In an attempt to answer some questions that may come up...
PCI vs PCI-e?
PCI-e is the faster, "better" bus to use, but it's a newer specification and not all computers will support it. Also note that there ARE differences between the PCI and PCI-e cards listed here. And no, PCI and PCI-e cards cannot be used in each other's slots. PCI goes in PCI, PCI-e goes in PCI-e.
Differences?
The PCI card has an FM tuner for radio reception, and also has hardware MPEG-2 encoding. These are excellent features, especially for the price. However, the PCI-e card has S-video AND Composite in, as well as that little audio jack, giving it more flexibility. PCI-e is also the faster "language" for the cards, so performance might be slightly different. Additionally, the PCI card has that "AV In" jack which implies a connection adapter will be necessary, and one would hope included. No pictures of it though.
Will this work with over-the-air broadcast HDTV? With my standard def, non-cable box cable television?
Yes, it has both an ATSC and NTSC tuner. It should work with broadcast television, and cable service that doesn't require a cable box. You know your television service better than I do, though
How do I use this with my cable box/satelite?
Tricky. They don't appear to have an IR blaster, so changing channels will have to be done via your cable/satelite box and remote. You'll also have to prepare BOTH for recording by either leaving the box on, or setting it up to turn on and change channels accordingly, while also setting your PC up to record. Personally, I'd aim to try to connect via S-video if possible, then fall back on Composite and finally co-ax, in that order for best quality picture. Consult your cable/satelite box's manual, and simply consider the TV tuner card to be the "television" for the sake of connection diagrams.
Why does my standard definition cable look bad? My card must be cr.ap! I want a refund!
NTSC/standard definition broadcasts are very low quality. Most wouldn't take up a quarter of today's computer monitors or HDTV screens when run at their natural resolution and are instead stretched. They're also very full of "noise," or static. Because they have to be stretched, you really don't notice it until you run them through either a capture card like this or an HDTV, which both will have much, MUCH better resolution. Your card is perfectly fine. Your television signal is cr.ap.
You can't say that about my cable service! It works fine with my television from the 80s!
I don't work for Woot, but I HAVE worked for retailers, and have had to deal with that misconception. People who don't understand television signals are rather frustrating and typically stubborn, so it's nice to state it plainly for once
G'night all. No carp for me this Woot! Off, but it did give me some present ideas.