Posted by TSKO on 01/21/06 21:40

"Tonester" <fake@aol.com> wrote in message
news:IevAf.4476$Hd4.1372@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>
> <eganders@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1137865679.232662.92200@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>> What is the best universal remote out there at a reasonable price?
>>
>> There are many universal remotes out there, but outside of turning on,
>> switching channels, playing & recording, most don't seem to control all
>> functions so you still have to keep the original remote to set
>> schedules for the VCR or the contrast, brightness, etc for TV's and so
>> on. Even if some of these are controllable by the remote, good luck in
>> finding where they are or remembering what button to push. If all the
>> buttons were on the remote, it would be the size of the family car.
>> Using the original remote to program the codes in the univeral remote
>> would be long and tedious to get all the functions from the old remote.
>>
>> My idea of a perfect remote would be one that would allow you to select
>> each device by a single button and have a touch screen that would be
>> setup to emulate all the device's functions. It would probably have to
>> be set up using a code like most do today, but I would think that
>> downloading the functions from the internet or an included CD would be
>> more practical since loading and maintaining all the functions you
>> would need would be very hard in the remote itself. I would think
>> doing the setup and generating the macros would best be done on a
>> computer also.
>
>
> Any of the Harmony remotes work just like you suggest, execpt they don't
> have a 'touchcreen' which is a good thing. Touchscreens are a pain. People
> think they want that until they actually get it then you realize it takes
> 2 hands to operate it and you have to constantly look at it. Tactile
> buttons are the way to go.
>
> But anyway, look into the Harmonys. I have the 880 which is less than $200
> if you shop around, and it's worth every penny.
>

I just bought a Philips Pronto, that has your touchscreen. I got it at
Buy.com for about $180, and that included the docking port. Its a bit
daunting at first to get it up and running, but once you do...it works
great. It holds up to 15 devices (I think). I have no probs with the
touchscreen (there are also hard buttons that can be utilized). Overall,
thumbs up.

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