website hit counter Step One to Lower CableCARD System Prices - Chris Lanier

Step One to Lower CableCARD System Prices

What’s the sure fire way to lower the price of something?  Competition.

The first step to hit those price points that I have talked about might be for other companies to develop OCUR’s of their own.  Remember that ATI/AMD is not the sole owner the CableCARD OCUR.  Anyone is welcome to build one; you just have to follow the documents on CableLabs website.  So, if NVIDIA or Hauppauge would get the ball rolling on an OCUR under their branding then that might just get a price war going between ATI/AMD and whoever else makes one.

Even if no one else develops an OCUR of their own (which I doubt), ATI/AMD will get their prices down in the next year or so.  The whole CableLabs Certification bit is only for the manufactures of the OCUR, so as time goes on they will gain back their certification losses and lower the price accordingly.

The said retail price of a single OCUR is about $300, so you can see where this would drop the overall price of a system dramatically.

Published Sat, Feb 3 2007 18:19 by chrisl
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Comments

# re: Step One to Lower CableCARD System Prices

Step Two - Make CableCard work outside of the US market. You can make these cards sell for $5 in Canada but it won't make a lick of difference because the US is the ONLY market that can use this technology.

Sunday, February 04, 2007 10:09 AM by X

# re: Step One to Lower CableCARD System Prices

Other than Velocity Micro, is any other retailer offering Digital Cable Systems currently?  I know Dell has some in the works, and there are other higher-end manufacturers like Nieveus, but it seems like Velocity Micro is the only one offering them now.  I hope Shuttle comes out with this-any info?

Sunday, February 04, 2007 7:16 PM by RedTyler

# re: Step One to Lower CableCARD System Prices

Well, no one is offering them right now (not even Velocity Micro).

Sony, Dell, Niveus, and VidaBox are the only ones who have announced systems, all shipping in March (IIRC).

Sunday, February 04, 2007 7:21 PM by chrisl

# re: Step One to Lower CableCARD System Prices

I guess I didn't look close enough at Velocity Micro.  It seems like this scheme that CableLabs has set up where NVIDIA or Hauppage could market their own and create competition.  I've heard argued that the OCUR process and CableLabs certification consumes so many resources that smaller computer manufacturers won't be able to participate in the digital tuner market (like Shuttle or someone).  But, Chris, you dispel that myth.  So, there really isn't any reason preventing digital tuners from being readily available in a year or two.  Thoughts?

Monday, February 05, 2007 2:51 AM by RedTyler

# re: Step One to Lower CableCARD System Prices

STEP TWO

Create more sales volume.

To do this... you need to let those who currently own a MCE to add a cablecard to their existing rig.

This is the second time that M$ has messed over the Early Adopter.

1. If you want Vista MCE... throw out your old Extender and buy a new xbox 360

2. If you want HDTV... throw out your whole system and get a new one from an OEM.

Monday, February 05, 2007 11:06 AM by Martyn Sibbald

# re: Step One to Lower CableCARD System Prices

It appears that M$ is not to blame for the HDTV issue... that the problem is CableLabs.  Perhaps everyone else already knew this... but I didn't.

But come'on Microsoft... you are a big kid... don't let cablelabs push you around.  Straighten everything out so the consumer isn't hung out to dry.

And if that doesn't work goto Plan-B...and develop your own version of HDTV so that you can control the standard :)  MS-HDTV

Monday, February 05, 2007 11:35 AM by Martyn Sibbald