Well I am thinking about getting a Pronto. Though after reading the cracked screen thread/Pronto not repairing it for a fee, plus other worries posted here, I am a little worried and am having second thoughts. I was wondering if anyone has used a palm type case for their pronto to absorb any shock if dropped from a bed stand, or the likes and to cover the screen when not in use. I really want to get one but am afraid about the repair policy that Philips has. I don't want to shell out $300+ dollars and then one day accidently have it dropped and cracked, then stuck with a $300+ paper weight. Thanks.

You have a fellow - it's me (same thoughts...)

Underneath the screen there is a plate of glass (so it can break). But it is well made and it can take a tumble as long as it does not hit the screen. The other thing is that when the screen does not break, no one will mention it. Plus there have been many screen replacements. Don't worry about it, it is a very good remote.

I guess I will go over to my local electronics store and see if they have the 2mb one and to see how much it costs. I also want to feel it, to see how durable it is. Surprised that no one has built a rugged case for it. I was looking at the Fellowes Bumper, but it seems like it won't fit in that case. I will cover the screen with a screen protectors from Concept Kitchen. I have some in my house for my palm pilot.

I agree with Anthony - it's easy to be scared by the stories about broken screens, but think how many Prontos there are out there who's screens are perfectly intact! Mine has been dropped a couple of times onto my wooden floor and so far has lived to tell the tale! Buy the Pronto - you will love it.

Ok, I did it. I bought the Pronto 1MB one. I had been playing with Prontoedit for 2 days prior to purchasing the device. I think the helped me a whole lot. I had a basic design set up from ccf's that I downloaded from this site. So all I did was plug the Pronto and downloaded the ccf to my new device and it worked. I am now in the process of tweaking it to my liking. But I am really happy with it. Though the contrast thing is a little annoying. It is a little hard to see in a lit room, if not using the backlight. Thanks for the advice everyone.

Do you have the backlight set to come on every time you touch the screen? That would solve the problem I think.

Doesn't the backlight have a shelf life, eventually it will grow dimmer and dimmer with continual usage until it won't turn on anymore? I have seen it happen on my old Casio watch and my friend's Indigo watch. So unless I am in total darkness, I try not to use it. Or am I wrong in thinking this?

I don't know if any one has statistics on it (for how many hours will the backlight last), but I think you are right in assuming that with time it will ruin with use.
But my oldest Pronto is over a year old, I have backlight on all the time, and LCD time at the max. (4 min. I think), I have not seen any ill effects.

If you're concerned just set the backlight to come on for say 15 seconds so that you only use it for a minimal period of time. Like Anthony, i have mine set to stay on for a long time and I have not noticed any problem.

Paul: If the backlight comes on automatically, then the LCD time overrides the Light time.