10 HVR-HD240S "Data Rec-POT S" - Upfront

Japan, Inc., Feb, 2003

The Rec-POT S is a smart little silver box with some purty little LED lights on the front panel that uses its built-in BS tuner to stream BS digital broadcasts via iLINK to the hard disk and, using the special remote control that comes with the unit, displays an easy to understand GUI (Graphical User Interface) up on your TV screen just like Sky does at home in the US (or UK). In fact, the software uses exactly the same "Broadcast Markup Language" (BML) as standard BS digital units, so you'll find your way around easy enough. The hard disk is huge -- the product's full name kinda gives it away -- at 240 GB, which makes the 20-gig Sky boxes look very weeny indeed. This warehouse-size capacity allows up to 21 hours of high-vision BS-satellite recording in HD mode and, thanks to an additional D-VHS mode and a disc mode that is compatible with Sony-made tuners, it will act just like a VCR, too. Open price, but approximately [yen]120,000.

More info: www.iodata.co.jp