If you’ve been shopping for an HDTV, you might want to check out Ars Technica’s CableCard guide. CableCard is the technology that allows televisions and other devices access cable tv without a cable box. The guide goes through the long history of CableCard and details out the questionable future that the technology has.
The long and short of is:
CableCard 1.0
- One way communication (no pay per view)
- Available now
CableCard 2.0
- Two way communication (pay-per-view included)
- Maybe available next year-ish
DCAS
- Two way communication via software
- Available in 2007-8
The bottom line is if you can wait to buy that HDTV and can stand looking at your ugly cable box, you possibly, may be slightly better off. Sounds like a way to continue squeezing people for a cable box rental.
(Via eHomeUpgrade.)