|
|
Posted by POD {ҿ} on 10/22/06 22:15
Milk and cookies kept you awake, huh? Let's discuss this, you better
come up "Gunther Gloop" <me@privacy.net>.
> POD {ҿ} wrote:
>> Thinking of splashing the cash on one of these, but all the reviews
>> over at Amazon appear to be placed by newbies who all claim
>> difficulty in setting it up, is is tough or are they lame?
>
> If I was living in a house with no children I'd have 2 Prontos and
> nothing else.
>
> Most people seem to swear by the Harmonys, but I think this is more a
> result of them having spent 100+ and not wanting to face reality.
>
> The website is good. The support is good. But there are waay too many
> "little niggles" that drive me demented.
>
> I have the 885 and the cheaper/older 650 (both in the living room). I
> was intending to replace the 650 with the 885, but there really isn't
> much of an improvement to warrant the replacing.
> As a result we use both regularly... ie. when one is "lost" behind the
> radiator or down the back of the sofa, or when the baby has hidden it
> at the bottom of a toybox... we then use the other.
>
> The 885 is nice -feels well, looks gorgeous, but the buttons are flush
> and are often hard to find without looking -which is the biggest plus
> that is _should_ have over, say, a Pronto.
> "Style over functionality" I'm afraid.
>
> The older one has almost all the same options and last I heard they
> were being sold in Dixons bargain bin for 20quid.
>
> The "extras" on the 885 are almost all unuseable anyway... you need to
> press a button to get to a screen that does 'macro-type' channel
> switching -ie. presses a series of numbers to switch to a channel
> direct... but it's not possible/easy to do it for more complicated
> channel switching like to those that are not part of the default SKY
> range of channels.
>
> And that extra button-press means it is never used... much faster just
> to key in the digits.
>
>
> If I had a standard telly, with standard vcr and dvd player and never
> had to do anything "silly" like change aspect ratio or sound setup on
> the tv, I'm sure a Harmony would do the job great... maybe I'd even
> manage to throw away all the other remotes in the room (something I
> haven't done to date), but I know I'll always be adding "up n' coming"
> things that always bring their own problems anyway.
>
> Prontos are old looking now. I'm surprised there aren't _real_
> competition/alternatives to them just yet (there are new Prontos
> coming that look more like Harmonys... I'm unconvinced) -or at least
> revamped more stylised Prontos (I know there are colour ones, but far
> too expensive... better off with a PDA I'd say).
>
> In short... I haven't been happy with any remote control apart from my
> Pronto -but I have spent the time to "develop" my Pronto screens a
> lot, so that makes me somewhat more attached to it.
> I'm sure you'd get along ok with the Harmony... much easier to use for
> quick-access -and it might look nicer in the living room.
>
> My older (now broken) Marantz 2000 Mark II (or whatever it was called)
> is a pretty ugly top-heavy beast of a thing, but I would rate it a
> close second to the Pronto -a lot higher than the Harmony.
> I'm not sure if they're made any longer. Mine doesn't work at all. Not
> sure what happened. I suspect that my daughter might have dipped it in
> Lucozade or something.
>
>
> Oh and one more thing I just remembered... I can't use my 885 anymore,
> since it doesn't recharge when placed on its dock (the dock comes as
> part of the package and its the only way to charge the 'non-generic'
> batteries. I think non-generic batteries should be outlawed.)
> I think maybe the 'metal strips' on either the remote or the dock have
> "fallen in" too much so they no longer make contact
> Must go back.
>
>
> These are my views. You'll have to judge for yourself what's right for
> you.
>:)
>
>
> -Kevin.
>
Thanks for the review and the bonus window into your life ;-)
--
Thank you kindly
POD {ҿ}
.`..`..`..`..`..`..`.
Oh people, know that you have committed great sins.
If you ask me what proof I have for these words,
I say it is because I am the punishment of God.
If you had not committed great sins,
God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.
.`..`..`..`..`..`..`.
[Back to original message]
|