Our native mobile app has a new name: Fora Communities. Learn more.

I cant figure out which one to get

2651 Views 28 Replies 13 Participants Last post by AnthonyP, Dec 2, 2004

oachalon

Discussion Starter · Oct 26, 2004

Alright i have everything narrowed down to 3 remotes. The harmony 659 or one of their other ones like it, the philips pronto tsu3000 or buying a dell axim x3 pda and turning that into a remote. Most of the time i just watch regular tv with my comcast digital cable using a motorola box. I just dont know what to get. The hard buttons seem easier to use with the harmony. The pronto is a touchscreen which is a plus and has a ton of possibilites to set everything up. The third is the other cool factor having a colored touchscreen remote using the pda. I would get total remote software and set it up that way. Im going to be the only person that uses the remote. I have no idea what i should do.

My equipment is:

Sony kp43ht20 tv

yamaha rx-v1400 receiver

magnavox 5 disc cd player: about 7 years old now works great still

Panasonic rp82 dvd player

Motorola dct-6200 digital cable box

Soon a audio authority component video switcher if that thing even works off a remote.

Just wondering what remote do you guys think will work best with my equipment.

Thanks.

Status: Not open for further replies.

1 - 20 of 29 Posts

dms666

· #2 · Oct 26, 2004

I just got the Harmony 659 for the home theatre and am very happy with it. I appreciate the fact that when I want to watch TV, all I need to do is hit a single button. Same for DVDs, VCR, etc. All equipment is turned on or off as needed and buttons work as desired, depending on what device is being controlled.

It doesn't get much simpler than that.

In fact, I liked the remote so much I just got a second one for the family room.

MikeSRC

· #3 · Oct 26, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by oachalon
Soon a audio authority component video switcher if that thing even works off a remote.

The Audio Authority component video switcher is not remote controlled. However, it automatically switches to the active source, so you really don't need the remote control.

Only you can decide which way to go with 659 vs. touchscreen. Any of your options will work, it's just a matter of what you prefer.

Dan Wesnor

· #4 · Oct 26, 2004

I recently replaced a Pronto with a Harmony, and I couldn't be happier. The Pronto is very cool, but a pain to get it where you want it, and a pain every time you change anything. The Harmony is significantly less cool, but is more usuable both in set-up and day-to-day function.

I imagine the Harmony would be a royal pain if one of your components were not in the database.

PDAs go through batteries too fast to be convenient as remotes.

AnthonyP

· #5 · Oct 26, 2004

agree with Mike. I have a Pronto (old 1000) and a Harmony (768) both are extremely good remotes but also extremely different. I like both for different reasons.

oachalon

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 26, 2004

yeah i know what you guys mean on both have their benefits. Setting up the pronto remote shouldnt be a problem for me. I am going to school for computer engineering, i can design webpages, i can program, and most things on computers come naturally to me. Tough decisions. Ill have to look some more at each.

Low Profile

· #7 · Oct 27, 2004

"yeah i know what you guys mean on both have their benefits. Setting up the pronto remote shouldnt be a problem for me. I am going to school for computer engineering, i can design webpages, i can program, and most things on computers come naturally to me. Tough decisions. Ill have to look some more at each."

If you can design web pages and are good with graphics than the skys the limit with a Pronto. I own a TSU7000 which is the color version of the TSU3000 with more memory. I have configured my remote to rely heavily on the hard buttons, which minimizes to a great deal the need to access the LCD screen. People usually place a heavy emphasis on Pronto remotes as being LCD remotes which they certainly are, but it does not mean you can't have your cake and eat it too. Many of the earlier Pronto remotes did not have many hard buttons, and I would consider them strictly LCD based remotes. The latest editions to the Pronto family however are a different story.

The TSU3000 and TSU7000 have 20 hard buttons, 17 of which are programmable per device. My TSU7000 gives me the best of both worlds. It's the best LCD remote I've ever used, while at the same time being the best hard button remote I've ever used. The LCD screen in my configuration is used primarly to change devices and to give me access to buttons from my original remotes I don't use that frequently, but need instant access to. The LCD screen is also great for storing cool things such as channel icons and DVD covers to cue up movie titles.

There is no mistaking that I am a big Pronto fan. Just thought I'd chime in as I spend about 90% of the time with my TSU7000 using the hard buttons, and 10% of the time using the LCD screen. The additional functionality the LCD screen provides me is invaluable however. At this point I could not live without it. Well I could, but I'd be miserable.

-Lowpro

See less See more

AnthonyP

· #8 · Oct 27, 2004

I agree with lowpro also setting up the Pronto is similar to a web page (it is all about layout and functionality, you are building a user interface)

gwsat

· #9 · Oct 27, 2004

I have had a Harmony 768 for about six months and could not be happier with it. In fact, I just bought another one for my daughter. There is a bit of a learning curve to climb with Harmony remotes but their peerless 1-800 support people help a lot with that. The flexibility of Harmony remotes is remarkable. They are expensive compared to the bubble-packed remotes of the sort you find at Wal-Mart but you get what you pay for.

GreySkies

· #10 · Oct 27, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by oachalon
yeah i know what you guys mean on both have their benefits. Setting up the pronto remote shouldnt be a problem for me. I am going to school for computer engineering, i can design webpages, i can program, and most things on computers come naturally to me. Tough decisions. Ill have to look some more at each.

If you enjoy designing webpages, you'll probably love the Pronto.

Low Profile

· #11 · Oct 27, 2004

Regarding the TSU3000/TSU7000...

There are plenty of configuration files to download at remotecentral as well if you are not inclined to create your own graphics and layout.

To give you an idea I've posted a screenshot of my configuration file in the editor for the TSU7000. The graphics in my .pcf originate from Daniel Tonks TSU3000 .pcf file which can be downloaded at remotecentral. I liked his interface so much I have not even taken the time to create my own unique graphics layout yet.

There are two versions of the screenshot below. The small pic is nice overview shot, but the pic is sized down so much you lose detail. The large pic (not dial-up friendly) is a couple megs in size and will allow for a close up look.

LP's TSU7000 Layout:
http://no-spin.net/MP/lowpro/pronto/...(1024x768).jpg (Small)
http://no-spin.net/MP/lowpro/pronto/...000_layout.jpg (Large)

If you are not familiar with these remotes at all here is a little flash demo as well to give you a better sense of my .pcf file in action. The demo shows how I navigate the remote to cue up my DVD collection by cover image.

LP's TSU7000 DVD Juke Demo (Not Dial-Up Friendly):
http://www.no-spin.net/MP/lowpro/pro...djuke_demo.htm

-Lowpro

See less See more

Huskerfan

· #12 · Oct 27, 2004

Since we're talking pronto, I am partial to the Marantz 9200. I had the Pronto 6000 and like the 9200 because of the extra hard buttons. You get the best of both worlds- LCD touch screen and hard buttons.

DanP

· #13 · Oct 28, 2004

I own a Pronto but I need to get a new remote because my parrot chewed the buttons off (true story!) And I'm a bit torn. I've got my eye on either the Harmony 680 or 676.....it's got lotsa buttons and who doesn't like hard buttons. Still, there is something to be said about the flexibility that the pronto has. I've got 3 pages of favorites which consist of images of the channel logos. I can easily get to say MSNBC or ESPN....one or two soft button clicks and I'm there. Is there an equally easy way to get there with either of the Harmonies? I don't think so. But the negative part about the Prontos is the programming. I kind of enjoyed it at first but now I just don't look forward to going in and making changes that I need to make (after all, with time, your favorite channels do change). And the Pronto programming system is not very user friendly. So there's there rub.....the programming convenience of Harmony vs. the efficiency/customization of the Pronto. I'm still on the fence.

See less See more

oachalon

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 28, 2004

i think my choice is going to be the tsu3000. I dont have the budget to get the 7000. Not in my range. Wish i could get it would love to have a remote with a color screen. I think you guys have me sold.

AnthonyP

· #15 · Oct 28, 2004

Huskerfan: the Pronto TSU-3000 and the ProntoPro TSU-7000 have more buttons

gschawla

· #16 · Oct 28, 2004

I'm a former owner of a tsu2000 and now have the harmony 659. I'm way happier with the 659 because everyone in the house is able to use this remote without ranting about how to do this or that....I'd say get the 659.

GC

Huskerfan

· #17 · Oct 28, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by AnthonyP
Huskerfan: the Pronto TSU-3000 and the ProntoPro TSU-7000 have more buttons

The 7000 wasn't out when I bought mine. Couple years ago now. And I believe the 3000 is a b/w interface, no? I like the color screen. That 7000 does look pretty neat, though. I'll need a remote for my new home theater room........

AnthonyP

· #18 · Oct 29, 2004

yes the 3000 is B&W, I agree that when the 9200 came out it did have the most buttons (compared to the 6000) but oachalon is looking for a remote now, and the Next Generation Marantz remotes have the same form factor as the old ones so the Pronto has more buttons. I just wanted anyone looking for a remote today to know that the Philips versions don't have anything button wise to envy to the Marantz.

Huskerfan

· #19 · Oct 29, 2004

Thanks for the clarification!

Gary Quiring

· #20 · Oct 30, 2004

I have been using a Pronto TSU1000 for years. Last month I got the itch for a new toy. I did a good amount of reading at Remote Central in the PDA forum. I was hoping to go that route. Well after reading and trying some trialware I would say it's alpha-ware. The PDA as a remote is just not there yet. The irda's are not strong enough and the dongles to make a stronger irda also have issues.

Back to Pronto. I bought the TSU3000. I would have loved the 7000 but could not part with the extra bucks just for color. Way to expensive in my opinion. The 3000 (and 7000) as noted have lots of new hard buttons. The NG (next generation) software is nice improvement over the original. A new feature called "browse back and forward" make programming the Pronto much more structured.

If you have the patience and time, the Pronto is my recommendation.

See less See more

1 - 20 of 29 Posts

Status: Not open for further replies.