CableCARD-equipped Dell XPS 410 desktops now available

Yeah, so it's been a tick since we first got wind of Dell's master plan to equip the XPS 410 with CableCARD support, but it's good to see the wares finally available for purchase. Starting now, users interested in picking up a mid-range XPS desktop with single or dual ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuners can select either option when configuring their machine. The cost? $236 per tuner, which ain't too bad in the grand scheme of things.

[Via MSMVPS]

[trombonium @ Aug 20th 2007 8:11AM]

I just did a modest configuration of this system -
$2,571

I'll pass. I like how Dell advertises computers at such low prices, then when you go & actually configure it with the basics you need to get by, you realize it isn't that cheap at all.

Well, quality wise they are cheap.

[Matt @ Aug 20th 2007 11:47AM]

Basics you need to get by? What do you consider basic that your configuration came out $600 more than mine with a quad core CPU, 2GB memory, dual CableCARD, 750GB hard drive, and an 8600GTS video card?

[dman @ Aug 20th 2007 8:53AM]

When are people just going to give up on CableCARD? Perhaps if people stop buying this horribly flawed and DRM ridden technology, the cable industry will be forced to actually create a good solution. I mean, CableCARD... I lose my VOD, my pay per view, my legal right to broadcast in my home for non-commercial viewing (unless it happens to be from the same PC)... let's just stop it already!

[Jeff @ Aug 20th 2007 9:50AM]

Are you serious? Cable companies were forced by the FTC into ALLOWING CableCARDS, to promote competition and not lock consumers into their horrible set top boxes. They would *LOVE* to have these fail, so they can turn around and tell the FTC that consumers are overwhelmingly staying with their fantastic offerings. We need CableCARD to succeed -- you might not like having DRM on it, but it's still far more open than the alternative of using *only* the cable co's terrible hardware/software bundle.

[JBob @ Aug 20th 2007 1:34PM]

What's really annoying about this is that you can only get the digital cable tuner on the top-end 410 configuration, which forces you to buy a Blu-ray drive, and a monitor (both optional in the other, lower-priced configurations). Many people were expecting to be able to add the DCT to the low-end 410 config, and then remove the monitor, speakers, etc. for a sub-$1000 digital cable Media Center. I gave up waiting for Dell to offer the DCT option on the 410 (which they have been showing to the media for *months*), and bought one from Velocity Micro. Now that I see how Dell is offering the DCT, I'm glad I didn't wait.

As an addtional side comment on Dell configuration page -- it looks like they make it intentionally confusing to remove many big options (monitor, speakers, etc.). On many of the component pages the "No [component]" option isn't at the top of the list where it would make sense; instead, it's hidden somewhere in the middle of the other options, making it hard to find unless you make an dedicated effort to find it(especially since it's in a different spot for each component). I'd guess many customers have purchased system with components that they would have like to remove, but, because of the confusing option layout, didn't realize that there was an option to remove them. Intentionally trying to confuse your customers into paying for options that they don't need is a really low, cheap business tactic.

[Martin @ Aug 20th 2007 2:26PM]

I just came up with $1,871 with Dual Digital Tuners... That's not too bad considering almost 500 of that was the tuners. But if you want the ultimate setup I guess you gotta pay up (combined with 360s of course).

[rock99rock @ Aug 20th 2007 3:17PM]

I cant find it anymore, looks to be removed...

[JBob @ Aug 20th 2007 4:26PM]

It's still there, but as I stated in my comments above, it's only available with the most expensive configuration option.

[dman @ Aug 20th 2007 8:56PM]

Jeff. My CableCo charges more for a CableCARD than for the STB. How will paying $10/month "stick it to them" when I currently pay $5? I get VOD and PPV right now for $5. I pay $10 and I get less. Yeah, the CableCo's will cry about the FTC then! Note that I NEVER said CableCo, I said Cable Industry, i.e. CableLabs. We need to send them a message. CableCARD is a broken technology, it fails frequently, it barely works (look at the issues with the new TiVo Series 3 Lite) so why should we rally behind it? Just to teach the cable companies a lesson? As I said, you teach me how paying my CableCo $10 a month instead of $5 is sending a message and maybe I'll agree.

[Mark @ Aug 20th 2007 11:18PM]

You can't get it without a BD drive. It's not clear if they will let the sale go through without a monitor. HP has a similar system but you can only get a single tuner.

[Oscar @ Aug 21st 2007 3:39PM]

J to the U to the N to the K

[Steve @ Sep 19th 2007 1:50PM]

I'm not sure if they would let the sale go through intitally without a monitor, but they allowed me to return the monitor that came with the system for credit when i told them i wanted a bigger one.

If you connect your monitor to this system via DVI, your display must support HDCP in order to play back 'premium' content that you record using media center. the same applies for playing back a BluRay disc. This is probably why they require a HDCP compliant monitor purchase.

Interestingly, when you build the system, they will allow you to buy TWO 24 inch monitors or a 30 inch that requires DVI dual link. A BluRay disc will not play back if you have two monitors connected to your system. You have to disable one of them (or use AnyDVD) to play back the disc. I am told but have not confirmed that the same is true with a dual link monitor.

One of my tuners was DOA, and it was a bit difficult for the dell reps to find out how to send me a replacement, possibly because the system is new and the tuners cannot be bought outright. the replacement did arrive very quickly once they figured it out.

Aside from the above, the tuners/media center have worked perfectly, including when used with an xbox 360 as a media center extender over a wired network.