Windows Vista Won't Support ATI's OCUR

Microsoft has announced that Windows vista will deliver HD CableCARD support only on machines structured and configured to be Windows Vista Media Center PCs. Vista's next generation media capabilities will deliver high definition content through HDCP and HD CableCARD.

Matt Goyer, Program Manager - Microsoft eHome division on the Windows Media Center team has revealed in his blog that Vista users won't be able to upgrade their machines with an off-the-shell CableCard reader. The only method through which a user will be able to enjoy the benefits of ATI's Open Cable Uni-directional Receiver (OCUR) is if the acquire CableLabs-certified computers and nothing else.

While marking a precedent as the first true CableCARD tuner for PCs, OCUR will most likely only ship within Windows Vista Media Center PCs starring with 2007. Goyer also confirmed Microsoft's earlier announcement that Vista will deliver support for up to four HDTV cards, but no more. "It would sound like it's due to the added development and test complexity. To be clear we do support up to four tuners. For instance, one configuration in the US could be two OCUR devices with two ATSC tuners," he said.

This translates in the impossibility of the existing machines on the market to support broadcasted CableCARD HD content, although with the HDCP feature enabled, Wista will support HD playback.