This excellent CableCARD adapter brings four HD tuners to your Windows Media Center PC. over the long run, it costs way less than TiVo.
Don’t get me wrong, I like TiVo. What I don’t like is the $19.99/month subscription fee that goes along with it. That’s $240 per year, folks.
A much cheaper option over the long haul: Ceton’s InfiniTV 4 products, which can turn aWindows 7 PC into one of the best DVRs on the planet.
The original InfiniTV 4 was a PCI card that sold for $399. Now, however, you can get the Ceton InfiniTV 4 PCI or InfiniTV 4 USB for $199 shipped.
That’s not a sale price; it’s a permanent reduction. and it’s perhaps the best $200 you’ll ever spend.
I don’t mean to gush, but I take my TV very seriously–and I absolutely love the InfiniTV 4. I ran the PCI version for about a year, and for the past few months have been using the USB model. Both performed beautifully.
The InfiniTV 4 plays host to a CableCARD tuner from your cable company. once installed, it bestows four digital tuners. (Only the super-pricey TiVo Elite can match that; other models, and most cableco DVRs, have only two.)
Those tuners can receive all your HD and premium channels–pretty much everything the cable company offers except for on-demand and pay-per-view programming.
Plus, there’s no monthly fee on top of what you’re already paying for cable. Windows Media Center is free, and baked right into all versions of Windows 7 except Basic. What’s more, when I ditched my Comcast DVR for a CableCARD, it actually lowered my Comcast bill a few bucks each month.
I think for most users, the USB version is the smarter buy, as it’s just plug-and-play. the PCI model requires a PCI slot, naturally, and a fairly roomy one at that.
Want to learn more about the InfiniTV 4 USB (and, by proxy, the PCI version)? Alas, CNET hasn’t reviewed it, but I have. Bottom line: I love it.
Do make sure your PC has sufficient horsepower for HDTV viewing and recording, and that your cable company can set you up with a CableCARD. If all that checks out, you’re golden.
Bonus deal: ending today, TigerDirect has the refurbished Vizio VSB200 Sound Bar for $49.99 shipped. That’s after redeeming a $30 mail-in rebate (PDF). Even without it, that’s a sweet deal on a highly rated sound bar. the only catch is the warranty, which is a paltry 30 days.