My Velocity Micro x64 & Vista MCE & CableCARDs=Happy Together

bowman — Tue, 08 May 2007 18:06:23 GMT

Some of you may remember that back in December 2006, Microsoft and AMD shipped me a Velocity Micro Cinemagix Pro Cinema Entertainment System.

This AMD Athlon X2 system with an ATI x1950 dual DVI card, 2 gigs RAM and huge hard drive was a wonder. Microsoft installed Windows Vista x64 Ultimate and Office 2007 and I was in, well, computer heaven. It was exactly the box I'd spec out myself. Perfect in every way. And certainly the fastest computer I'd ever had in my home.

It was perfect then, but today it is more than perfect. It returned last week after visiting the Velocity Micro factory where it received a BIOS upgrade and a tune up. Why send it back for a BIOS upgrade? The only thing missing was Digital Cable Tuner compatibility (to use CableCARD technology to view and record high definition TV). That feature was not available at the time I received this computer, but IT IS NOW.

To use CableCARD technology with Windows Media Center in Windows Vista, you need five pieces:

1. A machine with a certified (by CableLABS) DCT BIOS
2. A video card with HDCP compliance
3. A monitor or TV that is HDCP compliant
4. A Digital Cable Tuner (formerly called OCUR device)/DCT (or two if you want to watch and record at the same time)
5. A CableCARD from your local cable company.

Velocity Micro is offering this amazing machine with either an internal or external DCT. (You can add a second tuner as well).

I've got two external DCT's attached to this machine and I'm in, well, high definition TV heaven.

If you've been waiting for the ability to watch and record high def TV on a kick-ass machine, run, don't walk to Velocity Micro and customize one of these. Even if you aren't into high def, this is one great computer.

Technorati tags: CableCARD, Media Center, MCE, Vista

Velocity Micro PC DCT/CableCARD Ready Arriving Tomorrow

bowman — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 19:10:05 GMT

My refitted screamer arrives back home tomorrow. I'm ready!

Awaiting Return of Velocity Micro PC with DCT(CableCARD) Upgrade

bowman — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 18:02:40 GMT

Last week I shipped my screamer VM box back to the company for the upgrade needed to enable cable card support (and to get a few things fixed - busted USB port and screw down the hard drive cage).

I am so missing this computer but when it comes back, it will be without question the meanest, screaming-est pc on the planet.

I wrote about this great pc on another blog last year. I can't believe how much I miss it. So c'mon guys, I'm going into screamer withdrawal.

Technorati tags: Media Center, CableCARD, Vista, Velocity Micro, Barb Bowman

The WiFi Zone : CableCARD

My Velocity Micro x64 & Vista MCE & CableCARDs=Happy Together

Velocity Micro PC DCT/CableCARD Ready Arriving Tomorrow

Awaiting Return of Velocity Micro PC with DCT(CableCARD) Upgrade