The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reports that Pentax has plans to introduce a sub-$1000 entry-level digital SLR by early next year. Exactly when it will become available on store shelves isn't clear because the article, somewhat obliquely, says that Pentax "intends to ship about 100,000 units by March 31, 2004". (Presumably, they mean March 31, 2005.)