All reviewers like these 1000 in 1 remotes but with one reservation - you have to look at it to use it.

I say: Design a remote that has a flip top. The top section of the "touch screen" is visible all of the time, but the lower part/cover lifts. The lower part contains the number pad and the direct/up-down controls + VCR type buttons.

Now, under the lower section is the touch screen. including the visible section at the top. The always visible section contains the device buttons. Below it is the rest of the "virtual" remote(the LCD section). This is the area that users can add ALL of the features from their other remotes but they are so rarely used that they are willing to lift the front and look at the remote.

How's that? If I had connections or knowledge in these areas I would develop it myself, instead I'll suggest this to one of the leaders in home-theater.

Well, what do the other users of this message forum think?

MarZ

First, both the Pronto and IRIQ have a few well placed frequently used programmable hard buttons. Just enough in my opinion.

Second, remotes that lean the other direction with more hard buttons and less screen (although not a touch screen) exist, it's called an RC-2000 Mk-II.

I think a lot of folks goals here are simplicity for anyone in the family (Wifes, Kids etc.) to confidently, safely and easily operate complex HT's.

I also think a "cover" over more hard buttons would completely defeat the purpose of adding more hard buttons.

Actually, his idea was that the cover actually had the hard buttons on it (keypad, transport) over another section of the screen with less-used functions under it. The only reasons I can see for a "cover" is to keep size down and to keep prying hands away from sensitive features. Sounds good? Yes.

But I feel it would become too much of a pain for anyone who actually needed to use the buttons under they keypad. Additionally, it would be a weak spot in the design. My experiences with "covers" and "flip up sections" haven't been too good.

What we need is a remote with all basic functions in hard buttons, but also with a large LCD with everything else. I'd really like to see the Pronto developed this way, but the unit would probably get too big. I'm sure there's a way to do what we want... maybe with one of those IBM "butterfly" keyboards. :-)

Why not just get a voice activated HT???

Wellll, that might be tricky when people start yelling things at the screen!

I guess when watching football games you could disable the voice activated responses... :-)

I find the Marantz, the Pronto, and the IRIQ all too be too large. I would like one that fits more comfortably in my hand. It needs to have very intuitively placed rockers for volume and channel so that as the remote lays in my hand my thumb falls on the rockers. It also needs the ability to add macros. The Cinema 7 remote for $20 from Walmart is very close. Great size and lots of extended programming codes. I just with it had some indicator of which device it was set for and I wish the rockers were larger.

Joe