After 11 Phillips support phone calls...I finally spoke with someone that really understood the situation..... "Drivers intermittently working on 32-bit Vista systems and not at all on 64." According to him the software engineer crew from Belgium visits US corporate every so often, each time customer support staff get a chance to discuss customer issues, each time the engineer's hear many complaints about pronto owners not being able to use their remotes on their vista systems. Their answer so far, no intention of making drivers. Are you serious!?
My answer, no problem, have owned three pronto remotes, my next remote will be from another company that respects their customers....
I blame MS just as much. You would think that they could have engineered a backwards compatibility for the 64 bit system. Luckily one of my computers still uses Vista the 32 bit system.
Look at it from their perspective: why should they spend money to create drivers for a new Windows operating system for remote models that have been discontinued for several years? I'll bet there's less of a demand, world-wide, for that than for remote control programs that will run on Macs, and they aren't making those at all.
I'm with you -- I think it stinks that Vista has the whole driver problem set that it's got. But I don't think it's Philips' problem, or their responsibility to solve.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything. "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
I spoke with Phillips support today and was basically told try right clicking prior to running setup and checking the compatibility box for "XP" (even though I run vista) If that doesn't work "too bad but the remote has been discontinued". It's a great remote but if they intend to stop making drivers for remotes when MS updates their os...then I have no choice than to look for another brand I guess.
Too expensive to have to replace when it's working perfectly well...except when I need to run it with VISTA.
It really will make me think long and hard before investing in another phillips remote product. Very disappointing.
I had to replace my old computer and knowing (thanks to the good folks at RC Forum) that my TSU7000 would have compatabilty issues with Windows Vista, I was afraid I was going to lose a good dependable piece of equipment. It would be like losing a friend - sort to speak.
I was relived that I was able to hold onto my trusty remote when I was able to purchase a Dell PC with Windows XP operation option.
You know, MS gives away Virtual PC which would allow you to run XP on your PC, maybe even under Vista. Not sure about USB drivers but for sure, dual-boot would be an option.
I have Vista (32bit) and got it as soon as it was available!
I had no problems setting up my RU990 (TSU7500) or My Marantz RC9500 and have loaded all versions of the editing software and used it on TSU2000 and on RU950 & RC5400 and not had any issues. The only issue I had was a lack of a serial port for the TSU2000 and my Pronto Neo. But that was the USB problem NOT Vista!
As far as 64 bit Vista goes, that is a whole new ball game and I would expect issues there as it is a different OS in reality.
You can't blame Philips entirely although they are nothing special when it comes to support.
Stoobie
RC9500, RC5400, RU940 & Pronto Neo, Windows Vista.
Obviously the main argument to this is why should they have to in the first place on an older product. There are many very good answers, here's three:
One: because they can, it's a simple two or three page script.
Two: many of their competitors continue to support their remotes, thus its good for business and their image. (customer loyalty!)
Three: because the OS systems they were designed to be used with aren't even being offered by some of the biggest computer companies in the world (Dell for one).
Not going to attempt to tackle MS on this one...we all know vista, where would we start??!
I can confirm that Windows 7 RC 64bit works with my Pronto RU960. No need to use XP mode. It only looks like it takes more time to up or download.
I am very happy with this unit as backup for my TSU9400! Especially since this b/w version uses standard windows hid drivers, as i read somewhere in a message from Lyndel.
When you start it up, little ants crawl all over your screen diagonally, and when they hit the edge, they bounce, pong-like, off in another direction.
Every place they have traversed, the screen goes blank. In about a minute, the screen is blank except for these cool ants crawling around.
One difficulty, though, is that the program was written to move at a speed determined by the clock, and the clock speed at the time was 4.77 mHz. This was 1981, after all.
Today, that program clears the screen in about ten milliseconds and leave some ants traveling at BUGatti speeds (feature=fvst) all over the screen, too fast to even know they are ants.
Oh, yeah -- it also only clears off the DOS screen, as that was the OS at the time. Sometimes, as time marches on, the old stuff just doesn't work any more. Sorry.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything. "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
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