My TV watching priority is Media Center. If for some reason it missed a program or I forgot to schedule it, then it is hulu. If hulu charges it would be necessary to revert to a P2P download. A pay model will not work.

Nice, but where is our CableCARD firmware update!!

Firmware update via Microsoft Update. I am not sure I understand how this can work. Will MIcrosoft Update scan your computer to see if you have CableCARD tuners?

Since Firmware upgrades are not a standard upgrade, but something a user has to participate in, how can this be done via MS Update.

I can understand a message from MS that says, "If you have ATI CableCARDs go to this location and download the firmware."

What am I missing?

The Ceton story is a great on. With each of the other announcements this week, Windows Media Center may have a life yet. :-)

With AMD/ATI out of the picture, where in the world will the long anticipated ATI CableCARD turner firmware update come from? Two to four weeks, based on what? Right now, since we do not have Ceton cards, the firmware upgrade it critical. The lack of real information on this topic very frustrating (but normal).

It is pretty clear from most of the comments on this article, that people don't believe the authors contention that "Laptops are the new HTPC" or that that is really going to make any difference.

One stop media centers have been a small market and willl always be so. Our only hope is that Microsoft will solve the issues with CableCARDs and SDV so that we can continue to enjoy our Media Centers.

Ben,
Yes, I know that you cannot watch Live TV without the card, but I understood you could watch the TV recorded on the Media Center with the "right" ATI card on another TV, without a card. True or not? Still would like to have your speculation on what will be "protected" and what will not be "protected."

Ben - Hold the phone. Are you saying the idea is to force me to buy a new ATI card to share Recorded TV or are you commenting only on "protected" TV. Speaking of which, what is expected to be "protected?"

Ben,
Nice article. I think some of this will be real. My comments:
1. I want to replace my Xbox with another W7 Media Center and share Recorded TV from my main W7 Media Center. Worse case, I have to buy one of the new ATI cards with the OEM system and record the protected TV on both systems.
2. When you talk about sharing media over a domain, does this include a simple workgroup, e.g., WORKGROUP and does it have any relationship with Homegroups?
3. Will the ATI firmware upgrade include the ability to accommodate SDV ala a dongal like TiVo?

Works for me.

Now everyone can be happy.