We are custom contractors located here in NJ. We currently use a variety of high end and entry level remote control systems.

We are currently looking into the Pronto.

We go to Philips' site and see that Pronto offers several model #'s. (500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 6000,)

Can anyone tell me briefly about the differences of each and what you have had experience with.

Sincerely,

Tom

the best remote for the price....as long as your willing to invest days(months) to learn how to program efficiently....

tsu-500 and 1000 are no longer available
tsu-2000 black and white version
tsu-3000 available soon
tsu-6000 color screen
they're reliable and easy for the customer to use....(when the programming is right)
buy one and play with it before you start selling it

you're on the right site to get answers...

500 - a relatively inexpensive remote. Pretty versatile with macros, but the screen is not nearly as customizable as the other models. A good programming job would probably cost more than the remote.

1000 - Original 4-shades of gray Pronto with 1Mb memory. Very customizable with endless options (with imagination)

2000 - Same design as 1000 with 2Mb memory

3000 - Brand new design with 16-shades of gray and more hard buttons including a cursor pad.

6000 - 256-Color version of 2000 with 6Mb memory and a couple extra hard buttons.

I have used the 500 and 6000 as well as equivelant Marantz models for the 1000 and 2000. Also new models from Marantz (5200 and 9200). For new customers, I would recommend looking into the 3000 when it's available and the newer Marantz models. These are endlessly customizable, and with a good configuration, your customers will love you. The 500 (and equivelant Marantz 3200) is a good lower cost option as well, but I highly recommend a simple, straight-forward design (this applies to the other remotes as well). Navigating too many pages is a downer for most end-users.

Also, an excellent customizable remote is the MX-700. I programmed one of these for a blind guy. Yes, a legally blind guy! He can see shadows and can see somewhat to the extreme sides, but can't see the remote one bit. And after not too much orientation, he can operate a projector, A/V receiver, satellite receiver, CD, DVD and Lutron lights. The MX-700 is easier to program too. But it is a bit costly.

Hope this helps.

Be willing to spend some time with it and get the feel of the programming before you spec them.

Unfortunatly, the included documentation is pretty bad. Fortunatly, you have found the site for the best Pronto programming information. When you start, just ask. There are A LOT of very talented programmers who visit this site, including the site designer/guru himself. All hail Daniel!!

Thay dont sell the 500 anymore??

anyone know if the 3000 is available? and if so, where?

Mikeyb,
A blind guy with a projector?

the 500 is the Pronto NEO, and is still available (as far as I know)

The 3000 replaces the 2000 that replaced the 1000 and should be out in Jan 2003 (at least that is the info that was brought back from CEDIA)

The Neo uses a different file format , different screen size, and is incompatible with other Prontos, and all X000 models are compatible. The Pronto 3000 will use a different file format, but it should be able to use CCF files (not sure on the other way around). There is also the new iPronto tsi640 that should be coming out in Jan

Like Mikeyb said, there is also the Marantz equivalent
RC5000= ts-1000
RC5000i = Tsu-2000
RC5200 is an updated 5000i with more hard buttons and a slightly different interface that gives you more screen space
RC9200 is the color version of the 5200
RC3200 = TSU-500

Yamaha RAV 2000 = Onkyo CHAD = Pronto TSU2000

Here are some helpful links
ProntoPro: [Link: remotecentral.com]
Pronto TSU-2000/RC5000i: [Link: remotecentral.com]
Yamaha Rav 2000: [Link: remotecentral.com]
--------
ipronto: [Link: remotecentral.com]
Pronto TSU-3000: [Link: remotecentral.com]
-----------
FAQ: [Link: remotecentral.com]
files: [Link: remotecentral.com]
forum: [Link: remotecentral.com]

P.S. I have used/programmed 1000, 2000, 6000, and all of them program the same way and some editor.

Don't think about using the tsu 500 and its marantz equivilant, they are not customizable to make them anything more than a glorified remote. The 2000 is a good entry level but no RF capabilities, the 3000 which is its replacement rectifies this though. I have limited experience with the 6000 but the two that I have programed have been nice. I also program the RC5200/RC9200 which are nice because of the hard buttons on the bottom. The RF is a bit tricky to make 100% but work with it, once the 3000 arives I will probably stop using the 5200 as the 3000 will have all of the buttons, and RF, and more grey scale plus be cheaper. All in all I like the RC9200 and the RC5200(I have one in my living room).

Thon -

Yes, it's true. He sits about 8 feet in front of a 120" diagonal 4x3 screen. Then he sits sideways and can partly see what's going on. He can't navigate DVD menus, but he has help with that from other members in the house. He memorizes the positions of the buttons on the remote and gets by real well!

How does the Pronto compare to Xantech's URC2.
Programming capability?
Programming time?
Customer's ease of use?
Customer's appeal?

Never used the Xantech, so I cannot compare

almost endless up to the maximum memmory. There are configurations that contain peoples complete collection of DVDs and CDs (some using pictures of the jackets). Any number of macros, Macros can call other macros, but the maximum # of steps in a macro are 255. Buttons can be any size from 1x1 to 240x320.


depends on what you do, it could take from a few minutes to hundreds of hours.


depends on how you set it up


depends on how you set it up

-------------

I don't actualy work in the custom installation business, but one of my tasks in the company I work for is to setup our videoconference rooms, I also program the Prontos we use. It has definetly helped a lot with simplyfing our systems, and making it easy to use by anyone.