PVR Wire

Vidabox continues to push the limits of what you can cram into a tiny little computer. The Vidabox STEALTH is less than 3.6-inches tall, but features multiple TV tuners, a DVD±RW dual-layer burner, and up to 1.5TB of storage.

Like most Vidabox systems, the STEALTH is meant to sit in your living room, and as such shoots to keep down the noise normally associated with a computer. There are sound dampening DVD and hard drive enclosures, and a series of heat pipes and heat syncs to eliminate fan noise.

The Stealth can be configured with up to 4GB of RAM, an AMD AM2 5200+ Dual-Core CPU, 7950GT video card, dual DVI outputs or an HDMI 1.2 output. And you can get dual analog and dual HD TV tuners, allowing you to record up to 4 channels at once.

Of course, all that sweetness will cost you. Prices start at $4400.

If you're scared to purchase a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player because you're worried your purchase may be rendered irrelevant if the opposing media wins out, VidaBox has a solution for you assuming you want a Media Center PVR as part of the package.

The company recently announced they will be offering a couple of new systems by the names of the Lux and Max that will offer a Blu-Ray and HD-DVD player in a single attractive package.

From the press release:

"The Dual HD LUX™ & MAX™ systems are perfect for those who can appreciate convenience, high-fidelity audio, and high-quality video performance in a single, easy-to-use package," says Steven Cheung, co-founder of VidaBox. "High definition is the new video standard, and many customers want the ability to play both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs. Combining that ability with the attractive, rich feature set of media center allows everyone to conveniently use the VidaBox as the center of all their digital entertainment needs. There's no need to buy two separate high definition disc players, nor is there a need to use a PVR/TiVo®, stereo, DVD player, etc. when everything – TV, movies, music, pictures, and more – can be easily accessed from a single remote at the touch of a button."

Today, VidaBox unveiled a new model they've dubbed the "Zero", thanks to an advanced thermal management technology which makes the system completely silent due to an absence of fans.

In addition to being quite, the new system is the first VidaBox that will be upgradeable to support CableCARD come 2007 in conjunction with the release of Windows Vista - assuming Microsoft is able to get the beast out the door by then.

The system is about the size of a typical audio receiver and the standard configuration includes:

• AMD X2 Dual-Core 3800+ AM2 Processor
• 1 GB RAM (800MHz DDR2)
• 500GB of VidaSafe™ protected storage (RAID)
• nVidia 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 128bit fanless
• Available in anodized black, brushed silver, or combination aluminum finish

Optional features include:

• Dual HDTV tuners (for a total of four tuners)
• Up to s nVidia Geforce 7950GX2 dedicated graphics card with HDCP compliance
• Optional Blue Ray and HD-DVD upgrades

More advanced (and more expensive) configurations can be located here.

The VidaBox Zero is available now and will set you back a cool $4,399 for the standard configuration.

For a more detailed look at a different VidaBox system, be sure to check out our review of the VidaBox RoomMate from our recently launched Up Close feature.

To kick off the new Up Close feature, the kind people at VidaBox were nice enough to loan PVR Wire one of their recently released RoomMate Media Center PCs.

We covered the VidaBox line-up of Media Center PCs in a cursory manner back in July; however, an opportunity to take a closer look at this quaint little PVR arose so we hopped on it.

VidaBox RoomMate Up Close after the jump. Also, be sure to check out the VidaBox promotion at the end of the write-up.