[mythtv-users] Re: Hardware MPEG2 encdoder really worth it?

[matt]

Ok, I'm the other voice.
The one that says: MPEG2 BAD! MPEG4 GOOD!
I use nothing but the stuff I pulled out of my closit.
(AMD 1800+, everyone's fav. TV tuner)

    I use MGEP4 compession with all the imaging goodness turned on, so I 
gota ask, why use 4gig/hr when you can have 500meg/hr?  Sure HDD is 
cheap, but I can get 160gig for $116, and then have ~320hs of record 
time,  or I can have ~40hrs with MPEG2.  And YES I CAN use 320hrs of 
record time damit!  Cost asside, to me record time and quality are all 
that matter. 

    In realty, it is a matter of what works best for you.  I'm a tech 
junky, and the way I work  a POT (plain old Tuner (C)2003 Matt) works 
fine for me.  Now in your case, you may want the benifits an MPEG2 
hardware encoder give you, lower processor usage, lower heat, etc...
For me, since I am intigrating it all in one system, it just makes sence 
to use what I got, and throw in a big HDD.  I feel that in the future, 
more people will have to move over to MPEG4 compression, with the 
poliferation of HDTV.  Untill that day, in ~2009 (when we all upgrade) 
use what works best for you, and don't worry about the rest.  Besides, 
whats the worst that could happen, besides you computer bursting into 
flames, and it burnes down every house on you block.  No, wait, thats my 
computer.  Never Mind.
Matt