It's the main reason I'm not (as yet) happy with any computer/AV convergence box. The things that work well look bad, and the things that look good are buggy.

And the things that (should) work well and look good are still mighty expensive.

Maybe we should wait a year or two more?

That was my conclusion - but I'm sticking to just one year. I don't think I can bear the mess of video tape and CD clutter any longer...

One word: Pronto ... even gets SWMBO's stamp of approval

And that would mean .... ?

(we have 7 remotes )

Ah, so I take it you're just using the projector for watching films, with a normal TV for watching, er, TV?

Most of the time. International football is considered "worthy" too

I do have a TV for watching TV on, but it's a 28" widescreen of good vintage.

I'm currently running a Naim Audio stereo amp and a pair of Monitor Audio speakers as the missus frowns heavily upon the concept of rear speakers. Or at least, the wires for them.

My problem now is that the speakers cause magnetic interference with the TV...but seeing as how I don't use the speakers for normal TV, setting up something dedicated for DVD...with a projector...hmmmmmm... :scratchch

I managed to persuade my other half using a very cheap DD setup (Videologic) and "The Matrix" and "Titanic". Rear speakers really add to the overall atmosphere of the film...

I'm quite lucky with the shape of the room. the speaker cable just runs around the outside along the skirting board. Being flat and white it's very inobtrusive even where it does rise above skirting board level.

I've never looked back since getting the projector and it really has changed our experience of watching movies at home. I'm not exaggerating when I say that going to the cinema is often a disappointing experience in comparison

Faye

And that would mean .... ?

(we have 7 remotes )

Pronto is a cross between a palm and a remote control. You can download remotes to it which include screen layouts. The screen is touch sensitive and touching the pictures of the buttons activates that function on the remote.

I believe it can handle 7 devices happily.

There are other learning remotes which do similar things eg. One4All Kameleon.

What Faye says

The Pronto is a very flexible remote control in that it can control an infinite (up to the memory limit of 2Mb (current version)) number of devices. As an additional bonus it can deal with macros (i.e. have a button labeled 'watch dvd' which switches your amp to DVD, powers the TV and DVD on and opens up the DVD tray for you to put a DVD in) and timers (have it switch on the TV at 6:59am if you wake up at 7am normally). There can be quite a lot of programming involved though.

I've never looked back since getting the projector and it really has changed our experience of watching movies at home. I'm not exaggerating when I say that going to the cinema is often a disappointing experience in comparison.

Well, if you want someone to come round and tread popcorn into your carpet and throw pear drops at the back of your head, I'm sure I can sort something out for a small fee...

Rob.

The biggest lecture theatre in the building where I work has a data projector linked to a PC, Video and has spare scart and PC connections. A year or so ago, one weekend we had a Star Trek day by bringing the DVD player in along with each of the Star Trek movies on DVD.

It was great, the system is wired into 6 large speakers and the screen is almost cinema size. Raised a lot of money for charity.