Digital Home Thoughts: Denon's NS-1000: The Ultimate PVR?

"The NS-S100 looks mostly like a common stereo receiver. Inside the device, however, it's a whole different story. First, the NS-S100 offers a powerful, flexible, and user-friendly interface to all of your digital media -- audio, video, or still images -- from throughout the house. All functionality is accessible from the front-panel controls, and the media library can be browsed from the internal LCD display using traditional playback buttons and a directional control button. Alternatively, an attractive and well-designed on-screen display provides full functionality from the comfort of the couch using the nice LCD remote.

The back panel includes inputs for cable and satellite tuners, as well as two internal NTSC TV tuners, two terrestrial FM tuners, three analog A/V inputs with both S-Video and composite connections, two coaxial and optical digital audio inputs, and two analog audio inputs. External devices can be controlled by serial or IR connections. The unit picks up its program guide information and other updates nightly over the Internet, either via broadband or via an internal modem over a telephone line if necessary."

This box looks amazing! Most of the PVR's we've seen thus far are from the computer industry, whereas with Denon we have a heavy hitter from the consumer electronic industry, and we see a different type of approach. Although it's priced ouf of my range (it will sell for between $3000 and $5000 USD), the NS-1000 demonstrates the type of slick integration possible with a PVR and media storage device. I can't wait to see devices like this hit the market, then watch other consumer electronics vendors get competative.