For the third year straight, Microsoft has opened the Windows Media Center Ultimate Home Installation contest for custom integrators.  The deadline for entries this year is August 1st and custom installers are able to submit two entries.  Microsoft will announce the winner at CEDIA 2009 in Atlanta, GA.

The winner will receive the following:

• A trip to CEDIA Expo 2009 in Atlanta
• A trip (with a guest) to Microsoft headquarters, including airfare, two-night hotel accommodations, a campus tour, and a $1,000 cash prize
• Niveus Media Server – Rainier Edition HD complete system with Intel processor and motherboard
• 160GB Intel X25-M Mainstream SATA Solid-State Drive
• Autonomic Media Control Server EX with PolyTune
• A photo shoot of the winning installation

As well, the customer who had the system installed will win the following:

• Xbox 360 Elite system with four wireless controllers
• Xbox 360 Media Remote
• Four games for Xbox 360
• One-year Xbox LIVE subscription
• Two Zune digital media players (8GB and 120GB) with a home audiovisual kit

If I thought I could afford a custom installation I might go for one, but it’ll be interesting to see what the custom installer side of the community comes up with for the contest.

Full contest details can be found here.

Prize info posted at CEPro.