One thing no one’s ever said about CableCard: how easy it is to install the darn thing. In fact, only a tiny fraction of the millions of CableCards currently in use are plugged into computers. That’s because CableCards can only be used in “cable-ready PCs,” meaning a certain class of new systems sold by manufacturers and blessed by Cable Labs. Enthusiasts couldn’t build their own, nor could they add the tuners to existing computers. At least, not until yesterday, when Microsoft announced that the regulators of CableCard will decrease the severity of digital rights management from the television tuner and widen the pool of PCs that can take advantage of them.
Great news, but how will you, an enthusiast, ever get your hands on the darn things? According to Ken Plotkin, CEO of leading tuner manufacturer Hauppauge Computer Works, his company will sell a TV tuner at retail by the end of the year. This probably means that other manufacturers will be quick to join; watch for CableCard tuners from AVerMedia and DViCo, and the crazy multichannel CableCard from Ceton Corp, which Engadget recently spent some quality hands-on time with.
Until then, keep in mind that you can always install one of the OEM units yourself, provided you can track one down on eBay.
Image © Ben Drawbaugh/Engadget.
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