Hi!

I've been following the Prontos (and this site) for years. Now I've bought a full home theater setup based on an MS MCE PC, and so would need a universal remote.

The iPronto seemed perfect for what I want, but reading the threads here, it seems no one is happy? It is just endless bashing. Please, if you have an iPronto that works to your satisfaction, reply to this thread. A lot of the complaints seem to be about advanced extras I'm not interested in, such as MP3 playing. What I want to do is this:
1) Replace the MCE control
2) Replace the surround sound system control
3) Replace the plasma screen control
4) Control an X10 lighting system (not yet purchased)
5) Replace the wireless keyboard and mouse
6) EPG
7) Web browsing (low priority though)
8) Use the microphone to voice control the MCE

Surely it can do that? No? Then which device can??

Secondly, anyone know where the European Prontos can be bought? (I believe the European iPronto is called RU1000?) Specifically in Denmark?

Brgds

Danny

This message was edited by dbjorck on 08/10/05 09:06 ET.

Hello,


Yes


Yes


Yes


Yes (if you have an IR to X10 converter)


No


Yes but some problems since last firmware, it seems..
I kept the previous firmware


Yes, but very slow
Not all functions (no java, no plugins..)


No

Agree with Jean Max. It won't do the 2 functions listed (unless your wireless keyboard uses IR, which I doubt). In fact, at this point in time, the microphone does absolutely nothing. Much like the USB port, there is nothing at all that it can be used for.

If you can do without the two functions, then it is great for everything you want really, as long as it is only basic web browsing you want. No streaming video sites or plugins here! Otherwise, I have to say I am very happy with my iPronto. At first I wasn't, but lately, they have addressed the main issues that I had with mine when I received it, and firmware updates have resolved the things I really objected to. I can't help feeling that we're paying for hardware we can't use, with a redundant USB port and mic, but maybe they'll implement them later. Either way, its probably only a couple of pounds on the price anyway. I would not be without mine now, if that is any help.

Hi!

I guess no-one knows, but what was the purpose for including a microphone then?

The wireless keyboard is definitely not IR, but I think it would be RF? And I believe I saw somewhere that the iPronto could learn RF signals as well, or have I been dreaming or misunderstood?

Brgds

Danny

Have a look on this paper from 2003 Monday, May 19:
[Link: webs.davis.k12.ut.us]

it's written :
-------------------------
""The iPronto has a built-in microphone and stereo speakers so folks can listen to MP3s from the Internet and eventually allow it to be used as a telephone or accept voice commands"".
-------------------------

This was a copy/paste from a Philips advertisment I have read at this time
It was the "dream time", I suppose ?

This message was edited by Jean-Max on 08/11/05 10:33 ET.

iPronto is available in the Netherlands at: http://www.hermeselectronics.nl/

X10 Hardware: http://www.letsautomate.com

X10 Software (also hardware): [Link: homeseer.com]

No, not dreaming, but it was badly worded. Caught me out a bit as well. What the iPronto can do is learn IR commands. If you buy a Netx, it will use the Wireless Network and Netx, convert the IR code to RF, send it to Netx, which will then convert back to IR! It will not learn RF codes, and has no way to transmit them in RF format to RF devices. The RF referred to is only a means of deciding whether to send the code from the IR transmitter on the back of the iPronto, or whether to send it via RF to the Netx and transmit the IR signal from there.

IMHO, they'd have been better calling it "Netx" or "WiFi" or something, since RF is a term commonly used in Home Theatre world.

Hope you can make sense of that!

Hi!

I feel I have a grasp of it now. One main reason for considering the iPronto over the ProntoPro was the large screen size. There were two things I could see myself do with that;
1) Replace the wireless keyboard and mouse so I really have only one piece of equipment to keep track of
2) Simple browsing, for instance being able to look up a recipe on the web and take the iPronto with me to the kitchen (recipe sites tend to be simple, without Java or plugins, and currently I'm running back and forth between the kitchen and living room when I want to do this)

Since 1 is not possible, and 2 would only be used occasionally; and more importantly, there hasn't been an avalanche of people saying they are happy with the iPronto, I'm wondering if the extra money is really worth it.

I'm at my wits end and can't decide now. The ProntoPro is more "hand friendly" than the large iPronto, and I will want to move around with it around the house to control lighting and sound. Anyone with experience of both (preferably after the latest iPronto update) with any tips and feedback that could give me inspiration enough to decide?

Brgds

Danny

No problem for this

I hate the fact that Philips hasn't yet made good on promises made while marketing this product, but I would never give up my iPronto. It works great as a whole house audio/video remote control, and that is what I primarily use it for.

Chad

i love my ipronto. it controls my whole home theater and all my lights. I just don't usually go to forums to praise only to complain. Most people spend time using products they like and writing about ones they don't like!

last post is true. nobody says how good it is. lets face it it aint bad but not as good as it should be. check out the ipronto hacked post to see what I think we should do. it could be so cool!

+1

I would like help with this unit. I customized the icf screens but I'm afraid to upload them and mess up something.

Does uploading the icf files changes thing permanently? any help is appreciated.

thanks.

no
Any upload of a new ICF replaces the previous one
Any upload of a modified ICF version, replaces the ICF previous version

The first good idea is to save to your PC the initial default ICF factory installed in the Ipronto
So, you will able to return to it easyly

This message was edited by Jean-Max on 09/22/05 02:17 ET.