Denon's NS-1000: The Ultimate PVR?

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.techtv.com/freshgear/shownotes/story/0,23008,3591508,00.html' target='_blank'>http://www.techtv.com/freshgear/shownotes/story/0,23008,3591508,00.html</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/denon-ns1000.jpg" /> <br /><br />"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. <br /><br />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."<br /><br />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.

[OSUKid7]

Pretty cool. :D Now if you can shove some software on that to make it work like a home computer you've got the best PVR yet. Looks like we'll never go back to just a TV and VCR. :)

[Jason Dunn]

Pretty cool. :D Now if you can shove some software on that to make it work like a home computer you've got the best PVR yet. Looks like we'll never go back to just a TV and VCR. :)

Interesting you should say that...why would you want it to be a computer capable of running software - don't you already have a PC for that?

[OSUKid7]

Pretty cool. :D Now if you can shove some software on that to make it work like a home computer you've got the best PVR yet. Looks like we'll never go back to just a TV and VCR. :)

Interesting you should say that...why would you want it to be a computer capable of running software - don't you already have a PC for that?
ah, but think of what you could do with a web browser or email in your TV...
so you're watching the latest music video - want to check out the artist's site or shop for the music? or even just put a remider on your Outlook calendar to do something.

There's so much you could do with a computer in your TV...MS's Media Center concept was a brilliant early step. I don't think you should have to go through the OS to turn on your TV, but there should still be the option to switch to "computer" mode or something...just my opinion though lol. We'll see what the big guys do. :wink:

[klinux]

Personally, I do not think this offers a good value. Denon is a superb brand and I have owned a couple of its components so I have no doubt about its engineering and quality.

Nevertheless, one can do what this unit achieves, at a better quality and with a much more elegant user interface, by acquiring an unit or two of Tivo (HDTiVo would even be better when it is released) plus the Home Media Option.

[Jason Dunn]

ah, but think of what you could do with a web browser or email in your TV...so you're watching the latest music video - want to check out the artist's site or shop for the music? or even just put a remider on your Outlook calendar to do something.

Been there, tried that, it was ugly. :lol: The problem is that the Windows UI isn't designed for TV sets - everything from font size to toolbars just plain doesn't work very well when you're sitting ten feet away. Don't get me wrong, I LIKE the idea of having a full PC at my command, but we'd need so many changes - literally, every application would have to have a ten foot interface for this to work. I think that will happen someday, but not now. ;-)