With the advent of the M card one would think we should start to see something that would resemble a consumer version of such a device other than TIVO. But the reality is that the service providers have a wide gap of conditions between them and the devices they buy are for the build out that they use. I do not think that is what the FCC wants but their action to allow encrypting extended basic channels by the cable companies has not resulted in the development of such devices. Though statements from chip maker Entropic suggest they are in the works.
At the present time you are limited to computer assisted devices. Those options reside with Ceton, Hauppauge and SiliconDust; all three have tuners based on use of the M card and interface with a computer to tune, display and record (from cable sources only) using Windows Media Center in W7 (does not work with previous versions). SiliconDust also makes an OTA/clearQAM tuner that does not use a cableCARD which allows the tuning of local broadcast TV distributed via cable as well as OTA. All of these are light years ahead of previous TV tuner cards and USB tuners from 4 years ago but not yet perfect. Lots of small issues that need some physical and software refinements that seem to be random affects for the most part due to the nature of the multipurposeness of the computer. (Jack of all trades master of few.) Many find these products very satisfactory for their needs and are happy with the results, I am one.
To elaborate, depending on the service provider, situations differ except for local channels which for now are not allowed to be encrypted by the FCC (that could change soon as they will announce a review of that policy soon). With Time Warner you most likely will be subject to have to use a Tuning Adaptor along with any of these devices and all of the encrypted content is copyonce which absolutely can only be viewed with WMC. With Comcast or Verizon you only need the cableCARD (along with the tuner) and only the Premium channels require the use of WMC. Many using the SiliconDust use a Linux run computer with Myth TV as a tuner (which will not see copyonce protected channels but since they use Comcast or Verizon and do not watch premium channels they do not really care).
Ceton has an internal tuner, and now a USB tuner. Hauppauge a USB tuner (using SiliconDusts design) and Silicondust has network based tuners. One large advantage of these devices is they all have the ability to serve more than one TV/monitor at one time either through the use of an xbox or a second computer. On the low end is hauppauge with a dual tuner for around $150 and SD's 6 tuner for $500, both list price.
