Do a search for firewire recording and you will find a way to hookup the box by firewire. There are also ways of using a serial connection to control the box, but there is no "easy" way to get premium HD on an MCE box right now. Cablecard support is supposed to be released in 2006.
The viewsonic won't really work how you want. It is basically a switch box and a set of inputs. You would get the same result from hooking up the HTPC to two different inputs on your tv and switching sources there. It's meant so you can use a computer monitor without turning the computer on, but as soon as the computer comes on it trumps all other inputs and you will only have that connection.
The viewsonic won't really work how you want. It is basically a switch box and a set of inputs. You would get the same result from hooking up the HTPC to two different inputs on your tv and switching sources there. It's meant so you can use a computer monitor without turning the computer on, but as soon as the computer comes on it trumps all other inputs and you will only have that connection.
