The blue and white box itself looks great; the black DStv Explora decoder - nicknamed "the pebble" by MultiChoice insiders due to its curvature physical design elements - is packed inside very sturdily in cardboard.
I like the black gloss design (it will only come in black).
There's only three buttons on the front of the DStv Explora and the smart card slot is hidden on the front right behind a flap.
The DStv Explora decoder is a bit heavier than its predecessor the HD PVR (but I don't feel it's a drawback, it feels sturdy and "real" like a real piece of powerful TV technology and sits and fits in very nicely in my TV wall unit with all of the other black TV tech from my hi-fi and HD PVR to TV set, Sony Blu-Ray etc.).
The digital display on the front black panel once the DStv Explora is on and installed, is a teal colour instead of the lime green of the HD PVR.
Inside the DStv Explora box is the DStv Explora decoder, the DStv Explora remote control, a blue DStv Explora welcome pack with various booklets and cables (not pictured here which I forgot to unplug before I took the picture above is the HDMI cable and the power cable).
The box also contains a DStv Switch which the new decoder needs.
The DStv Explora's sockets at the back and the cables cables are all "dummy proof" and colour marked, so at the back you can clearly see that the red HDMI cable tip plugs in where its marked red; that the purple power cord tip plugs in where it's marked purple at the back.
After I have been playing with it for just over a week the one thing I don't really like so much, or probably just need to still get used to (or grow muscle memory with my fingers) is the new DStv Explora remote control.
There's a number of things I don't like about the DStv Explora remote control which I will keep for the actual Review of the DStv Explora, mostly pertaining to where some of the buttons are located.
The one physical thing about some of the buttons themselves which I don't like a lot is specifically the toggle buttons in the middle - rewind, pause/play, fast forward and record - and the blue DStv button towards the top of the DStv Explora decoder.
These specific buttons are made of a different plastic/rubber than the rest of the buttons and are somewhat sticky - possibly to enhance grip and prevent sliding. I don't like it, it doesn't feel nice - like you've touched a kid's toy which got dirty and needs to be cleaned.
These specific few buttons also attract dust and dirt; after just a week micro particles are already sticking on it which I can't get off but clearly see. I live in a real house not a laboratory and already there's things sticking to it.
It's also where the police will be able to get a very clear left hand thumb print of mine.
Besides that the DStv Explora remote control has no other physical irritations, although I also don't like where the Status Bar button is now located. I do like however the hot buttons incorporated at the top taking DStv subscribers directly to Catch-Up, Playlist, BoxOffice, Search instantly.
The DStv Explora welcome pack has several booklets: a DStv Explora introductory guide, a thicker Quick Guide, DStv Switch user guide, remote control guide, safety information, legal matters booklets and debit order registration form.
Overall I'm very impressed with the physical look of the DStv Explora, it really feels, holds and looks like a real and serious decoder upgrade from MultiChoice: modern and sleek with understated powerfulness packed inside.
ALSO READ: Gerdus van Eeden, MultiChoice's chief technology officer (CTO) talks DStv Explora and the powerful upgrade to DStv's decoder line.
ALSO READ: Gerdus van Eeden, MultiChoice's chief technology officer (CTO) talks DStv Explora and the powerful upgrade to DStv's decoder line.
