I am currently thinking of buying a Marantz RC2000 or a Sony AV2000.

I like the look of the Sony better but I can't work out how it works

From what I've read it seems that if you select say VCR, then certain buttons show up on the LCD screen. Now I know the labels are set and cannot be changed but can you show buttons which are not shown by default, ie can you show the menu button for VCR's. I won't buy the remote if I can't get into my VCR's menu to set the timer.

Perhaps the marantz RC2000 would be the better buy, both cost the same in the UK anyway. The new pronto and others will be beyond my budget if and when they ever arrive in the UK.

--- Steve

One of the keys under VCR is a "menu" key, you can also program an "execute" key, and the four arrows. So no problems going to the menu of my vcr and moving around to program (Sony vcr). One thing that bugs me was the lack of a sp/ep label key. I think I ended up programming "clear" for ep/sp.

You can also spread cmd out over more then one control key. Example: I programed/moved the eject cmd for my Vcr from VRC1 to MD/DAT (don't have one of those) after I was messing around and spit the tape out in the middle of taping something :) Whoops, sort of defeats the idea of a remote control if you have to hop up and run across the room to put a tape back in the machine.