It is impossible to define the best remote, but I would like find the best remote for myself.

My priorities (not necessities though since no remote will meet all criteria):
- DIY remote (I like to tinker a lot). This is a must.
- One handed remote
- Hard buttons for basic controls such as volume, navigation
- Hard buttons for playback controls and power
- Touchscreen (likely some hybrid of touchscreen and hard buttons)
- Good/Great ergonomics
- Interface to Windows Media Center in a really nice way.
- Interface to iTunes
- Under 3k. Below 2k would be nice. I would spring for more for a truly compatible remote.

Really, I find myself with limited options and not terribly excited about any of the offerings (current MX-900 owner and its outdated now).

- I like the MX-5000, but no power hard buttons. I really want those since I use those for all lights on and off since I also have a full home automation setup.

- The pronto offerings are interesting, but the 9400 and 9300 don't have playback control. May be able to live with this, but not sure if they are motion activated touchscreens.

Oh yeah, its a long video...but something to fill this gap is what I am looking for:


So that is my short list. What other candidates should I consider? At this point, that is the information I am really interested in.

Your describing RTI, but it's not a DIY brand. My suggestion: Sacrifice something on your list. Your criss-crossing in and out of DIY/Dealer Only capabiilibilites. Otherwise, improvise: The Pronto would work for you - you can use the function keys for playback control - just customize them for play, pause, rewind, etc.

The 9600 will be in your budget with an extender. The 9800 will take you up and out.

Vincent

vbova is correct, look into Pronto.

BTW, the MX900 is far from being out of date, it's still one of their biggest selling CI remotes.

So I am not really missing anything from my short list then? Yeah, RTI might be nice, but if there is no DIY version, not sure that it would be for me.

The 9800 pronto is not a candidate for me since it is not a 1 hand remote. I should have specified it was in the order of priority (most to last). So DIY and one handed are pretty much must haves.

I know the video is quite long, but you will see I am hard to please, haha. That is why I have looked at very different approaches as shown on the video. However, I was hoping that there might be some other options other than RTI, URC, or Pronto that I may have missed. I am not sure any of those solutions will really be satisfactory to me. Like I said, I am hard to please, and am really looking at things from a significantly different angle than 99% of users. For example, I think the air mouse or touchpad may actually win out over the conventional approaches. But I would like to give the conventional approach a harder look since I currently have the MX-900 which is "OK", but is not as good as my unconventional air mouse setup for my needs.

Anything other than these brands will not be good alternatives. If it aint suggested here eithher it dont exist or shouldnt exist.

Haha, well good to know there is nothing I am missing. I feel like I am a little too far ahead of the game (i.e. I am now starting to consider typical handheld remotes as "old school" approaches). And trust me, I have had great experiences with URC back to the MX-500 over 10 years ago. It's not like I am new to this game (i.e. a member since 2001).

But I have fallen out the realm of typical remotes in favor of alternate approaches and was not sure if I had missed some great offerings in the meantime. Though it all looks to be the same as I pretty much remember.

I am still partial to URC and the 5000 looks like a good offering due to the ergonomics. I suppose I am in the minority, but the great double ring back in the MX-500 days is gone in favor aesthetically pleasing remotes (that don't necessarily have great ergonomics). The 5000 is a return to at least thinking about that aspect. I am not too impressed by the offerings from RTI and Phillips since they don't appear to have good no look "feel" to them.

If you are a true DIY and can go with out the hard buttons you may consider a look at Charmed Quark. Paired with maybe a Samsung Touchscreen 7" PC? I hope you have free time.
http://www.charmedquark.com/

Otherwise, RTI is probably the way to go. Maybe even Crestron if you want a good 2way interface for Itunes and Media Center. Autonomics.

They have a 2way for RTI too but I havent used it.
[Link: autonomichome.com]

We all like to tinker but when you get into a control system this nice you are better off leaving it to people that have been doing it for years. I know most hate analogies here but this is kind of like buying a Mercedes and changing your own oil.

Thanks for the response. I have tried cqc, but it didn't work well for me. Again, no hard buttons and that would be a 2 handed remote. Right now I use homeseer since cqc gives me problems which even dean could (owner) could not easily address. In fact, j9 is probably better than both of those in many ways. If you viewed my video, you will basically see an approach that is attempting to use those tools, but in a unique way.

I will look further into rti, but they don't look very ergonomic. And I hear what you mean about the pros. Problem is I don't know that the pros can achieve what I am looking or meet my needs better than my current approaches.

I am a different breed though. I always liked to mess with my cars too and still do, but only if it's fun ( I like this home automation stuff). If I did like to change oil, I would do it, regardless of the car. But it's no fun so it's not a fair analogy. But something to keep in mind since I definately don't pop the hood anymore (or in my case "the trunk" since that is where my engine is (if you catch my drift). But it's not unheard of for guys to change their own oil on even the Italian exotica if that's what they are into. It's not like I don't have the cash, it's just that I'm not convinced the pros (even crestron) can better meet my needs.

Thanks for the help fellas. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything and you guys helped me fill in a few gaps.

There really isn't an all in one solution if you require a hand held remote. Our typical solution is to provide a large touchpanel and a hand held remote. The hand held remote is for watching TV and the large touchpanel is for subsystem monitoring & control of source that you need feedback for.

As for the prontos.....

Pro: They have 5 soft keys that you can use for transport control.
Con: You dont get all 8 (typical DVR) and you cant use the soft keys for anything else.

IMO there isnt much of a difference between URC to RTI in terms of form factor/hard buttons etc. Neither of them will...

- Interface to Windows Media Center in a really nice way.
- Interface to iTunes

ITunes maybe if you just mean access to the audio & video files via AppleTV or an Ipod dock.

My advice would be to stick with the MX-900 or maybe move to the MX-980 if you want to keep your ON/OFF buttons. IMO ON/OFF buttons do not belong on a PC customizable remotes that have softkeys and touchscreens and i am glad that URC ditched them with the MX-5000 & MX-6000.

This remote looks like it might get you most of the way there. [Link: remotecentral.com]
Touchscreen/2way/hardbuttons and a programmable 5way joystick that might work out for WMC "mouse" navigation. [Link: procontrol.com]

That does look pretty nice.

I think I settled on the iPad for now. I can create a fully customizable layout which will nicely interface with the HTPC and does iTunes well (as well as all other HA). The only real disadvantage is the lack of hard buttons, but that is largely mitigated by the customization of buttons and their relatively size based on priority. It is mounted on my chair, angled towards me, and acts almost as a "zero" handed remote for the most part. Some issues, but nothing too major and if seems to be fitting all of my needs.

Stamp...the new Procontrol series is still going to be dealer-program-only.

I was sitting here thinking "he should try the iPad" the whole time i was typing.

I assumed this was going to be their answer to Harmony and URC's products that are available at magnolia.

No offense, while I agree the ipad is a great way to control and utilize home automation, it's main knock is that it's not very comfortable in the hand. I don't know if it's becuase of a new concept or whatever, but they ned to make this thing a little bit more 'holdable' for lack of a better word.

As I indicated in other posts, the future of the ipad being in this market is very real. This is not a fad or flavor of the month or even year. However, I feel that it has a long way to go. A lot more than a controller makes for a control system.