wtf...

in the 50" range what models come cable card ready ?

well,....besides pioneer

If you can wait another year or two all of the CableCARD woes that our CATV providers have put us through should be resolved.

Now that the Integration Ban (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070111-8599.html) is in effect, A/V equipment manufacturer's & the Cable MSOs have an established "open" standard set of security protocols to work with, which is being implemented via the M-Card.

By 2008 - 2009 you should see more cable ready devices (e.g. TVs, DVRs, STBs) that provide native support for two-way interactive digital programming services (e.g. PPV, on-Demand, SDV).

What does this mean for today's CableCARD user with a one way DCR device (e.g. my PRO-150FD or the TiVo S3)... we're screwed.

If you can wait another year or two all of the CableCARD woes that our CATV providers have put us through should be resolved.

Now that the Integration Ban (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070111-8599.html) is in effect, A/V equipment manufacturer's & the Cable MSOs have an established "open" standard set of security protocols to work with, which is being implemented via the M-Card.

By 2008 - 2009 you should see more cable ready devices (e.g. TVs, DVRs, STBs) that provide native support for two-way interactive digital programming services (e.g. PPV, on-Demand, SDV).

What does this mean for today's CableCARD user with a one way DCR device (e.g. my PRO-150FD or the TiVo S3)... we're screwed.

optivity, i thought that the cable cards would still be supported..no?

I am looking at the same issue; 50" flat panel with cablecard (per wife)

Pioneer 5080, 5010
Mitsubishi diamond series LCD 52" (don't have the model number)
Hitachi P50V701

These are the only models I have found. Obviously the Pioneer would be the overwhelming pick of this community. Hopefully someone can chime in wiht more choices.

Cablecard is under going some changes to hopefully improve it, allowing it to be a two way system so that it can use on-demand and pay-per-view along with other features.

Most TV manufacturers will hold off on cablecard until the new format is finished to be certain the hardware is compatible with the new improved cablecard. If you buy a cablecard capability right now it may soon be obsolete and not compatible with the new cablecard when it comes out most likely within the next year.