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My impressions after using for 24 hours -- IF CONSIDERING PURCHASING, please review
This thread has 14 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Wednesday December 7, 2005 at 12:22
dhallag
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
January 2005
42
This is what I sent to Philips customer support... I know many of you have the same complains but I just wanted to add my two cents...

I am one of your contest winners and now that I have been using your remote non-stop for over 24 hours, I would like to make a few comments and ask a few questions (please be aware that I am currently using pronto sbc ru950):

Great Things about the remote:
1. Style: the look and feel of this remote is awesome!
2. streaming is a wonderful feature. I love that I can listen to my MP3's AND view photos from my server.
3. Setup -- your setup wizard is a great idea and helps make an easier setup
4. Activity based flow -- I also love this idea as this is how i make my decisions on how and what to watch
5. Included TV guide is also very nice
6. Ability to upgrade firmware and software on unit
7. Through your navigation, you have solved a lot of my power on/off discrete code issues that I have with my current remote. This is very good!

The following are some things that would make an overall medium remote a much better remote. For a $400 remote, I am actually very dissapointed that these features are not included (please feel free to comment and/or correct me on the below):

Networking and UPnP use:
1. The screen resolution should be better for viewing pictures. The pictures I can view are choppy and sometimes hard to make out
2. The fact that the wireless hardware is based on 802.11b and not 802.11g is very confusing to me. Now, I have to use mixed mode in my wireless network which has DRASTICALLY brought down my overall wireless network speed. This would've made your wireless users a million times happier as 802.11g is faster AND has longer range. I also use a laptop to view movies on my server AND now I am having major problems getting a smooth picture.
3. Better internal speakers and a headphone jack
4. Ability to sort the lists in folders AND ability to customize different levels of filters. For example, I would like to navigate folders like this: Music -- Generes -- Artist and/or Album -- list of music. OR have some group my functions within the displayed lists
5. List viewing: the fonts are too big which doesn't allow you to see the entire name of the song. This can be fixed by having a different screen layout and having the option of decreasing the font
6. Autoscrolling of pictures. Although there is a play button, you have to manually scroll thought the directory of pictures. It would be nice if it autoscrolled by a user defined number of seconds between pictures.
7. MP3 quality -- the quality could be better. Of course this is related to the speed of wireless network -- no 802.11g!?
8. In your documentation, you should suggest using QoS for wireless networking
9. No video streaming?!

Remote Navigation and Setup of Audio/Video equiptment:
Overall, a lot of work needs to happen here. My impression is that if you have a very basic system without many units to control, this will work only OK. My $100 Pronto SBC RU950/00 works much better.

1. Large issue: Users should have the ability to add activities. Through your activity based navigation, I cannot get to many activities that I do: listen to tape, DAT, phono, and others. To get around this, I have to navigate through back to the individual device control which is 7 or 8 different screens just to change the input to TAPE or just to press the sleep button or just to press the record button, or just to navigate through present radio stations.
2. Large Issue: Cannot customize screens. You force me to show buttons that I don't need or use, then page though to find buttons I philips thinks I need, ultimately missing functions/buttons that I need and use. Along with that...
3. Large Issue: No ability to change/add/remove buttons to screens. There are many buttons I use daily that I have to navigate back to the individual device control which forces me to go though 6, 7, or 8 different screens just to press one button. There are many functions that I use which are not available. If you are going to force me to display buttons I don't need, at least let me change the name of them. I know I can learn over functions, but who wants to press or can remember the button "menu off" is really to change the input to TAPE? Along with that...
4. No macro setup. Don't really know how large of an issue this is based on activity based flow. But because you cannot add activities, the ability to assign simple macros would be extremely helpful.

Other:
1. No PC setup or PC save configuration. What happens if this crashes or I forget to charge for a long period of time?

My overall impression is very mixed. Unfortunately, based on the above, I will still be using my older pronto until a firmware version that can come out to address some of the above: I just find myself having the navigate back to the individual device control way to many times. Additionally, this unit hasn't passed the wife test. MP3 listening and picture viewing is great... when watching TV or listening to media on my system, my wife has to ask me a million times how to do "x, y, and z." It just doesn't make sense to have to navigate through 6-8 screens just to press one button that's on the origianal remote AND it doesn't make sense where a button labeled "menu off" is actually change input to tape. I eventually wind up using the control screens in the individual device control for all my device control which this is unit is really not designed to do that, and because I cannot add buttons, there are just things I do a lot which I will never be able to do on this remote.

Your comments and corrections would be greatly appreciated. I would be more than happy to talk to someone directly on this.

The concept and idea is fantastic; just allow us to add activities, change screen layout, change/add/remove/create buttons, and save setup to PC, and you will have yourself a winner!

Thanks in advance for listening.
Universal Remote: Sony AV-RM3100, TV - Samsung TXJ2766, AMP - Sony STR-DE845, DVD - Sony DVP-3000, Tape - Sony TC-WE435, VCR - Panasonic PV-8661
Post 2 made on Wednesday December 7, 2005 at 12:36
floris
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
September 2005
15
Great review. I agree. Great Concept with a big "but".... and that makes the overall experience (for many) disappointing.
floris
Post 3 made on Friday December 9, 2005 at 11:30
tommylaws
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
December 2005
12
On December 7, 2005 at 12:22, dhallag said...
This is what I sent to Philips customer support...
I know many of you have the same complains but
I just wanted to add my two cents...

I am one of your contest winners and now that
I have been using your remote non-stop for over
24 hours, I would like to make a few comments
and ask a few questions (please be aware that
I am currently using pronto sbc ru950):

Great Things about the remote:
1. Style: the look and feel of this remote is
awesome!
2. streaming is a wonderful feature. I love
that I can listen to my MP3's AND view photos
from my server.
3. Setup -- your setup wizard is a great idea
and helps make an easier setup
4. Activity based flow -- I also love this idea
as this is how i make my decisions on how and
what to watch
5. Included TV guide is also very nice
6. Ability to upgrade firmware and software on
unit
7. Through your navigation, you have solved a
lot of my power on/off discrete code issues that
I have with my current remote. This is very good!

The following are some things that would make
an overall medium remote a much better remote.
For a $400 remote, I am actually very dissapointed
that these features are not included (please feel
free to comment and/or correct me on the below):

Networking and UPnP use:
1. The screen resolution should be better for
viewing pictures. The pictures I can view are
choppy and sometimes hard to make out
2. The fact that the wireless hardware is based
on 802.11b and not 802.11g is very confusing to
me. Now, I have to use mixed mode in my wireless
network which has DRASTICALLY brought down my
overall wireless network speed. This would've
made your wireless users a million times happier
as 802.11g is faster AND has longer range. I
also use a laptop to view movies on my server
AND now I am having major problems getting a smooth
picture.
3. Better internal speakers and a headphone jack
4. Ability to sort the lists in folders AND ability
to customize different levels of filters. For
example, I would like to navigate folders like
this: Music -- Generes -- Artist and/or Album
-- list of music. OR have some group my functions
within the displayed lists
5. List viewing: the fonts are too big which
doesn't allow you to see the entire name of the
song. This can be fixed by having a different
screen layout and having the option of decreasing
the font
6. Autoscrolling of pictures. Although there
is a play button, you have to manually scroll
thought the directory of pictures. It would be
nice if it autoscrolled by a user defined number
of seconds between pictures.
7. MP3 quality -- the quality could be better.
Of course this is related to the speed of wireless
network -- no 802.11g!?
8. In your documentation, you should suggest
using QoS for wireless networking
9. No video streaming?!

Remote Navigation and Setup of Audio/Video equiptment:
Overall, a lot of work needs to happen here.
My impression is that if you have a very basic
system without many units to control, this will
work only OK. My $100 Pronto SBC RU950/00 works
much better.

1. Large issue: Users should have the ability
to add activities. Through your activity based
navigation, I cannot get to many activities that
I do: listen to tape, DAT, phono, and others.
To get around this, I have to navigate through
back to the individual device control which is
7 or 8 different screens just to change the input
to TAPE or just to press the sleep button or just
to press the record button, or just to navigate
through present radio stations.
2. Large Issue: Cannot customize screens. You
force me to show buttons that I don't need or
use, then page though to find buttons I philips
thinks I need, ultimately missing functions/buttons
that I need and use. Along with that...
3. Large Issue: No ability to change/add/remove
buttons to screens. There are many buttons I
use daily that I have to navigate back to the
individual device control which forces me to go
though 6, 7, or 8 different screens just to press
one button. There are many functions that I use
which are not available. If you are going to
force me to display buttons I don't need, at least
let me change the name of them. I know I can
learn over functions, but who wants to press or
can remember the button "menu off" is really to
change the input to TAPE? Along with that...
4. No macro setup. Don't really know how large
of an issue this is based on activity based flow.
But because you cannot add activities, the ability
to assign simple macros would be extremely helpful.

Other:
1. No PC setup or PC save configuration. What
happens if this crashes or I forget to charge
for a long period of time?


My overall impression is very mixed. Unfortunately,
based on the above, I will still be using my
older pronto until a firmware version that can
come out to address some of the above: I just
find myself having the navigate back to the individual
device control way to many times. Additionally,
this unit hasn't passed the wife test. MP3 listening
and picture viewing is great... when watching
TV or listening to media on my system, my wife
has to ask me a million times how to do "x, y,
and z." It just doesn't make sense to have to
navigate through 6-8 screens just to press one
button that's on the origianal remote AND it doesn't
make sense where a button labeled "menu off" is
actually change input to tape. I eventually wind
up using the control screens in the individual
device control for all my device control which
this is unit is really not designed to do that,
and because I cannot add buttons, there are just
things I do a lot which I will never be able to
do on this remote.

Your comments and corrections would be greatly
appreciated. I would be more than happy to talk
to someone directly on this.

The concept and idea is fantastic; just allow
us to add activities, change screen layout, change/add/remove/create
buttons, and save setup to PC, and you will have
yourself a winner!

Thanks in advance for listening.
tommylaws
Post 4 made on Friday December 9, 2005 at 11:35
tommylaws
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
December 2005
12
GREAT, GREAT Review. I was just about to order the RC9800I until I read the review.
Several items,comments.
1. I thought the Phillips website stated that this unit had both b and g connectivity.
2. The 7000u has available downloadable 'shareware' programs to fully customize the 'buttonology' for that unit. Does anyone know if some dedicated soul is doing the same for the 9800i or, would these work on both units?

I was going to order an Philips RC9800i today but, after reading dhallag's very insightful review, I think I'll wait and see if Phillips reads this forum and is willing to make the appropriate changes. If they do, I'll buy one immediately.
tommylaws
Post 5 made on Wednesday December 14, 2005 at 05:41
fdawg2k3
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2004
3
very accurate review -I'm also a contest winner that's had mixed feelings about the 9800i...now i don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but it seems silly that the buttons are hard-coded: to use my TiVo I have to scroll through 4 pages to get back to the PVR MENU button every time I want to get to the NOW PLAYING list. And since Page 4 is the TV Guide, which takes forever to load, I typically just use my Tito remote instead.


While there are several nice features I think Philips really dropped the ball on this one. Adding a software config utility is a MUST (like the tsu7000) -if customization was a possibility I'd gladly pay $500 for this remote.
Post 6 made on Thursday December 15, 2005 at 16:46
mythaeus
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
December 2005
6
dhallag, et al.
i read your reviews and went ahead with the purchase anyway. it's 24 hours into usage and now i am a little concerned as i see how inconvenient some of the lack of features can be, especially customization issues.

if anyone reading this, i highly recommend NOT purchasing the unit until philips release customization software and firmware supports for such features.
Post 7 made on Thursday January 19, 2006 at 04:42
resque
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2005
15
im having my unit here as well. i totally agree with all that has been said. the 950/980 is so much better, and for 500 bucks... even the 930 is better. at least its cheap and it does everything i want it to do.
Post 8 made on Thursday January 19, 2006 at 13:17
destinyy
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
January 2006
5
I have to agree. I think the potential of the remote far outweighs its actual functionality and useability. Without PC customization options, it's severely limited. And I know that anyone willing to shell out $500 for a remote control is likely also someone who wants something they can put their own personal preferences into.

It needs to be able to store and backup preferences/data; it needs to have fully customizable interfaces (for each screen), accessible via USB/PC accessible GUI - even the cheaper HARMONY remote models far out-perform in this area.

It's a neat idea right now, what with the WIFI capability and the media streaming potential and all, but it's not a very neat or very robust end product. Especially for the price you pay.

I'm yet another comsumer who's hoping that future firmware upgrades (very soon) provide some of this. If not, I'll sell the unit on eBay and pick up something else with greater actual functionality.

Regards,
D. Simone
dsimone(at)destinyy(dot)com
Post 9 made on Wednesday February 15, 2006 at 00:42
fors8kin
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
February 2006
6
On December 14, 2005 at 05:41, fdawg2k3 said...
very accurate review -I'm also a contest winner
that's had mixed feelings about the 9800i...now
i don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth,
but it seems silly that the buttons are hard-coded:
to use my TiVo I have to scroll through 4 pages
to get back to the PVR MENU button every time
I want to get to the NOW PLAYING list. And since
Page 4 is the TV Guide, which takes forever to
load, I typically just use my Tito remote instead.

While there are several nice features I think
Philips really dropped the ball on this one.
Adding a software config utility is a MUST (like
the tsu7000) -if customization was a possibility
I'd gladly pay $500 for this remote.

F*** that Sh** you guys are being way to nice about this unit. I paid $$$ for this peice of fashionware!! Your review is right ON, and it p***ed me off that you kept apologizing to Philips. My 1996 RC2000 is more useable than this piece. I hope Philips does read this forum. I want my $$$ back to put towards a real HT Controller. No one buy this product unless you have a Sony Trinitron, an RCA VCR, Quadrophonic Amp, Atari game console, and maybe even a CreativeMP3 player with a cassette adapter for ur car!
CLH 5.1 61 DLP rulez!!!
Post 10 made on Saturday March 10, 2007 at 09:12
belanger
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
March 2007
1
Was there ever a software upgrade to address some of the above issues? I'm new and want the best remote in terms of flexibility/programmation, etc. This remote does look great but ... under the hood?

Thank you.
Post 11 made on Tuesday March 27, 2007 at 18:21
adam12hicks
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2004
36

This remote sucks. Don't bother. If someone gives it to you it'll still cost you money in time and frustration.

I'll be ditching my piece of crap 9800i any day now... replacement on order.
Post 12 made on Monday April 30, 2007 at 20:05
mysonsxj
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2007
4
I have to agree with the navigation issues. It is frustrating to scroll thru several different screens just for 1 button. But I do think the single greatest improvement would be if you were able to rename buttons.
Post 13 made on Friday June 8, 2007 at 23:53
Lawry
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2007
1
On December 7, 2005 at 12:22, dhallag said...
This is what I sent to Philips customer support... I
know many of you have the same complains but I just wanted
to add my two cents...

I am one of your contest winners and now that I have been
using your remote non-stop for over 24 hours, I would
like to make a few comments and ask a few questions (please
be aware that I am currently using pronto sbc ru950):

Great Things about the remote:
1. Style: the look and feel of this remote is awesome!
2. streaming is a wonderful feature. I love that I can
listen to my MP3's AND view photos from my server.
3. Setup -- your setup wizard is a great idea and helps
make an easier setup
4. Activity based flow -- I also love this idea as this
is how i make my decisions on how and what to watch
5. Included TV guide is also very nice
6. Ability to upgrade firmware and software on unit
7. Through your navigation, you have solved a lot of
my power on/off discrete code issues that I have with
my current remote. This is very good!

The following are some things that would make an overall
medium remote a much better remote. For a $400 remote,
I am actually very dissapointed that these features are
not included (please feel free to comment and/or correct
me on the below):

Networking and UPnP use:
1. The screen resolution should be better for viewing
pictures. The pictures I can view are choppy and sometimes
hard to make out
2. The fact that the wireless hardware is based on 802.11b
and not 802.11g is very confusing to me. Now, I have
to use mixed mode in my wireless network which has DRASTICALLY
brought down my overall wireless network speed. This
would've made your wireless users a million times happier
as 802.11g is faster AND has longer range. I also use
a laptop to view movies on my server AND now I am having
major problems getting a smooth picture.
3. Better internal speakers and a headphone jack
4. Ability to sort the lists in folders AND ability to
customize different levels of filters. For example, I
would like to navigate folders like this: Music -- Generes
-- Artist and/or Album -- list of music. OR have some
group my functions within the displayed lists
5. List viewing: the fonts are too big which doesn't
allow you to see the entire name of the song. This can
be fixed by having a different screen layout and having
the option of decreasing the font
6. Autoscrolling of pictures. Although there is a play
button, you have to manually scroll thought the directory
of pictures. It would be nice if it autoscrolled by a
user defined number of seconds between pictures.
7. MP3 quality -- the quality could be better. Of course
this is related to the speed of wireless network -- no
802.11g!?
8. In your documentation, you should suggest using QoS
for wireless networking
9. No video streaming?!

Remote Navigation and Setup of Audio/Video equiptment:
Overall, a lot of work needs to happen here. My impression
is that if you have a very basic system without many units
to control, this will work only OK. My $100 Pronto SBC
RU950/00 works much better.

1. Large issue: Users should have the ability to add
activities. Through your activity based navigation, I
cannot get to many activities that I do: listen to tape,
DAT, phono, and others. To get around this, I have to
navigate through back to the individual device control
which is 7 or 8 different screens just to change the input
to TAPE or just to press the sleep button or just to press
the record button, or just to navigate through present
radio stations.
2. Large Issue: Cannot customize screens. You force
me to show buttons that I don't need or use, then page
though to find buttons I philips thinks I need, ultimately
missing functions/buttons that I need and use. Along
with that...
3. Large Issue: No ability to change/add/remove buttons
to screens. There are many buttons I use daily that I
have to navigate back to the individual device control
which forces me to go though 6, 7, or 8 different screens
just to press one button. There are many functions that
I use which are not available. If you are going to force
me to display buttons I don't need, at least let me change
the name of them. I know I can learn over functions,
but who wants to press or can remember the button "menu
off" is really to change the input to TAPE? Along with
that...
4. No macro setup. Don't really know how large of an
issue this is based on activity based flow. But because
you cannot add activities, the ability to assign simple
macros would be extremely helpful.

Other:
1. No PC setup or PC save configuration. What happens
if this crashes or I forget to charge for a long period
of time?


My overall impression is very mixed. Unfortunately, based
on the above, I will still be using my older pronto until
a firmware version that can come out to address some of
the above: I just find myself having the navigate back
to the individual device control way to many times. Additionally,
this unit hasn't passed the wife test. MP3 listening
and picture viewing is great... when watching TV or listening
to media on my system, my wife has to ask me a million
times how to do "x, y, and z." It just doesn't make sense
to have to navigate through 6-8 screens just to press
one button that's on the origianal remote AND it doesn't
make sense where a button labeled "menu off" is actually
change input to tape. I eventually wind up using the
control screens in the individual device control for all
my device control which this is unit is really not designed
to do that, and because I cannot add buttons, there are
just things I do a lot which I will never be able to do
on this remote.

Your comments and corrections would be greatly appreciated.
I would be more than happy to talk to someone directly
on this.

The concept and idea is fantastic; just allow us to add
activities, change screen layout, change/add/remove/create
buttons, and save setup to PC, and you will have yourself
a winner!

Thanks in advance for listening.

You're right ,my friend ,and your review seems to be a very..."A to Z" one. It is (maybe ?) just because our expectations from a company like Philips ?The idea that this RC is built with it in mind is realy generous but let's don't forget that ,in fact, is nothing more than an Universal RC that has some extended features.
For shore it's doing its main purpose - to act ,mainly, as an Universal RC - and I like to think that is doing this on the best posible way. Unfortunately, all I can do on this moment is just to discuss "off hands" about this RC because I don't own one yet.
I'm currently looking for a such "gadget" - targeting a Philips one ( maybe just because all my electronics are Philips ) - and I'm still oscillating between some models like: SBCRU 960 , SBCRU 990 , RC 9800i and ,of course, the last "born" the TSU 9600. There are a few weeks since I've started my "research" for the "best posible for money" Philips Universal RC and still hard to take a decision yet. On the other hand, still a hard deal to find one within NZ market - looks like the NZ Philips retailers are realy scared to "jump" out of the crowd ( as long as all that they can offer is just a range of Univ.RC with very basic features ) - but if you realy find one the prices are almost prohibitive. All in all , after I will decide which one is the most appropriate for my needs and pockets my attention wiil go to an US , European or any other suitable "On-line Philips Dealer". I will appreciate your help and advice in order to get the best Philips Univ.RC for the money .

Thanks in advance,
Lawry

P.S. You can contact me at : [email protected]
Post 14 made on Wednesday August 15, 2007 at 17:23
thoupis
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
August 2007
124
Most probably this remote was intented for the "simple" people who don't want to spend countless hours on programming and just want to include the basic functions of all their remotes at one. If you want a really kick-ass remote go for the TSU9600.
Post 15 made on Tuesday September 11, 2007 at 01:48
Lyndel McGee
RC Moderator
Joined:
Posts:
August 2001
12,992
On August 15, 2007 at 17:23, thoupis said...
Most probably this remote was intented for the "simple"
people who don't want to spend countless hours on programming
and just want to include the basic functions of all their
remotes at one. If you want a really kick-ass remote go
for the TSU9600.

Thoupis, I could not have said it better. It was not designed to be PC programmable and can cover at best 50-70% of the more advanced use cases. If you really want a flexible remote with Javascript programmability, you definitely should look at a TSU9600. If you currently have a TSU7X00 remote, you should have a look @ the TSU9400 as your existing graphics and layouts should import in and work out of the box.

For those of you who may wonder just who in the heck I am, I beta tested the 7000 and the TSU9600 for Philips. Myself, along with several others have countless hours on both of these platforms. I, too looked at the 9800i early on and said NO WAY as it was NOT PC Programmable meaning no custom graphics, advanced network capability, etc. FYI, this remote is not supported by Philips Belgium (Pronto Team) and is has a completely different support group than the normal Pronto Line.
Lyndel McGee
Philips Pronto Addict/Beta Tester


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