Favorite all-in-one remote control?

I have a Pronto....forget it...
Take a look at Harmony remotes...they have three models and they look pretty well thought out...no macros or anything..it's all web based and then downloaded via usb into your remote...why didn't I think of that?
Steve

I have the MX-500 universal remote, I think it's a Theater Master. A search for MX-500 on ebay or google will turn up vendors. I learned about this on the avs and tivo forums (fora?), where it is far and away the most favored universal remote. It was easy to program, though I haven't done the more sophisticated things with mine, like having all your equipment or selected items turn on/off with the use of one button, macros to accomplish tons of things, etc. Everyone says these more complex things are easy to do with it, however. I got mine for about $97 from some online electronics retailer, maybe ABT Electronics or something, but you can possibly find them on ebay for less. A guy was selling one here about a week ago for $65 or so, but it was snatched up immediately.

Went from 6 remotes to the Philips Pronto TSU3000. If you get this make sure to get the Docking Station with the rechargeable battery. This baby does eat batteries. Also, spend the money and have someone program it with macros and make sure they know what they are doing. You will not regret it. All I know is my wife knows how to operate it and when she first saw it, she said "NO WAY". If she can use this thing then it is a sure hit.

Steve

One of my audiophile friends has a Pronto to operate his complex HT/stereo system(its 1 system for two purposes). I must admit I am by no means a remote control person or a techno gadget nerd, however, that thing is pretty neat. It can do ANYTHING for a system and comes in a fairly small attractive package that has tons of user friendly functions. He expressed the hardships he faced getting it programed :) but now that it is set, it is very helpful. If I had more then two items that needed a remote(they can be operated from one of them- so I really only have one remote) I think it would be the first on my list.

Harmony SST-768. I've owned one for about 7 months and am very happy with it*. It's compact, (one-hand operation), easy on batteries, huge memory (2MB), easy to program and to change the settings via your own personal page that you set up at Harmony's website.

It retails for $299 but is still inexpensive by Crestron standards. It's the only remote I know of that you program based on "activities". Just key in your components and how they are connected using their website "wizard" and it automatically creates the macros and hard-button mapping for each activity. It essentially creates a "block diagram" of your whole system which you download into the Harmony. And it loads every command from your OEM remotes for every component automatically from their database. Using the LCD, you can pull up any and all commands from the original remotes for every device in your system. Cool!

It also remembers the "state" of all the components in your system (whether on/off, which input, etc.) and spits out the right combination of IR codes to change to whichever activity you want (watch DVD, for example). It even has a HELP button. If things ever get "out of sych", you press it and it will get things back on track by asking simple questions on the LCD screen. It works because it has your whole system's block diagram stored in it's memory.
Genius!

It works as advertised. They even include the USB cable which the Pronto does not (last time I checked). The few times I needed tech support it was topnotch (and free).

Nitpicks - It would be nice if the hard buttons were backlit in addition to the LCD (they do glow in the dark on mine, however).

*I'm not a Harmony dealer or anything, just a satisfied customer! JZ