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Domain: remotecentral.com

Stories and comments across the archive that link to remotecentral.com.

Comments · 105

  1. Pronto is better than Take Control by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on The Do-It-All Remote?
    I used to own a Take Control. I sold it shortly after buying the Pronto. The Pronto is a superior product for many reasons:
    • The IR output is stronger on the Pronto. It operates my equipment no matter where I point the Pronto. I needed to point the Take Control directly at the equipment.
    • The Pronto desktop software (ProntoEdit) is easier to use than the Take Control software. I programmed the Pronto in a fraction of the time it took to do the same tasks with the Take Control.
    • ProntoEdit comes with an emulator for the device. No need to wait for the download to try things out.
    • ProntoEdit supports import from other configuration files. The Take Control does not. Import is a huge feature. There's a large body of configurations availabe at Remote Central.
    • The Pronto is more configurable. You can use your own bitmaps, assign macros to any button, and so on. Take a look at these configuration files to see what people are doing with the thing.
    • The wheel button on the Take Control is annoying to use. The conventional hard buttons on the Pronto work better.
    • There are more hard buttons on the Pronto.
    • The contrast on the Pronto screen is higher.
    • The batteries last longer on the Pronto.
    I could go on. I love the Pronto. I think that the Take Control is a piece of sh*t compared to the Pronto.

    I know one of the developers from MS who worked on the Take Control. He tells me that it does not use WinCE.

  2. Pronto is better than Take Control by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on The Do-It-All Remote?
    I used to own a Take Control. I sold it shortly after buying the Pronto. The Pronto is a superior product for many reasons:
    • The IR output is stronger on the Pronto. It operates my equipment no matter where I point the Pronto. I needed to point the Take Control directly at the equipment.
    • The Pronto desktop software (ProntoEdit) is easier to use than the Take Control software. I programmed the Pronto in a fraction of the time it took to do the same tasks with the Take Control.
    • ProntoEdit comes with an emulator for the device. No need to wait for the download to try things out.
    • ProntoEdit supports import from other configuration files. The Take Control does not. Import is a huge feature. There's a large body of configurations availabe at Remote Central.
    • The Pronto is more configurable. You can use your own bitmaps, assign macros to any button, and so on. Take a look at these configuration files to see what people are doing with the thing.
    • The wheel button on the Take Control is annoying to use. The conventional hard buttons on the Pronto work better.
    • There are more hard buttons on the Pronto.
    • The contrast on the Pronto screen is higher.
    • The batteries last longer on the Pronto.
    I could go on. I love the Pronto. I think that the Take Control is a piece of sh*t compared to the Pronto.

    I know one of the developers from MS who worked on the Take Control. He tells me that it does not use WinCE.

  3. Philips Pronto by JohnDonagher · · Score: 1 · on The Do-It-All Remote?

    I bought a Philips Pronto, a similar product, just last night. This is one of the coolest products Philips has ever released. I decided to buy the Pronto over the Harmon Kardon for a few reasons. First, the Harmon Kardon was co-developed with Microsoft. I don't trust a software company who can't make software with making consumer electronics. That's just me tho'. Second, the screen is not as big. Third, it has NO WHERE NEAR the expandability that the Pronto has. --!Switching to Plug mode!-- The Pronto has a meg of flash and is completely programmable. You can learn commands sent at frequencies of up to 56KHz, so that will cover most consumer-grade remotes. I have completely programmed my Pronto to control my TV (Picture-in-Picture as well), my DVD player, my Amp, and my 50CD jukebox. The touch screen is more than responsive enough for my needs. You can download pre-programmed configuration files for common components of your home audio/video system on to your PC, and then download those files over a serial port to the Pronto. Firmware upgrades are also available through the PC software. The list price on the Pronto is $399 but I got mine for $275. I can't say where, but you can get them from J&R for I believe $300. If you want the rechargable pack, you need to pay another $80, so I skipped on that and am using Double A's (4 of them). I've been told one set of batteries will get you about 6 months of normal usage. Phillips has certainly outdone themselves on this one. I'm really happy with mine. Some sites you may want to check out if interested: Remote Central - reviews of both the Harmon Kardon, Pronto, and another similar Sony product, features&specs lists, cool stuff Remote Central Review of the Pronto - nice review, nice pictures Philips Pronto site - nice pictures of the unit Pronto Edit - this is the free software you can use to download to/update the Pronto Pretty sweet unit, I highly reccomend it.

  4. Philips Pronto by JohnDonagher · · Score: 1 · on The Do-It-All Remote?

    I bought a Philips Pronto, a similar product, just last night. This is one of the coolest products Philips has ever released. I decided to buy the Pronto over the Harmon Kardon for a few reasons. First, the Harmon Kardon was co-developed with Microsoft. I don't trust a software company who can't make software with making consumer electronics. That's just me tho'. Second, the screen is not as big. Third, it has NO WHERE NEAR the expandability that the Pronto has. --!Switching to Plug mode!-- The Pronto has a meg of flash and is completely programmable. You can learn commands sent at frequencies of up to 56KHz, so that will cover most consumer-grade remotes. I have completely programmed my Pronto to control my TV (Picture-in-Picture as well), my DVD player, my Amp, and my 50CD jukebox. The touch screen is more than responsive enough for my needs. You can download pre-programmed configuration files for common components of your home audio/video system on to your PC, and then download those files over a serial port to the Pronto. Firmware upgrades are also available through the PC software. The list price on the Pronto is $399 but I got mine for $275. I can't say where, but you can get them from J&R for I believe $300. If you want the rechargable pack, you need to pay another $80, so I skipped on that and am using Double A's (4 of them). I've been told one set of batteries will get you about 6 months of normal usage. Phillips has certainly outdone themselves on this one. I'm really happy with mine. Some sites you may want to check out if interested: Remote Central - reviews of both the Harmon Kardon, Pronto, and another similar Sony product, features&specs lists, cool stuff Remote Central Review of the Pronto - nice review, nice pictures Philips Pronto site - nice pictures of the unit Pronto Edit - this is the free software you can use to download to/update the Pronto Pretty sweet unit, I highly reccomend it.

  5. Philips Pronto... WONDERFUL! by mindslip · · Score: 1 · on The Do-It-All Remote?
    The Philips Pronto, and the site Remote Central have been MORE than perfect for me.


    I control:
    an NAD cd-player, a Barco projector, an SSI Dolby Decoder, all three of which are very high end and very esoteric, as well as my Sony/Matsushita/Etc. equipment, all from a very funky front-end which I've put together with: TV-station logos for the channels (no more typing in 2-1-enter-oops-wrong-channel),screens for things like "Theatre", "Music", "Television",and all in a handy, backlit unit with the most powerful IR LED's I've seen.


    Go buy one. Now.

    =-)

    mindslip