AIW record have videosoap function which is very useful if the receive signal have noise also the new rage theatre 200 chipset is the best half hareware encoder in market
Also when record some sport (NBA, of Football match) AIW have the high motion mode which is very good which compare with software endoder card ie. M300.
But when compare with iTV 15 or itv 16 chipset (which use in most hardware encoder card in japan) they have their own advantage
For normal use software encoder is ok
but for high motion source (ie sport) AIW is much much better than this software encoder



Hope this can give you sme idea


Hardware Encoder in use
Happuage Win PVR 250
(best qualtity)
ATi R8500 AIW
(better qualtity Rage Theater Chip)
Compro U1500
(not so good)
Panasonic DVD Recorder E60
(Quite good for noise reduction side)