This message board has been a big help-Thank you one and all!!!
One final question before I buy a 3000-- Should I take a chance on a used/refurbished or should I just get it new?? If refurb is ok- from where?

Thanks
Russ

I bought mine from eBay (a refurbished unit). At about 80 days in (of a 90 day warranty), the unit stopped responding to anything. I called Pronto and sent it in for repair and they said they would cross ship a replacement to me. After two weeks, they called me and said they were out of stock and would send a replacement ASAP. Two weeks later, a brand new (that's right - not refurbished!!) TSU3000 showed up and it has worked perfect ever since. So I guess I got lucky with my refurb... If you can afford it, get one new - if not, and you are willing to take the chance, go for refurb.

I bought a new one from Ecost.com for only $214, they say it's free shipping but after they add administration costs and stuff it turned out to be $221...that is still a good price for a new unit with full warranty! I think their current price is $212!

I bought a refurb TSU3000 with New charger and Philips warranty for $234.

So far, I am very pleased.

For me, after years of wanting a Pronto, the price of the refurb was the difference between buying one and not.

There is a big difference between used and refurbed. Refurbed comes with a 90-day warranty. Used comes (usually) with nothing. Nothing wrong with used. Just make sure that if it doesn't work or fails soon after you get it, you have recourse to recover.

Most electronic components will fail in the first few weeks of use.

In some cases a "refurb" unit has a better chance of long term use. This is because they get a much higher degree of testing than new units. Also, as noted, solid state units are most often apt to fail when new. It's call "infant mortality failure" in the industry.

bobb