It was just about a month ago when I finally made the jump from an SD USB device to an HD setup. I purchased a
Hauppauge PVR 2 (1512) and I've been satisfied with the results so far. As a fellow Mac user, I also had to purchase the Mac based
HDPVRCapture software in order to use it. The software can interface with VLC, which can be used as a monitor while recording, and I use this process to do my "live" capping. (There's a 5+ second delay to VLC due to processing, hence the quote marks.) Judging by the response I've been getting, the PVR 2 is fulfilling expectations.
And as is mentioned in
this thread, I highly recommend buying
this HDMI splitter with your Hauppague purchase. Firstly, you'll need it if you want to use both your TV and PVR 2 at the same time. More importantly, the splitter magically removes the HDCP that your set top box more than likely has that'll prevent you from directly connecting HDMI from the STB to the PVR.
All told, this'll probably cost you somewhere over $200 to upgrade your hobby. But now you can also record the Super Bowl in HD, so there's that too.
![Razz :P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)