Hi,
Jan van Ee provided some hint of things to come with future Pronto software but a question remains about what the software will do. Jan, could you confirm if my understanding is correct?
Currently, you can't have a macro button (multiple IR codes) on a device template page. The Pronto is currently arranged to segregate all the macro buttons on one set of pages. Jan's stated there is no inherent difference between macro buttons and regular buttons in the Pronto OS. I understood that to mean that future software would likely allow the user to arrange a Pronto configuration to have macro buttons and regular buttons on the same page. At least, it would appear there is no Pronto OS limitation that would prevent that.
By the way, until I had the chance to use a Pronto (I had to buy one first), I was a bit fuzzy about exactly how the Pronto OS was arranged and how I would be able to program it. That is why I took the time to provide what I hope was a detailed and clear description of my Pronto setup after I had a chance to work with mine.
After I learned the Pronto OS, I was to arrange my Pronto so controlling my home theater was simple even for someone who did not setup the remote (my wife). Don't get me wrong, she is very intelligent, but understanding how our previous remote control was programmed was less than clear. The Pronto, with its excellent (but improvable) labels, eliminates most new user difficulties.
Prior to buying the Pronto, I had been using a Mitsubishi X-255i. There is a good photo and a fair description of that remote in last month's issue of Equip magazine (a photo on the cover of a woman in an easy chair holding a Marantz RC2000II). The X-255i (about $140USD) has a small LCD display (to indicate the current active device) and all hard buttons - 19 buttons and 3 rockers on the front, and an additional 23 buttons and 3 rockers under a sliding cover. I was able to program that remote to adequately control my theater and used it for several years. However, the user can't label the buttons and you can't program ANY macros. This made it nearly impossible for my wife to use. Now, with the Pronto, we can both quickly and easily control the home theater.
In comparison, the only other system controller that comes close to the Pronto's ease of use is the Lexicon 700t (
[Link: lexicon.com]). It is not user programmable and cost about $2000USD without programming. An A/V dealer near me estimated simple programming cost to be about $1500USD. I have used the Lexicon at this A/V dealer and it is truly great (Crestron and AMX also have controllers similar to the Lexicon, but they cost even more). My completely subjective opinion is that the Pronto achieves at least 90% of the Lexicon flexibility for only $400USD. When the software becomes available for the Pronto, it, too, will be truly great at a fraction of the price. As it is, I think the Pronto is clearly the best system controller for under $1500USD and I heartily recommend it to everyone who has a Home theater that cost less than $25,000 (at that price, the cost of a Lexicon controller becomes almost moot).
Hope this helps.
Clay W.
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Received from Philips today....
Clay-
The software will be available in January of 1999, four short weeks away. This software will enable an enduser to configure, clone and store
Pronto files on a PC. This software basically mirrors the software that is "inside" the Pronto, but gives it a PC GUI. This is all done via an RS232 serial connection.
Philips Digital Group
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