which should I buy harmony 1000 or the tsu9400

[Froogle]

Just wondering which would be best to buy?

I am using it for sky hd, vista htpc, and my onkyo amp. I may also use it to control some lights

Which would be best to buy?

cheers

[JimBobVFR400]

Horses for courses and personal preference and all that.

The pronto is a LOT more complicated to program but much more sophisticated, availibility might be a problem as the 9400/9600 series are aimed at professional installers and have modules for RS232 comtrol and other stuff (2 way communication with Escient Fireball servers etc)

The Logitech is aimed at consumers, a lot simpler to setup, looks spanking but doesn't have the ultimate configurability of the the Prontos

For specialist advice I'd recommend the forums at www.remotecentral.com

If you are willing to go 2nd hand then I'd personally go for a RU980/990 (US models TSU7000/TSU7500)

The logitechs are better out the box, the prontos come into there own with some custom programming and far surpass the Harmony when done but the default configuration is nowt special.

The only thing the Harmonys do that pronto doesn't is the remembering whats turned on thing (state memory or whatever they call it) but in an ideal world all of your kit will have discreet commands so this wont matter (i.e. specific IR code for turn on rather than the power toggle on the remote, certainly your amp will have discreets, the sky can be programmed with psuedo discreets, Sky for on and Sky-power for off works well)

[Froogle]

thanks for your reply.

To be honest I like the design of the pronto rather than the harmony. The harmony looks quite big. It looks like you'd need to use it two handed?

Can any of them be set up for media center? i.e. have the green button on them?

I would be looking at getting the pronto from America so shouldn't have a problem getting either

thanks

[JimBobVFR400]

Theres virtually nothing you couldn't do with the pronto, thats the point. Take a screen shot of the Green logo from media centre, trim and enhance in photoshop and use as a button in the pronto. Naked ladies as a background, pictures of anything, essentially the whole interface is customisable exactly how you want it. (and I mean exactly)

To get an idea you can download some users files and the software from the file area at www.remotecentral.com in particular check out the contest entries to see just what is possible design wise

Personally I would give my wifes left arm for a pronto 9400 and definitely wouldn't swop my old RU950 for a Harmony so get where you are coming from but I was trying to give you an objective response.

Just one word of warning though. The learning curve for Prontos can be quite steep, certainly on the older models like mine I wouldn't call the software user friendly. not tried the software for the new models yet. Its not too bad with experience but well daunting when you start. Also getting a usable configuration can take hours. I've had mine for a year and I'm still refining my layout to get it just right.

If you do go for the pronto and don't give up at the first hurdle then you wont want to go back.

[Embarker]

can the tsu be used via the IP-control for interface with MCE?

[JimBobVFR400]

There are several options for doing this I've read about.

Theres a plug in for slim server for music control, including coverart and playlist creation etc etc.
Theres also a peice of software called padone which integrates with MCE or WMP for control.

I'm sure theres more as well but don't want to read too much for fear of remote envy. My beloved RU950 suddenly looks a bit rubbish

[Embarker]

I have tried a MCE pda software with my spare HP and xlobby before.(also has the basic revo remote software, trouble is the ir is not strong and it can't learn my LCD)

I wanted to be able to use MCE and sky HD via the same remote and the same programme.

I had an idea of using my usbirt and say xlobby2 and stay outside of MCE, was thinking of just using my PDA via wifi. or even a 8 inch touchscreen via usb as main monitor then all video as second monitor - AKA LCD pj. If I learn all the ir codes for the blaster, could just use "one" unit for total control, inc play pause for sky hd.

I just hate having to juggle the a/c, pj, lights, sky hd, mce and onkyo remotes........... the latter has no real backlight either.

Maybe one day.....................

[JimBobVFR400]

well any old universal would control MCE via IR. The beauty of the ProntPro is the pronto script and 2 way communication. In essence with the slimserver plugin or similar it would be similar to the Zonos in operation but control everthing else as well.

For the ultimate option the Pronto comes with Escient Fireball control built in. Big bucks though