video input/capture for a mac

[jamena]

Does anyone know of a convenient way to get standard video input (s-video/composite/rgb/component) accepted by a mac mini (or generally via a mac, probably though a usb or firewire port as there's not much else!)

Basically I'm considering getting a mac mini for use as my under-TV media centre (TV accepts DVI, VGA, HMDI, as well as usual scart etc) and my main problem with the mini is that is doesn't seem to have any inputs for video, so if anyone knows of a (cheap and relatively clutter-free) method of implementing video-input to the mini so that it can perform PVR tasks...

[Lowe]

At work we have a couple of Formac Studio DV's for this job. It's a tuner box, with svideo/composite/audio connections which go straight into a Firewire port. You open up iMovie etc and it appears as another input. Hook up a VHS and hit record on the Mac. Simple as that

[jamena]

eek, looks like those Formac studio things cost over £100! Don't suppose there're any simpler devices that (say) just take composite/s-video and output to usb or firewire that are more in the £10-£20 ballpark?

...might be better to wait and see if a new mac mini comes out that is properly geared towards being a media pc? There seem to be some rumours in the pipeline. Otherwise it'll be a hack job with my current PC when I replace it. Certainly won't be as small as the mini on the plus side the psu will be in the casing...