As a "near future" Pronto customer, I'm wondering if the optional docking/recharging station is worth the extra $$$?

Well, it's dependant on what you want it for. People have reported that the Pronto is frugal with power, so you're not replacing batteries all too often.

However, the dock does make a nice place to keep your unit when not in use. Plus it's comforting to know you've always got a full charge and you'll never have to worry about replacing four AA's.

But if you're thinking of using it to save money, I don't think it'll pay for itself over any reasonable timespan. It's more of a convenience/decorative item.

When I got my pronto and charger I was so excited to play with it that I used the included batteries instead of waiting a few hours for the charger to charge the NiMH batteries.

Maybe others have had different experience, but I killed those included batteries within 3 hours. I'm not sure if the learning/programming modes of the beast suck more power but I was sure glad for that charger. Of course, like Daniel said above, it also makes a nice decorative stand for the unit. Sort of gives it that Crestron/AMX type look when sitting on my table.

I just picked up my Pronto today and the included, shrink-wrapped batteries lasted about 3 minutes. I put in some new energizers and it has been a dream ever since. I am thinking about the charger/stand, but I really don't have a convenient place to plug it in near the coffee table. I just think that the batteries they send with the unit are junk, but I didn't buy it for the batteries...

Thanks for the feedback. From the responses I think I'll pass on the recharger. The stand sounds nice enough but my wife and change seating positions in our home theater and take the remote with us each time, tending to leave it wherever we last sat. As long as the unit runs resonably long on good batteries, I'll go that route and save the dollars.

Thanks again!

For me the enclosed set lasted 10 days with
all lighting set @ 60sec.

With Energizer, 20 days again @ 60sec.

Right now I got Energizers in again, but with
delay @ 30sec , and a month in have 60% bargraph.
So I'm guessing 2-2.5mos. Not bad really.

Obviously the kicker is the backlight delay setting.

I've had all the timers at 30 seconds.

Original batteries that came with it.

10 devices programed (some are copies) and
5 powerdown macros. By the way I turn the preamp done 10db before powering it off.

I've had it for a month and I just checked the
battery meter and it's at 3/4. I doubt the meter is linear.

I use it almost every morning (tunes while getting ready for work [and the wife is gone so I can blast it :-)]

My daughter uses it a bit in the afternoon for tunes.

I watch (rented DVD) movies once or twice a week and tunes a couple evenings a week.

I don't use it if just the TV is on.
I don't mind tossing the TV remote around, dropping it, sitting on it etc.
It takes quite an abuse I don't want the Pronto to see. So I'm keeping just the old TV remote out.

I have a NiMH charger and batteries for our digital camera. I would be the only person in the house to put the remote back on the charging stand (my wife and son live in a perpetual state of anarchy) so I'll just by a set of NiMH batteries.

Got my Pronto before Thanksgiving. It is still on the original batteries! 30 secs for backlight, 10 for hard buttons. The wife is home all day, so this thing gets used!

My batteries are holding up great, even though they're the cheap originals. Original programming and lots of use, and I'm still near the top of the cell. While I think the stand looks cool and I'll prorbably get it, it won't be because of poor battery life...

I recommend getting NiMH rechargable AA batteries. They have lasted me about 2 months now, and the meter is at 1/2. Plus, you can use the charger and batteries for other devices as well. It is a much more cost effective solution to the charging stand.

Unless you're after the neat cosmetics of the stand (which is rather nice), I'd go buy two sets of NiMH AA batteries and a charger. Should come to between $40-$50 (though someone meantioned Batteries Plus has a good deal on NiMH AA batteries - $10 for 4).

As far as the freebie batteries in the box, yes, they're cheap ones. Don't put too much stock in how long Pronto lasts on those.

The backlight is probably the biggest factor on how long your batteries will last. Try to minimize the value of that timeout - remember it restarts each time you touch something. And there's always the backlight button on the side. Set the light level to something appropriate to the environment Pronto is used in, too - it all helps.

I have setup as follows
LCD 60 sec
LCD Light 5 sec
Button Light 5 sec

Level 3rd tick
Touch beep active
Button beep inactive

Original oem batteries installed 12/29/98

In a darkened room, the backlight will stay on a full minute :o)

Battery meter still reads full

Compared with the unreadable RC2000 MKI I've had a couple years and after countless sets of AA Energizers and Duracells, I think this is GREAT!

Wayne