On 05/10/02 11:30.56, jlozza said...
I'm perfectly happy doing any programming necessary
(hey I'll do the assembly code directly if I have
to).
The thing is that with the limited resolution
of the screen, surely there is a limit to how
much can be displayed. Whilst I might be happy
flipping through multiple pages for a single device,
I want to make sure that I can put enough a single
screen that will allow my wife (or a babysitter)
to be able to easily watch a DVD or flip to the
TV and change cable channels/view cable guide
etc.
I had (!) the Sony AV2100 for about 3 months and then was thinking about upgrading to the new AV3000 because my friend bought one and was impressed with the new additions. After seeing his, I figured I'd try the Pronto just for giggles (and to allow for a direct, side-by-side comparison). We had the remotes together for a total of 20 minutes when my buddy got a serious case of "Pronto Envy"... he went *right then* and exchanged his Sony AV3000 for the Pronto.
Am I going to have to use multiple screens for
basic functionality or is the resolution adequate?
The resolution is adequate. There are tons of ways to customize the Pronto that will allow you to make only the necessary functions show up on a single page. This will require a bit of tweaking using some of the tools available on this site (especially ChocoboLee's NeoHacker). Compare this to the Sony's non-editable LCD screen and the choice isn't that hard... (the AV3000 does have some editiable labels at the very bottom, but wouldn't you rather have the wife/babysitter push an intuitive icon rather than a cryptically abbreviated label?)
My friend and I are both Computer Engineers so we are a little more comfortable with the flexibility that the Pronto offers. It sounds like you aren't squeemish either when it comes to code. Those that aren't interested in customization and want a "fixed" remote should stick with the Sony (you can't screw it up that much), but if you take the time to customize the Pronto, then it BY FAR the way to go for almost any situation... especially for the occaisional user like wives/babysitters that don't want to have to figure out the complexity of the Sony just to do basics. The bottom line is: the Pronto is as easy as you want to make it. The more time you spend customizing it, the better off you'll be. In the end, the Sony is left waaay behind. You could easily create a "Babysitter Page" with basic functions on it that even a monkey could use... the Sony can't compare. The Sony is a great product but, since they are both the same price (or within a few bucks of each other), I would highly recommend the Pronto over the Sony... besides its nice to see your friends sticken with "Pronto Envy" as well! ;)
Have fun,
Chris
This message was edited by DerCritterMeister on 05/16/02 16:00.26.