Set sail for television viewing on land, in your RV, or aboard your boat with the Pinnacle TV for Mac HD Stick. Powered by Elgato’s EyeTV® Lite software, the TV for Mac HD Stick allows you to transform your Mac into a fully functioning digital and analog television receiver, complete with a miniature remote control. Hey, what else do you need but a cold beer and a bag of chips and you’ll be ready to watch your favorite shows and never miss a big game on live TV!

We tested the TV for Mac HD Stick aboard our sailboat in Marina del Rey, California. The Quick Start Guide had us connected in minutes. Before we could say, “Call me Ishmael," our MacBook Pro was beaming digital-quality free-to-air television into the sailboat’s cockpit. Installation was as simple as inserting the start-up disk, following a short series of prompts and one-step registration.

TV for Mac HD Stick comes complete with everything you need to view television broadcasts, record your favorite shows, and capture video from your VCR, camcorder or even from a game console. After you’ve installed the software, plug in the USB 2.0 TV Tuner Stick and extend the portable antenna and you’re ready to use your Mac as a full-featured digital and analog TV receiver.

However, there’s a lot more than just watching TV with this nifty HD Stick. You can pause the show you’re watching long enough to get yourself a snack or adjust the sails on your boat. Choose to watch television full-screen or reduce the window to keep your TV show in the background while you surf the web or work on projects. Want to see that touchdown again? It’s as easy as hitting the pause/rewind and replay buttons. The HD Stick also can be used as a personal video recorder to view your favorite shows at a later date. You can even schedule recordings using an integrated electronic program guide.

How many channels could we pick up aboard our sailboat at the marina? Over 40 HD broadcasts came in crystal clear while nearly two dozen local LA analog broadcasts were a little fuzzy ... reminiscent of viewing television on our grandparents' Motorola via rabbit ears.

What TV shows could we view? Everything from watching celebrity chefs, to sports playoff games, to laughing out loud at slapstick reruns of "Gilligan’s Island.

We just checked the HD Doppler Radar weather report using the TV for Mac HD Stick. The television weather gal is forecasting plenty of sunshine with winds from the Southeast at 10-12 knots. Guess it’s time for us, like the crew and passengers of Gilligan’s Minnow, to turn off the set, and shove off for a three-hour tour! We found the Pinnacle TV for Mac HD Stick a great addition to our MacBook Pro.

Jane Cooper, Posted 12/20/2007

Photo by Ron Cooper, ©2007

For more information on the Pinnacle TV for Mac HD Stick visit: www.pinnaclesys.com