I'm in.

I was working from the info on Paul Thourrot's site here:

http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/winvista_05h.asp

Matthew said "Am I the only one who finds it RIDICULOUS that if you want to have media center functionality and remote desktop you have to buy ultimate!!?!?!"

Yes, you are. :) Home Premium has Media Center included and home premium has some remote desktop capability -- you can create a client in Home Premium. 'course if you need the full RDC, you will need a biz or Ultimate.

How do they see out? I think previous masks had areas in the eyes and mouth (which were always open) that they could see through. Is there a video camera?

Hmmm, you don't need to be a jerk. It is confusing as CableLabs was very clear that cablecard tuners will only be available with specially certified computers available from major manufacturers.

This is being shown as an external add-on box. Is it really that hard to imagine that some users might assume they can buy it as an external box and use it with any computer or even that this may be a full mini-pc form factor we've seen before?

We already know the internal cards will not be available for the home computer builder. This is being shown as an external closed device but nobody has said whether this will be for sale on newegg.

I can imagine that it might be possible to buy this as a tamper-free external device (meeting the CableLabs certification) and add to my old MCE computer I've upgraded to vista.

If these are being sold as external devices that are bundled with a laptop, it won't be long until they are available for sale on ebay. In that case, are these locked to the original bundled hardware or can you use it on any device?

If they are encryption locked to a piece of hardware in the pc, is that hardware a removable pci card or is it something soldered to the motherboard?

If you can answer all these questions then the rest of us will be as smart as you and you won't have to worry about reading these posts any more.

Someone please explain. I understand that Cable Labs won't allow you to build your own cable card pc-- don't agree with it, but I understand the rule.

However since this is an external tuner box, can you plug this into a home-built vista MCE machine? Will we be able to buy this external box or is it bundled with a new PC purchase and has to be used with that PC?

I have Time Warner with the Scientific Atlanta 8300HD and I hate it. It's full of poor interface choices such as:

* If you start watching a show that is being recorded you don't have the option to start from the beginning-- you have to manually rewind from where the live show is currently.

* If you want to watch a show that is being recorded and don't catch up by the time the show is over, the DVR will just stop and switch to live tv.

* Recorded show lists are shown in HD, but the program guide is shown on screen in chunky SD.

* No options to continue watching where you left off.

* Confusing interface to choose recording options.

* Slow and unresponsive. I end up pressing a button wait a second, press it again, wait a second, unit catches up and executes two button presses.

I hate this thing. I miss my ReplayTV. I can't wait for cablecard support in windows.

I have a friend who about 10 years ago was walking through the local mall parking lot. A couple kids asked him if he had a coat hanger because they locked their keys in their Ford truck.

My friend also had a Ford truck, so he just took his key, put in in their door and unlocked it with a little bit of fiddling. My friend was surprised it was so easy, but took great satisfaction from not acting surprised. The kids just stared at him with their mouths open. :)

I want one.

Pick Me!