Create a remote control that works just like YOU want it to
Written: May 30 '01
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Really configurable, good size, powerful IR transmitter
Cons: Easy to spend a lot of time "tinkering".
The Bottom Line: Great to create a universal remote control which works just the way you want it to (ie buttons, icons, screen layouts, navigation, etc). Excellent user community too.
|
|
|
| tedh's Full Review: Marantz RC5000i |
I've bought several "universal" remote controls previously to try and tame the number of IR remotes in our living room. The Marantz (which is essentially the same as a Philips Pronto) is in all respects superior to any of these others. Almost none of my equipment was among the included/pre-programmed list provided with the device, so I had to acquire the remote codes separately. I found I could get nearly all of them, together with screen layouts, etc - from http://www.remotecentral.com, where they had been contributed by other RC5000(i) or Pronto users.
Since initially getting the unit set up - using the PC-based software for it, rather than configuring/programming the unit via its LCD display - I have spent rather a long time creating a clean and simple set of screens to control all the devices. This can become quite a time-consuming pastime, but the end result is very satisfying because I now have a remote control that works just the way I (and my wife) think about the various tasks involved in using the equipment in that room.
The RC5000i comes with a rechargeable battery and charging station, but has such good battery life that I only put it back on the charging station every so often when it actually needs it (rather than regularly). The backlighting of the screen is good, you can make the buttons whatever size suits your fingers and eyes, and it is very easy to make it a very "friendly" device.
I think one of the key benefits in this unit (which I didn't get from any of the other universal remotes I've previously owned), is the active "community" of users from around the world (again a good place to start is http://www.remotecentral.com) who have developed and contribute graphics, device configuration files, utility applications and just straight-out advice on the use of the RC5000i.
Something worth mentioning, I bought the 2Mb model (which is what the "i" in the RC5000i is), but I suspect that for me - and the majority of other users - the otherwise-identical 1Mb version (RC5000) has probably more than enough memory while being somewhat cheaper.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
tedh
|
|
Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 0 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.