Philips Pronto Remote Control Remote Controls

Philips Pronto Remote Control Remote Controls 

DESCRIPTION

Universal touchscreen, programmable LCD remote

USER REVIEWS

Showing 41-50 of 64  
[Dec 26, 1999]
Scott Kuchma
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Unlimited potential,solid build,software control,Great Web Support base.

Weakness:

Not instantly user friendly.Somewhat intimidating.

Had the unit for about 4 months and am now starting to love it.It is a high tech device and is probably better received by people with more time,patience and programming experience than me,however I am learning this and with more time will eventually be quite happy.
I can see its potential long term and was very impressed with all the WEB based support.I feel that these sites will only help future improvements and development of this product.This is important.
I've just added a Pioneer Elite VSX-27TX to the roster and must now add its programming to the Pronto.(a Christmas break task)I also have the X-10 IR543 interface to add and then my macros will really start to impress the wife.
All in all, and impressive product with a great future.
Thanks for all the great reviews.
Scott...

Similar Products Used:

Individual product remotes.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jun 10, 2001]
Wade
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Controls ANYTHING with a remote (even my old POS Emerson TV), is easy and fun to use, and dazzles the lay-dees...=)

Weakness:

Whenever you use ProntoEdit, DO NOT CANCEL THE DOWNLOAD TO THE PRONTO. You will more than likely fry the memory.

Wow, where do I start. I've had the Pronto for over a year now, and it has yet to fail me. It controls every piece of my Home Theater flawlessly, even down to my digital cable box. I even have it controlling my X-10 lights, which, by the way, is a very nice and cheap add-on for any home theater.

The menu system is very well laid out, and with the ProntoEdit program that you get from Philips, it's very easy to make a remote control that is as entertaining as the TV show you're controlling with it.

My one gripe is that the ProntoEdit program is kinda funky. I was accidentally downloading the wrong stuff into the Pronto from my computer and hit the Cancel button to stop. When I did, the Pronto began to reset, power on, and then lock up, and reset itself, over and over, until I took out the batteries. So I called Philips, and much to my relief, they told me that there was a way to fix it, albeit more of a "quick-fix" type of solution. It worked, and I have my Pronto back. Just whatever you do, go ahead and let that configuration file download into the Pronto. Do not stop it for any reason or you'll regret it.

But, since I'm reviewing the remote and not the software that you can use with it, my _one_ gripe doesn't hurt my rating at all. If you have a multi-component Home Theater, then I HIGHLY suggest you get a Pronto. You'll be glad you did.

Similar Products Used:

Various other Universal Remotes of a much cheaper scale.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Oct 07, 1999]
aaron guenther
an Audio Enthusiast

this is the ultimate remote. the only negative about it the fact that the lcd is not color. with the pc/serial connection and support from www.remotecentral.com this remote can do anything you want it to. totally worth the money. i am told though that it eats AA batteries rather quickly so i opted to get the recharge pack and docking station. so far, it's been awesome!!! even my girlfriend likes it and thinks it's easier than using 9 different remotes!

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
[Apr 18, 2001]
Peter Rini
Casual Listener

Strength:

I can't find any IR device yet that I have not been able to control!

Weakness:

ProntoEdit (the software to REALLY customize the remote) is not easy for an average user. Manual for ProntoEdit doesn't help either! I have also found problems with the connection between the remote and my PC (tends to be a little flaky at times).

I heard of this remote a while ago from a friend, and thought it sounded cool. So, recently when I decided I was tired of trying to find a place to put all of my remotes (especially where they can all fit in an area together), I figured I would look for something better and remember my friend talking of the Pronto. I must say I am in love with it! I'll also admit that I was a real geek and brought it into work to show some people the custom menus that I created. Wonderful resources such as http://www.remotecentral.com and http://www.prontoedit.com have downloadable customizations that other people uploaded for various devices. It's great because I went and downloaded the files for my Stereo receiver, DVD player, Satellite receiver, and TV. It saved me the time of having to make the remote learn each individual IR code. The files you download also have the design that the person who uploaded the file created. Some people use cool little icons that they create too! There are also alot of built in IR codes that you just need to go through the little menu to find the devices you have, and you can use the standard menus. I also have a computer that's hooked up to my main TV that I sometimes use, and it has an IR keyboard/mouse, and I have a section on the Pronto to be able to control the mouse from the remote! Now all I need is the IR to X10 converter to control X10 from the remote!

The ProntoEdit program would be dificult for most people trying to use it. Being a computer programmer, it wasn't too difficult to figure out, but there were a few things, that took me a while to find out what in the world they were for. The ProntoEdit manual didn't help much either.
I just can't wait for Philips to come out with a color display! 256 color would be incredible! :)

Similar Products Used:

9 other IR remotes, best one out of all of them was a Sony universal 2-way learning remote that came with my STR-DE945 receiver. But still, no where near what this sucker can do!

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
[Mar 28, 2001]
Rob
Casual Listener

Strength:

Small,Programmability with ProntoEdit Software.

Weakness:

Owner's Manual, Philips Pronto Website.

This review is for the 1000 model. If you are lucky enough to still get one of the 1000 models, by all means purchase it. The original selling price for this model was $400 and now it's going for $259. Be advised, they are moving fast.

This remote does everything that the previous reviewers have mentioned and more. Be advised, when you first open the box to this remote do not think that you are going to get those cute little network logos and button layouts that you see advertised in the magazines. You are definitely going to have to do a little computer time to get them. For those who are very good at the computer, learning the ProntoEdit software should be just a walk in the park. For the rest of the casual computer users out there, download the ProntoEdit user manual from the remotecentral.com website. Trust me, it will take the edge of the intimidation factor that this remote can give you.

Once you go through the ProntoEdit manual a couple of times and read the reviews on remotecentral.com, you will start to see the true potential of this remote. After two weeks of tinkering around with the software, I have the remote the way I like it. Also, if you have your old remotes that makes programming this remote a lot easier.

So for those who are thinking about buying a universal remote, this is THE one you want. Yes, it is a little pricey but after you program it, you will wonder why in the world were you using four or more remotes. Go to remotecentral.com if you want even more information on this remote.

Similar Products Used:

Various universal remotes.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
[Jan 09, 2001]
Rick DeHaven
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Very versatile with on-board IR brand codes, learn feature and Prontoedit.

Weakness:

A little hard to see the lcd screen, understanding Prontoedit and a weak manual.

I have not yet downloaded anything from Prontoedit. I set my complete system up including X-10 lighting using only the internal brand database and the learn function. Everything works great. I will tackle Prontoedit soon! The remote is a little wide for my hands and it is a little slippery but it has a quality solid feel to it. If it keeps working then I don't feel the price is all that bad. So far, I love it! I even put a wife button on the home page with action buttons for shop, cook, sex, fetch, mute, etc. My wife didn't think much of this but my friends thought it was kinda cool. P.S. I still haven't found the IR codes yet for these cool buttons!

Similar Products Used:

Producer 8

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
[Dec 28, 2000]
Nick D
Audiophile

Strength:

Works absolutely everything

Weakness:

tough to program, batt life, dosent quite fit into you hands

Well I love the pronto, It really does replace all your remotes. It is fully customizable and has lots of memory. BUT the pronto edit software has no instructions and is tough to figure out. It takes a fair amount time to program. I recommend playing around with the software for a while before you try to program you pronto. Also its really much easier to download a complete proto configuration fro remotecentral.com and edit it to your likeing. Much easier then building it from scratch at least for your first time.

Similar Products Used:

Sony, hk, marantz

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Aug 21, 2000]
Wayne
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Ease of use, powerful macros, size.

Weakness:

None that I have found

I called every electronics store in Memphis trying to find this remote, and finally found it a couple of weeks ago. I read all the reviews I could find of similar remotes and decided I HAD to have the Pronto – because of it’s customization ability and also ease of use after you have
programmed it. I have a wife and daughter that do not want to have to use 5 different remotes to turn on our new home theater and control DVD, TV, DBS, VCR, RCVR, CD, MD, etc.
I found the answer to my wife’s prayers – Philips Pronto!!

After a quick glance at the instruction manual, I immediately took all my remotes and let the Pronto learn their respective commands. This took About an hour and a half. I then setup a couple of macros for my aforementioned companions. All in all, about 2 hours. The Pronto performed flawlessly. We were once again a happy family.

I later downloaded ProntoEdit and some CCF files to start with from RemoteCentral. I am now addicted to “tweaking” the Pronto every chance I get. I used ProntoEdit to add channel icons and macros to do everything I could think of. It works beautifully.

There are files for almost any device you might have already programmed for you, just download and tweak them to your hearts content. Be sure to upload new files you create – give back to the fine community of users out there.

All I need to make everything complete is some kind of IR control for my Rotel 1090 amp. Anyone know of device that can be used for this beast? The Rotel is a 2 x 380 watt amp. I would like to be able to plug it into an IR capable control of some kind.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Nov 26, 2000]
Omer2
Audio Enthusiast

Hey Omer (below),

Hoooked on fonicks reeely wurked fer mee!

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jan 03, 2000]
Rich
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Easy Programming, Great Software

Weakness:

None

I was able to get rid of 8 different remotes. My 3 year old is able to get to her stations with the push of a few buttons. My wife can watch DVD or VCR movies through our home theater system with the push of two buttons. What more could you want. What was before really complicated is now simple. We also have our 200 disk changer programmed into this great remote. Just select the Artist and Album and the remote will play that cd. I love this remote. Can program it to look just the way I want it to. I Can design buttons and pages through the free software download of ProntoEdit. I repeat. I love this remote.

Similar Products Used:

Sony Programmable Remote

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 41-50 of 64  

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