Pros: -HDMI/HDCP with pass through toslink digital audio -Use with copy-protected Blu-ray or HD DVD movies -Ready for Windows Vista -Not overclocked out of the box but overclockable

Cons: -Know that you will absolutely need to replace the fan for any HTPC application as it sounds like a jet landing. If you accept this when you buy it, you will have no problem giving it a 5/5. Go with the ZALMAN VF900 – CU 2 Ball VGA Cooling Fan/Heatsink and it will be nearly silent.

Overall Review: The latest software from the NVIDIA (from their website not the CD) had a utility that made correcting overscan / underscan a snap. Did not need Powerstrip.

Pros: The drive is great and very quiet.

Cons: Currently, the Cyberlink software is absolutely horrible. It comes with OEM software that is only enabled for 2 channel. You are asked to patch it upon first play to version 3319. The only problem is that 3319 does not currently play Spiderman 3 Blu-Ray. You need 3319a and Cyberlink will not give that version to you (see below). Also to the guy who says there is a 7.1 digital sound card, please ask him where he finds this mysterious device. There are 7.1 sound cards but there ain't no way to get a "digital" signal to a receiver, pal. You need to use multiple cables to get a 7.1 ANALOG signal if want 7.1. Not digital. There is no interface (besides HDMI) to carry a 7.1 DIGITAL signal and there are no HDMI sound cards.

Overall Review: Thank you for contacting CyberLink Online Customer Support. We apologize for the inconvinience [sic] that you have had faced. Please note that OEM version softwares are customized version by the hardware manufacturers like LG etc. You have received the special customized version of the CyberLink software which is shipped with LG products only. Also note that any patch from the CyberLink website is not applicable on your customized version of the software. We regret but as you are using an OEM version of software, we are not in a position to send you the 3319a patch file. 3319a patch file is only for the retail customers and not for the OEM customers. So, we suggest you to contact hardware manufacturer to whom you received the software to get a copy of the software.

Pros: -The least expensive dual format player on the market. -Very quiet

Cons: -Comes with OEM version of Cyberlink's Power DVD Ultra which only is enabled for 2 channel output. -You need to spend an additional $79.95 on Cyberlink.com to upgrade to the full version to get 5.1 output. -PowerDVD Ultra downsamples HD audio to 48 kHz (see below)

Overall Review: According to AACS compliance rule, PowerDVD has to protect AACS decrypted content from digital copy. Since there's no secure protection between the AP and the audio driver yet, PowerDVD has to downsample HD audio to 48 kHz before sending the signal to the driver. AnyDVD-HD offers no benefit because this is not an HDCP issue. Additionally, there is no way to get even the 48kHz, down-sampled, digital 7.1 signal to a receiver from a PC. There are no HDMI audio cards and the HDMI video cards only have a 5.1 Toslink/Optical pass through. Toslink/optical is not able to carry a 7.1 signal; only 5.1.

Pros: I compared motherboard products from Asus, Gigabyte, MSI. This board offered the best value among the X38 boards that are available now (11/07). The dual ethernet, eSata and firewire rear ports are not found on competitor boards at this price point. The hybrid DD2/DD3 feature was a bonus as I have a lot of DD2 memory lying around and spending more $ on DDR3 was not what I had in mind right now. This feature is an "OR" feature though: you can't use both forms of memory at the same time.

Cons: It does not have the Linux kernal to enable instant web browsing like the new ASUS board. It looks like someone ate a bag of legos and threw up on the board. Lime green and squash yellow should be banned from use on motherboards.

Overall Review: I'll update the review after I've had some time with the board. Kudos to Newegg to be the first retailer that has stock of this board in the US.

Pros: Cheap. Does SATA II speed according to manufacturer:

Cons: Nothing really.

Overall Review: This cable is eSATA to eSATA. It has an "I" shaped connector on each end. NOT the "L" shape SATA connector.

Comments: This is "plug and play" with XP but that this did not mean I could simply throw a brand new Maxtor 60GB drive on the BT-200 and plug it into my laptop USB. First you need to select the proper jumper. Usually it is Master. Then, Windows would not even see the drive until I used Partition Magic 8.0 to partition it and format it. There are no instructions and the "driver" is for Windows 98. It would probably be easier to install it to a desktop first, format it and pull it out for use with the BT-200. Just my 2 cents.