Gizmodo: vidabox

The Everything Box: VidaBox Adds CableCARD to its Media Center PC Lineup

Charlie White — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 07:59:03 EST

We've covered these feature-packed VidaBox media center PCs before, but none like this: in addition to having both Blu-ray and HD DVD players on board, now VidaBox is offering CableCARD compatibility on its line of media center PCs. So now you'll be able to watch and record HBO, Showtime (if you subscribe to them) and anything else from digital cable, plus play back Blu-ray and HD DVD in 1080p.

While the system records two HD shows at the same time, it can play back a third prerecorded show or HD DVD, Blu-ray or anything else. And you can pack 3.75TB of storage in there, too. This sounds like the home theater convergence machine we've been waiting for.

The only catch?

These monsters cost in excess of $4399, and that's before you pile on that extra storage and the HD disc players.

Since these CableCARD-equipped units will ship in March, we're thinking they'll be loaded with Microsoft Windows Vista.

While the VidaBox Max and Lux units appear to be the ones packing this dual HD capability, we're also quite impressed with its Stealth model (pictured below), which the company says is completely silent.

Combine that quietude with all this HD and CableCARD capability, and you'll have what we're thinking is the home theater PC of the future. Oh yeah, make it all cost $800, and that'll be the sweet spot. – Charlie White

Press Release [VidaBox]

Stealth Media Center Quietly Invades Your Living Room

Louis Ramirez — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 12:15:17 EST

If their last PC was the Hummer of the Media Center world, this one's undoubtedly the Beetle. Living up to its namesake, the new Stealth Media Center measures a scant 3.6-inches high yet packs enough media muscle to merit a spot next to your plasma. Design-wise, it's one of the better looking MCE PCs out there and it's no slouch when it comes to performance either. Click through for a run down of its insides.

The Stealth comes in 4 different configurations (starts at $4,399). Each model is powered by a dual-core AMD processor and comes with a minimum of 1GB of RAM, dual TV tuners (1 HD and 1 SD), and enough space to accommodate a 1.5TB SATA drive. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth aren't built-in, which is a sin considering the starting price, but to make up for it you get enough ports for pretty much everything that sits in your living room, and it's even HDCP-compliant. The pricing is too high for this blogger's wallet, but any MCE fans out there with cash to invest can't go wrong.

– Louis Ramirez
VidaBox Stealth

VidaBox Creates HD DVD/Blu-ray Sandwich

Louis Ramirez — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 20:20:16 EDT

We've pretty much had it with the whole HD DVD vs Blu-ray war, but if you've got your heart set on owning both formats, the VidaBox Dual HD Lux and Dual HD Max are the first Media Center PCs that can be configured with both flavors inside making for one tasty PC. The machines can play Blu-ray and HD DVD discs at their native 1080p resolution and both systems also feature HDCP-compliant outputs. We're too poor to afford this kind of machinery, but if you're looking to OD on some HD, these $4,000-dollar systems are your only bet. – Louis Ramirez

VidaBox Dual HD Max & Lux