Ok I haven't programmed C4 or Elan g! in a while but I like being able to change the program the way I want. I'm NOT a fan of wizard based programming. I have programmed Crestron(new to full line), RTI, Extron, URC, Pronto, Marantz, C4, Elan, Nevo, Harmony, and even Sony. I will learn AMX one day also. I like the challenge of learning new programming and HATE wizard based programming. But Prodigy Composer is good for what it is, simple standalone systems. It is good for what it is. How is Prodigy incomplete at best? I'm missing something I think. Granted I don't do a lot of Prodigy and only use it for standalone single room systems.

I can program RTI, Extron, and even some Crestron faster and with a smoother backend program then with URC. I guess I should take a look at Total Control before I say anything about new programming.

Damn. that scares me. if I cant trust Crestron who the hell will i trust?

 It seems like they may be trying to lock Prodigy down and have a more Wizard type control option, think advanced Harmony. I could totally be wrong, but I'm sure they can develop the software enough to do some cool things and that's it. Lock out any customization at all (c4 anyone?).

For those that CAN provide a more elaborate and/or customized solution, they will be able to as Full Line Crestron Dealers. 

I wonder if by getting rid of the XP processor, what they are doing is actually just making it the new full line Crestron Prodigy Compliment and pricing it the same as the PMC3 is now? This would be a great move IMO. 

Full line dealers need to have a solution at the Prodigy Price points to compete AND use Crestron, otherwise we are forced to RTI/URC/Whatever. 

Prodigy has been available in AVAD for awhile now and has changed my business at all. If anything there is more opportunity for skilled programmers. I'm in CA and crestron ships from the east coast. It is sometimes damn near the exact same price with shipping for me to just go to AVAD 15 minutes away and pick up Prodigy Gear. Even though we are a full line dealer, there wasn't any issue setting us up with AVAD also. We did so as a backup solution to getting product in a pinch, but haven't had to yet.

Yep.

Huh? Why are you NOT programming Prodigy in SIMPL?

Just got an email from my rep. There will be a line for full dealers coming out to replace Prodigy.

I am unsure about the pricing. I have heard too many differing opinions about this. Some say the price on full line used to be Prodigy but are now full line products will be more than Prodigy. This actually makes sense in some ways if other things fall in place. Let's say that Prodigy gets its own R&D team, for example. We were told that the new IDE will be seen first in within a new SystemBuilder. Since the new IDE has been built on the .NET framework and a new version of SB could be written to compile to a language other than SIMPL. Yes, I mean that since the 3-series processors are .NET devices it is possible that a new wizard could compile to IML. This is an interesting thought and a total guess on my part. I could see this being the case though. I can also see Crestron building very specific firmware for these devices. For Prodigy to become an "easy" for millions of users solution is going to require that Crestron focus their Prodigy resources on making the system as plug-n-play as possible. This can be done and done in SIMPL but I am starting to lean towards this new IDE we know is coming. It is also highly possible that Crestron doesn't give access to Flash objects in VTPro for Prodigy only gear. Or any of the other cool new features that are on the way. Who knows? I am sure we will all get better information as people speak to reps at CEDIA.

That is the best way, but I had to try the Prodigy wizard!!

That makes sense. I hope they release the new programming environment soon, I willl be all over it!

Then how is the programming incomplete if a PMC2/3 works the same as an MC2/3?

Are you a Crestron programmer or just trying to learn it?

Been a programmer since 2001. Crestron is supposed to move SIMPL+ to an object oriented language. The rumor is C#, I know how to program C#.

Just a rumor. It's a distortion of information from last Master's class. There may possibly if we are lucky and in some distant time-space continuim be the ability to do some driver programming in C#. Do not hold your breath expecting to one day wake up and be able to program an entire system in C#. Not going to happen. While you may wish for it like many of us this is a pipe dream. Think about it from Crestron's POV concerning training. Can you imagine trying to teach C# to a class full of people who have never programmed in 3 or 4 days? Not possible. I used to work for Crestron teaching the current class types. It's hard enough to get people comfortable in VTPro and SIMPL in a 5 day training session. What you keep hearing about C# is that Crestron is rebuilding SIMPL, VTPro, SIMPL+ on top of the .NET framework. They are using C# as the language to do this. I could see a Master's class or the Certification class touching on VB.NET or maybe on VC#.NET but never fully programming a system from ground up in that language. Sorry if that is a disappointment but I am afraid this is reality.

|Prodigy programming is incomplete at best compared to Control4, Elan g! or RTI.


Ok so why are you saying that Prodigy programming is incomplete? You have multiple platforms that you can use to program Prodigy. You only have one with Elan, C4, RTI, etc. Prodigy composer isn't for you and me. Of course it would seem incomplete to you. But the Prodigy dealers are happy with it. Kinda like how URC dealers had no idea that they didn't have a true control system and now URC told them they do.

I am saying if Crestron is sending Prodigy to distribution, there is a good chance you can't use SIMPL on it anymore.
If you have to program a system then open another program (System Builder) to finish, that to me seems like an incomplete solution. I could see if you programming the logic and the GUI separately, but you not in this case.

If you never used anything else shame on you.

C4 proramming is better a better experience than Prodigy rpogramming.

avgenius1, thanks for the info! I was under the assumption C# would take the place of SIMPL+. I wonder if the SIMPL will be based off of .NET, we would be able to create web services?