Where are we with Windows Media Center and CableCARD now?

I must admit I haven’t been following the Windows Media Center/CableCARD news
recently as over here in the UK we don’t have anything like that, so after
seeing the Ceton announcements and Mike
Garcen’s post on ATI’s CableCARD tuners I thought I would try and summarise
it here

First ATI; Mike Garcen on Missing
Remote has got some inside info on the ATI CableCARD tuner, he has been told
their tuners are “end of life” which means no devices are being manufactured and
they have effectively discontinued their tuner range. This isn’t surprising as
sales have been disappointing, one of the main factors behind that is that when
the tuners where first released in 2007 you could only use the DCTs with a
certified PC so you couldn’t go and build your own box and add an ATI CableCARD
tuner. This has now changed as Microsoft have relaxed the restriction so
enthusiasts can add DCTs to their existing setups thus opening the market
up.

So while ATI seem to be getting out of the game Ceton have stepped up to the
plate.

Back at CES in January Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer talked about Ceton’s new quad CableCARD
tuner, the tuner is now available for pre-order now (although the release date
has slipped from March to May 31st) and is priced at $399, its been named
InfiniTV 4 and you can pre-order from:

Cannon
PC

· Fluid Digital

· Zones.com

Then there is Silicon Dust’s HD Homerun CableCARD tuner which is due this
year, I saw a prototype unit running at CES  (see
this video) and I know lots of you are interested in a network tuner so this
could be a great option.

So I still wonder how big the market will be for CableCARD tuners but at
least with the OEM restrictions lifted enthusiasts can get onboard. So US
readers are you interested in a Ceton or HD Homerun tuner or are other system
more interesting for you like Internet or OTA?

I see Ben Drawbaugh on Engadget HD has details on future solutions for CableCARD that look like it could be much better for Windows Media Center users in the future

UPDATE:

It’s CabelLabs that removed the OEM restrictions not Microsoft