Broadly speaking there are two different methods to watch TV on computer. The first one is by installing a tuner card and providing television feed directly to the computer. The second method is using the gigantic network of the internet to watch television programs from all over the world. Each method has its own advantages. Some of the advantages are exclusive to a particular method. Also, both methods have no obvious disadvantages. So, selecting a particular method is purely a personal choice that depends mainly on the kind of programs a person wants to watch.
Comparison Between Tuner Card TV And Internet TV
For a lay person, to watch TV on computers, that is to watch only the local television programs on the computer screen, a tuner card might be a good choice. It is the most cost-effective option in the long run. Buy a TV tuner card from a local vendor, get it fixed on the specific slot on the motherboard, and install the required software packages. When you connect the normal television cable to the input of the card, you can watch the programs just like you watch programs on your home television. Whatever programs you get on your home television, you will get those programs on the computer also.
But the internet offers more choices to watch TV on computer screen. You can watch a number of programs from foreign countries, which are normally not available on the cable or terrestrial network. If you are particularly fond of browsing through the television channels and enjoy viewing interesting new channels, then internet television is ideal for you.
One problem that you might face when you watch TV on computers through the internet is that you may need to get subscription from multiple websites to view all the different channels. Also, needless to say, you have to log on to the internet whenever you want to watch the programs. Moreover, the problems with internet connection such as lack of bandwidth and slowness of download can reflect on the quality of video.