tick to viewWe got a fortune to call theNiveusheadquarters last week , and the founder give us a dainty hand - on with their upcomingCableCARD - capable systems . If you ’re not familiar with these medium centers , they ’re basically Windows Vista machines with an external telephone receiver that handle high - def feed from your line supplier . Why ’s this sang-froid ? Because these OEM machines from Niveus ( and a few other producer ) are the only way you ’re going to be able to watch and memorialise HD epithelial duct from your cable station on a Vista machine . You ca n’t make this with off the shelf components .
In short , the Niveus PC can do whatever you normally do on Vista , such as catch download flick , and it can also do what theTiVo Series 3does .
The mental testing apparatus , which you’re able to see in the video on top , is running Niveus ’s gamey - end Denali system along with the company ’s dual CableCARD receiver . Check that out , then join us after the jump for impressions .
If you ’ve never used Vista’sMedia Center , you may see how glazed and usable the interface is . The incentive of going with a Niveus organisation is the company - specific add - ons and plugins : Stuff like HD medicine downloads via the Music Giants connection and Niveus ’s own substitute software are all integrated into the 10 - foot experience .
If you are conversant with Media Center — perhaps using it with an parallel NTSC tuner to record standard definition cable now — you’ll know it works quite well . Adding a CableCARD makes it work even better . In this trial system , we were able to commemorate three HD appearance and roleplay back a 4th without any hiccups . We were also able to flip television channel in HD with even less wait than my slice - of - shit Comcast Motorola DVR .
You ’ll be postulate both a standard Rainier or Denali set that has Vista set up , plus a Niveus Digital Cable Receiver with CableCARD in gild to address HD . This , in turn , makes it so you have two components to place into your media center locker , not just one . Plus , it jack up up the monetary value a bit .
Other miscellaneous item : It ’s super muted ( only 20 - something db ) thanks to its all - but - fanless system . There ’s one fan in the power supplying but everything else is passively chill , with the heating plant out to the mammoth fins on the exterior . It work with Niveus ’s other products like a Disc Changer , Storage Server , and a Media Center Companion that take to the woods on a laptop computer or a tablet PC .
The only downside is that the apparatus is pricey . These are high - end organization here . If you recall a TiVo Series 3 was expensive , do n’t look at the $ 3199 damage percentage point for the Rainier , plus another $ 1499 for a CableCARD digital cable receiver . However , other than have DVR feature , the Niveus system does n’t have that much in common with a TiVo . Can you dally games on your TiVo ? Record 4 HD channel at the same time ? Download and wreak back HD media ? Link up to your 100 - disc videodisk changer ? bring back HD DVD discs ? Not exactly .
If you do require one with CableCARD recording capability , you ’ll have to wait until later April or early May to get it . see for our review before then .
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