

Hauppauge is the only leading manufacturer of game capture devices left to require an AC adapter for its flagship device Elgato, Roxio, AverMedia, and BlackMagic have managed to simplify power and data down to a single USB connection. There are two major disadvantages to the HD PVR 2 right out of the box: it requires an AC adapter, and the video bit rate tops out at 14Mbps. The core functionality is there, but it's underwhelming overall, and when the device is held to the same standard as the competition, the HD PVR 2 comes in dead last. Outside of optical audio support, there's nothing the latest box from Hauppauge offers in terms of features or user experience that can't be found in competing devices at the same price or less. Unfortunately, the HD PVR 2 Gaming Edition Plus is nowhere near as good as the $179.99 price tag suggests.

The latest video capture device from Hauppauge introduces a handful of new functionality to its HD PVR line: HDMI, optical audio, bundled video production software, and built-in video streaming.
