So last night Microsoft formally finally lifted the veil for Vista CableCARD reviewers; we've got some stuff up, so do be sure to check it out to get your fix of what amounts to being the most expensive DVR rig yet devised. We missing something? Let us know in our what do you want to know? post, alright?

Installing a Vista CableCARD Media Center PC (part 1): Fiasco!
Installing a Vista CableCARD Media Center PC (part 2): Perfecto!
Vista CableCARD Media Center PCs - what do you want to know?

So now that at least one of us here at Engadget has a fully functional Vista CableCARD home theater rig, we're ready to take on your questions. This probably isn't the kind of thing that we can do an extensive review of -- it is, after all, just the same Vista Media Center you're already used to, except with CableCARD as the video input this time -- but we're happy to do our best to field whatever queries you've got. Post 'em in comments, we'll do our best to answer them after the break!

There are a lot of puzzled people out there wondering what the hell the holdup is with the CableCARD PCs that supposedly launched. We have, after all, been promised CableCARD media PCs since Vista's launch in January; a couple early units have made it into the hands of extreme early adopters, but where are all the rest? Well, we finally have some answers from a trusted source close to the situation: ATI's stopped shipping CableCARD tuners to OEMs, and put pressure on its partners to hold off on further sales until it can get some issues worked out. The unfortunate irony here is that the bugs holding untold numbers of potential users back are relatively minor, only affecting switching between digital and analog in a very small number of Scientific Atlanta networks -- in other words, definitely not a showstopper, just an inconvenience. ATI's apparently already got a firmware remedy for the issue and sent it off for certification weeks ago, but once CableLABS is involved you know things aren't going to be pretty (or expeditious). The good news is ATI is expected to resume shipping DCTs at the end of this month, meaning your wait -- which you recently resumed -- will once again be over for those who haven't already thrown their arms to the air and snagged a TiVo Series3.

[Thanks, Keith]

Well, well, Mr. Velocity Micro Director of Product Development Chris Morley -- didn't think we read AVS Forum, did you? Well, maybe you did, we dunno, but we appreciate your letting us know that "Grand Theater systems look to be 100% and we're shipping [this] week. Pro Cinemas are a few days behind due to issues with Asus." Shipping full-on CableCARD-equipped HTPCs that soon huh? Good, because we can't fricking wait to start rocking some CableCARD HTPC action -- DRM and expensive tuners and delays and all. Let's get it on.

[Thanks, Keith]

We wish we had 'em last night, but for the curious here you are: photos of ATI's new TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner box. It certainly looks after-market to us (please oh please let us roll our own Vista CableCARD boxes) but we have a feeling that's just a dream we're gonna have to keep on dreamin'. Click on for another shot.

Another DCT's been announced, this time by ATI, and this time predictably called the TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner. Although specifics were sparse and pictures were absent, the ATI unit passed CableLABS certification and will apparently be sold with Dell systems as early as January 30th (i.e. when the first round of Vista PCs see their launch). Most interesting big: "It is scheduled to be available... inside desktop and notebook PCs..." CableCARDS in laptops? What a lovely and disturbing thought -- didn't we all just jettison that PCMCIA card slot?

Seems strange that it's been a whole year since Gates took the stage at CES 2006 to introduce CableCARD support in Windows Vista, but here we are, and with Vista about to hit the streets it's finally happening. Except users no longer need say "Vista with CableCARD" or OCUR (OpenCable Receivers) -- those boxes are now referred to as "Digital Cable Tuners", or DCTs, and that's the hardware you're going to need on your CableLabs certified Vista box to record digital cable HDTV. Expect to see a hell of a lot of boxes like this one at this year's CES, as well as any number of HTPCs ready to take advantage of it.