TVSquad

As you can tell from the screengrab, Cannon PC isn't ready to sell a consumer model with 6 CableCARDs just yet. But the company wanted to show that it is possible. Windows Vista Media Center only includes native support for 2 CableCARDs, so the trick isn't just designing a system with a huge hard drive, massive amounts of RAM, and space in the box for 6 tuners. The company also had to adjust the software to allow additional CableCARDs.

You can see the results yourself in a YouTube video posted by Cannon PC.

Back in the day before everybody wanted these newfangled digital cable, satellite, and OTA HDTV tuners, you could easily cram 4 or 5 standard definition TV tuners in any old PC and record half a dozen TV shows at once. Now you can relive all that excitement, with an uber-expensive home theater PC capable of recording up to 4 digital cable programs at once.

Cannon PC has announced the availability of systems with dual CableCARDs. And the companly plans to release quad CableCARD systems soon. CableCARDs let you watch digital cable television without a set top box.

There are three models in Cannon PC's Pro AV series, the LX, EX, and RX series. All three have a Blu-Ray DVD drive, a 28-in-1 card readers, gold plated audio connectors, and USB and Firewire ports. The EX model gets a 12 inch HD touchscreen and up to 6GB of storage space, while the RX unit is a rack mount system.

Prices range from $4000 to $6500, and that's without the quad CableCard option. So if you've got your heart set on one of these puppies, you might want to start saving. And then keep saving.

[via Engadget]