Can anyone point me to a discussion/debate about the 1000/2000/3000 models?

I think I want a 3000, but there are mixed signals in the reviews and posts that I find--battery life, sturdiness of the remote, shape, etc.

If I get a 2000 will I regret missing some of the hard buttons? If I get a 3000 will the battery life haunt me forever?

Thanks!

Craig

The 1000 and 2000 are not manufactured any more. Chances are if you buy one it will be a refurbished model.

The 3000 is a solidly built remote. Mine has been dropped many times from the end table to a hardwood floor and is still going strong.

The battery life will haunt you if you don't buy a docking station. With the docking station you'll forget that the thing even uses batteries. My 3000 goes on the docking station everynite when we shut down the system. The next day it we don't have to hunt down the remote because it is in it's home.

With the 3000 you will enjoy beging able to use the whole screen for your PCF. You will also like the EXTRA 11 buttons that you can program. The screen is also brighter than my 1000 and 2000. Instead of just 4 shade of grey you will have 16 shades with the 3000, so you can make more detailed buttons.

As far as the shape, it is nice looking and doesn't fit that bad in the hand. I can most of my remote controlling with one hand.

Dave

I think Dave covered most of it. Just to add a bit, the 3000 has many more software features as well (multiple jumps, back/forward jump...)

It is lighter and uses smaller batteries (AAA instead of AA) so it is normal that it would not last as long. I agree with Dave about the charger, but then again I have always had Prontos with chargers and would never think of getting one without it (be it 1000,2000,3000,6000,7000) the convenience of the charger (remote always ready, because you know batteries always run out at the worst moment) is incredible and in most cases there is the added benefit of making the remote easier to find.

also the 2000 was out of production over a year ago and the 1000 more then 3 years ago.

Thanks for the info. I will be going with a refurbished model to save some money. If you compare the refurb price of the 2000 and 3000, there is only about a $10-15 dollar difference. That alone would make me get the 3000, but if there were reason that made the 2000 superior I'd go that route. Based on these 2 posts, the 3000 looks like the answer. I'll take more opinions and make up my mind later. :)

Craig

Hi Craig,

A necessary item to go with your 3000 is The Ultimate Pronto Guide. Visit http://prontowizard.com for samples and more details.

Regards,

Dave D'Arche, Author of "The Ultimate Pronto Guide"
Visit http://prontowizard.com for samples
[email protected]

Thanks for not answering my post, but instead using it as a way to advertise. Sheesh...

Craig

Craig,

My experience is limited to the 1000 and the 3000. If you want my honest opinion, I'd say go with the 2000. It's got colors and it probably performs as well as a 1000. The main points why I decided to return my 3000 (aka "prontong") were the following:

1- Poor response times from the buttons. For example, you cannot punch multiple quick digits to jump to a channel. You have to take a pause between each keystroke -- even though you may hear the audible beep for each touch. This delay also has to be programmed into your macros. Quite annoying to say the least.

2- Poor learning ability. You'll have difficulty learning complex IR signals. I've seen postings from people having problems with B&O equipment. Also, learning multiple keystrokes is next to impossible. And if you think you can import your (functioning) macros from an older Pronto, forget it. The codes simply won't work.

3- Poor battery life. If you don't mind docking your Pronto in the evening like a cordless phone, and you don't mind the inconvenience, you can get a charger base to remedy this problem.

Once I discovered those three shortcomings, I returned my prontong promptly to the vendor. I'm sure there are more problems with it but I didn't want to torture myself any longer.

As for the spammer in this thread, he's only out to sell copies of his book, which is geared to the 3000 and the 7000; you figure it out.

Thanks for the input, boogman. The close-to-bleeding edge of me says 3000, but your input, and some of the reviews indicate otherwise.

Still thinking. :)

Craig

I would, HANDS DOWN!!!!!!, get a refurbished 2000. They are more reliable, more comfortable, MUCH easier for a beginner to program, and just plain EASIER to use.

I honestly wish the 3000 was better since the 2000 isn't being manufactured anymore, but alas, it is not.

There should be some in the archives here. I know I've posted about 2000 vs 3000 before.


Missing hard buttons will haunt you, the battery life won't haunt you if you get a docking station.

I replaced a 2000 with a 3000, and its stayed replaced for 8 months now. What I really wanted was the ability to program all the screen (only the middle 2/3rds of the 2000 is available for programming). With that and the hard buttons I fit about twice as much functionality on every screen. I don't like scrolling through screens so this a very big thing to me. I get much more functionality with a much more relaxed (more space between buttons) layout.

This isn't going to help you if you're not going to do your own custom layout. The built in stuff still uses just the middle of the screen like the 2000.

The bad news for the 3000 is the response. There is a noticible lag between pushing a button and the IR comming out (and this you TV doing something). This is reallly pathetic, but there is hope it'll be better in future revisions. This is really noticible if you ever go back to a 2000 from the 3000, you hit a button and something happens, just like that. It annoys me that I need to keep backing up my TiVo.

The battery life is worse than pathetic, its criminal, literally. I don't know how they can possibly claim 4 month battery life and not get sued. I get 2 days, 4 if I'm really lucky. With a docking station, this is no longer a problem. Never, ever, get a 3000 without a docking station.

The 2000 is just an expanded 1000 as far as I know, there's not much difference apart from more memory in the 2000.

So if you want to program your own, I'd go (I did go) for a 3000.

I almost forgot to mention the macro speed on the 3000 is also totally pathetic. Hopefully this will also be improved in a future update.

So even with all the pathetic issues, you still say go for the 3000? I have multiple Tivos and we like to replay/fast forward things a lot. If the 3000 won't work well for this, my wife will have my hide. There's no way I can get away with the cost of a 3000 and still have to have the Tivo remote sitting there as well.

I am going to do a custom layout, I've just started that this past weekend. I'll probably hold off from working on it further until I decide on the model.

Craig

Craig:

I'm really in the same boat as you. Not sure which remote to get. I've been reading all of the feedback, and like yourself, I don't want to make a bad decision on which one to get, or my wife will have my hide too!

Please share some of your personal thoughts.

Cheers!

Corey

There are two PCF's in the ProntoNG file area that have a Tivo in them. You might what to look them over. You might also want to email those people and get their thoughts on how the 3000 works with their Tivo's.

Any other Pronto 3000 users that have a Tivo in their setup. How well do they respond?

The 3000 has no trouble controlling my Dish 501 PVR in its replay/fast forward commands.

Dave

Luckily I'm not in a hurry to find the right remote, although I would like to make the decision so I can work within the right app to make my design/layout.

We will be building a house soon, and the Pronto will be needed when it's ready, 6+months, so it's still a ways out. If I get it sooner, which is the plan, I'd be able to get up to speed and play with different layouts. Choosing a remote that will allow anyone to turn on and use the system is key. High end control systems are very much out of the question.

Craig

Yes. Only the IR delay really impacts the user experience. I end up winding back more than I want.