I think Vista’s Media Center is a very slick program, oozing with potential. However, I have no plans to buy a media center computer right now, even with the release of CableCard support. This is not meant to be a negative article rather just a list of why I am not pulling the trigger on a new system. I would love to have one but I am having a hard time justifying buying one. Here are some of the reasons why I am hesitant:
- Price. Right now, it seems every media center with CableCard support costs over $3,000, which is a lot to spend on a Tivo-like device. With time, this price should drop.
- Storage Space. I think a true media center needs at least 5 TB of storage for movies, music, and recorded television shows. The reason why I think 5 TB is that I want to be able to store everything in HD. With the release of 1 TB drives, you would still need 5 hard drives in your computer. That is one noisy computer.
- CableCard Uncertainties. CableCard support is the major new feature for Vista. However, it seems like actually using a CableCard in a media center is frought with issues and roadblocks. Cable companies are struggling with installations. Not to mention that your Digital Cable Tuner might become obsolete with the release of CableCard 2.0 or M-Card. I am happy to let someone else deal with the bleeding edge right now.
- Format Wars. HD-DVD versus Blu-ray. The competing standards for the next generation of DVDs is dragging on with no clear winner despite proclamations from both camps. Jumping in on the wrong side may cause you to have to upgrade in the future.
- Lack of Extenders. The only extender right now is the X-box 360. An HDMI version of the X-box 360 costs almost $500. New extenders should be available later this year.
May 3rd, 2007 at 1:46 am
5TB’s sound right for a home server, especially if you want to do a lot of HDTV recording and have a lot of mp3s, I’d still rather have a 1 TB server with more efficient encoding though. That would make it cheaper and easier to mass market.
May 3rd, 2007 at 11:15 am
This is well-reasoned and well-stated. I agree it is premature to buy a Vista Media Center with CableCARD.
I wonder if the current implementation of CableCARD on a PC will hasten the move to internet-delivered TV shows and movies as is it creates many roadblocks to adoption. I won’t evangelize it because I think it is broken from the get-go. I think it may be just another technology dead-end.
Microsoft and the major PC makers should not have bought into this scheme. I can buy a Vista Media Center with CableCARD for $3,000+ and spend $5 per month per CableCARD, or a TiVo Series 3 for $500 plus $10-$15 month in TiVo fees, or rent a Scientific-Atlanta Explorer 8300HD for $9.95/month. Which way does the the average consumer go?
May 3rd, 2007 at 12:15 pm
It would be nice to have better encoding.
Digital Cable Tuners are in limbo. The cable companies want to control them like cable boxes but the consumer actually owns them. I wonder how long until the content protection is cracked.