Test: Empire USB2.0 Pen DVB-T

Konklusion

Jeg har tidligere i min artikel nævnt min forbløffelse over de resultater den lille enhed levere og jeg nævner det gerne igen, da det er yderst velfortjent.

Jeg troede ikke Empire var bedre da jeg testede deres sidste digitale kort - så de har altså snydt mig og jeg har lært at størrelsen ikke nødvendigvis betyder så meget på hardware markedet.

Personligt glæder jeg mig meget til at se, hvad Empire i fremtiden vil sende på markedet og jeg håber ligeledes at Empire er i stand til at give de nuværende producenter mere konkurrence så vi har mulighed for at se billigere produkter, men lad os nu tage et skridt ad gangen.



Innovation / Teknologi
Der er tale om nyeste teknologi i form af en digital tuner og hele molevitten er til at stoppe i lommen. Desværre er der ikke en hardware baseret MPEG dekoder. Men på baggrund af resultaterne giver jeg alligevel 4.

Bundle / Tilbehør
Jeg er overrasket over den gode bundle. Der er alt hvad der skal være med og denne gang var der også batterier til fjernbetjeningen, hvilket der ikke var ved sidste Empire test.
Jeg syntes også det er godt initiativ med den medfølgende antenne.
Skulle jeg pege på noget må det blive savnet af en dansk manual.
Jeg giver 4 point.

Design / Layout
Enheden er flot og der er rige muligheder for at placere den, hvor man vil. Jeg har ingen kommentarer til fjernbetjeningen ud over at jeg savner en 'kryds'-navigation.
Jeg havde dog gerne set at enheden var uden den coax adapter.
Jeg giver produktet 3.

Software / BIOS
TotalMedia fungere som det skal og er flot grafisk og nemt at overskue. Desuden er det mere simpelt end Windows MCE og MediaPortal at opsætte.
Jeg er dog en smule skuffet over at designet næsten er magen til de to andre og ikke mere selvstændigt.
Installation og opsætning går desuden rigtig nemt.
Jeg giver her et 4-tal

Ydelse
Enheden yder ganske glimrende. Vi snakker om et niveau, hvor topmodellen fra Hauppauge bliver slået på flere områder. Kvaliteten er simpelthen bare i top.
Jeg giver derfor 5.

Pris
Prisen på ca. 500,- er ganske overkommelig for det resultat der leveres. Rent faktisk vil jeg mene at det er et røverkøb når man holder prisen op imod billed- og lydkvalitet.
Jeg har intet andet at sige end at jeg giver et stort 5-tal.

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UK Summary

As I mentioned earlier in this article I am very astonished by the results this little thing delivers and I would very much like to mention it again because it is well deserved.

I didn't believe that Empire could do any better when I tested their previous digital TV-card - so they kind of cheated me and I learned a lesson. Because something is tiny doesn't mean that it is bad when talking about hardware.

Personally I look forward to see what Empire will show up with in the near future and I also hope that Empire is able to give the existing producers some competition so the end-user can have cheaper products. But let's take it step by step.

Innovation / Technology
Empire use the latest technology in form of a digital tuner and the entire USB-pen is easy to transport. Unfortunately there is no hardware MPEG decoder, but software based. With the results as background I give this product a score of 4.

Bundle / Accessories
I am quite surprised about the good bundle. There is everything you need and this time the batteries are enclosed for the remote. This was not the case last time I tested a Empire TV-card.
I think it is good initiative to enclose the TV-antenna.
If I have to point at something it must be that I miss a Danish manual.
A score of 4 is given.

Design / Layout
The unit looks nice and there is lots of possibilities to place the pen as you like. I have nothing to point at when talking about the remote besides that I miss the cross navigation buttons.
I would have liked to se that the USB-pen didn't need the coax adapter.
I give a score of 3.

Software / BIOS
TotalMedia functions as it should, is nice graphically and easy to cope with. Besides it is simpler to setup than Windows MCE and MediaPortal.
I am a bit disappointed about that the design is nearly the same as Windows MCE and MediaPortal. I would have liked something more special and personal.
The installation and the setup is easily done.
4 points is given.

Performance
The unit performs superb. We are talking about a level where the top models from Hauppauge are beaten on a lot of areas. The quality is simply in top.
I give a score of 5.

Price
A price of 500,- DKR is easy to afford when you compare it with the results. In matter of fact a think it is a steal when you compare the price with picture and sound quality.
I have no more to say than I give a score of 5.