (create high-impact 3D images), a TV-tuner (181 channels, stereo audio), and several input methods (S-video, composite, and phone jack for audio-in). This is much better than MSI's @nywhere TV-tuner card that costs 33% more but does not include video editing software, a stereo FM-receiver, nor stereo audio capabilities.

WinFastPVR is a good piece of software that is at the heart of the card. With this, one may sample a source (TV, video-in, FM, or audio-in) in four different manners. However, sampling video and audio requires using different parts of the software that may not be used in unison.

Secondly, one may record and experience it at the same time. One's system might experience too much load and not be able to handle this. This is partially based on your system's hardware; it is recommended that one close inefficient programs (e.g.: Kazaa). There are many default quality levels one may choose, over a dozen (uncompressed AVI, WMA, MP3, MPEG2, MPEG1, and PCM with different quality levels for each codec), in fact. One may also tweak the defaults to have a custom quality level. Lastly, one can install one's own codec as long as your system is fast enough to handle it (real-time divx compression? awesome!). Though one should note that the editing software only edits a very limited number of file formats.

Fourthly, one may schedule a recording session to experience it later. This was actually quite easy to do with some options not seen in other manufacturers' programs. For example, one may vary the recording quality from schedule to schedule. One may have irregular repeated schedules (e.g.: Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays). And one may have schedules that overlap midnight, an actual problem with other PVR software. So scheduling works and well.

Firstly, this is a Leadtek product. Leadtek (in my area at least) has a weak distribution network. This means that it can be difficult ordering this product let alone testing it out at a store.

Lastly, the remote control cannot do some fundamental things. Changing the video settings (brightness, contrast, hue or saturation) is not possible. Programming a recording schedule is not possible.