cablecard

While CableCard equipped PCs are finally starting to ship, they're still veiled in a shroud of mystery for most consumers. Gizmodo got a close-up look at the new Niveus systems, complete with a video demonstration.

The video's a little grainy, but you get to see a Niveus rep demonstrate recording 3 HD shows at the same time while watching a previously recorded show at the same time.

You'll need a high end Niveus Rainier or Denali edition media center PC running Windows Vista in order to get CableCard support. And that's not counting the $1500 you'll have to shell out for the separate digital cable receiver box. Makes that TiVo Series3 start to look cheap, doesn't it?

The new Niveus systems should be available later this month or in early May.

Let the early adopter wars begin. First, Velocity Micro announced that they're ready to ship the company's first CableCard ready home theater PC. Now Niveus says their CableCard PCs are ready to move.

That means consumers can now choose between high end media center PCs capable of recording high definition digital cable signals. Niveus is adding CableCard to several models, including the Rainier and Denali editions, as well as the Pro Series n9 and n7.

But lest you think Niveus just threw a couple of CableCard slots into its existing computers, the company actually requires you to purchase a separate set-top-box. The Niveus Digital Cable Receiver supports two CableCards and basically replaces your cable company box with a new box that's probably just as big and clunky looking. You can then pair it with a Niveus HTPC to record that sweet overpriced HD content.

One of the biggest reasons to use Windows Vista Media Center rather than Windows Media Center 2005 has always been the CableCard support. There's just been one problem. Nobody's shipped a machine that can actually handle CableCards yet.

It looks like Velocity Micro's about to do just that. Velocity Micro's Chris Morley posted in the AVS Forum that the company could ship their CableCard capable Grand Theater line of home theater PCs starting this week. You can expect that PC to set you back at least $2200. Systems can be configured to support up to 4GB of RAM, and up to 2.25TB of hard drive space, but a fully decked out system will cost you considerably more.

Velocity Micro's hardly the only kid on the block working on a CableCard ready system. We can expect to see similar announcements soon from the likes of Niveus, Okoro, and others.

Exceptional Innovation is demonstrating CableCard support in Windows Vista at the Electronic Home Expo. CE Pro reports that Exceptional Innovation has a demo unit consisting of a Sony XL3 Media Center PC and 1080p Sony Bravia TV.

Up until now, the only way to get high definition programming on a PC running Windows Media Center was with a HDTV card that can pick up over-the-air broadcasts.

Niveus will also be showing off the ability to stream CableCard content to multiple Xbox 360s serving as Media Center Extenders at the Electronic Home Expo. Of course, all the demos in the world aren't going to help your local cable guy better understand how to install CableCards in your PC. TiVo Series3 owners are full of stories of cable installers trying to put CableCards in the TV rather than the TiVo.