Wow, thats a fancy remote right there.

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-Pronto-TSU9800-Multimedia-infrared/dp/B001N01H8A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1280113546&sr=8-1

 

I'll stick with my $5 solution for now LOL. However I will agree that is cool as heck.

apple remote.  Only problem being its easy to lose it down the back of the sofa

I have XBMC running on an original Xbox right now (going to be moving to Acer Aspire Revo soon hopefully), and I use a Logitech Harmony 700 to control it all.  It works incredibly well and did not cost an arm and a leg.  I highly recommend any Harmony remote if you want to get rid of "remote clutter".

After several recommendations I purchased a Harmony. Awful thing. Or rather great thing but terrible software.

 

Best thing i ever done was buy a HP MCE remote from ebay. Intuitive if ugly with 100% WAF.

 

Roll on the Boxee remote

Doesn't the boxee remote have a keyboard on one side? Or I should say the back side?

I'm in the same boat as Prostuff1, currently running XBMC on a classic xbox but am going to move to an Acer Revo.  I don't have a remote set to it but I have a Logitech remote that has the Learning ability which makes it really nice.  Hopefully it all works well together.

Doesn't the boxee remote have a keyboard on one side? Or I should say the back side?

 

Yeah. the sory is that at some point it will be sold separately. Looks like a good bit of kit. No interest in the software or media player but the remote looks good assuming they get the BT sleep working under linux

Kizer,  The real beauty/power of the Pronto PRO line is their full programability. Being able to do TCP and UDP over Wi-Fi opens up tremendous capabilities. Almost all manufacturers are going away from RS232 and going to TCP/IP.  All new Sony megachangers that have a LAN interface and an RS232 interface can be controlled totally over the Ethernet interface.  I use a Global Cache device to receive TCP strings which are IR patterns and issue IR to those things around my home but not in the theater.  The pronto talks to the Global Cache and response is instantaneous.

 

Some times eBay will have a Pronto for sale at a very reuced pice when a user finds themselves over their heads.

Yeah I used to control my Xbmc setup with my phone, but then later realized that keeping it on wifi really at the batteries and of course the wife couldn't rely on the fact that my phone was available. However it was really handy when my boy would come to me in another room and I could change things for him without even looking at the TV.

 

I have the Xbmc and the Roku device for my kids netflix movies. I know they both support tcp/ip controls, which would be rather nifty on that remote your talking about.

I will probably just write the XBMC IP control code for the Pronto PRO line. It shouldn't take more than a few days given what I already have in my code snippet drawer. I will design it to be open so that other devices could be controlled without rewriting too much code.

 

For anything requiring a mouse or keyboard, I've been using an integrated keyboard/remote from Lenovo:  http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/integration.workflow:ProductDisplayItem?GroupID=38&Code=57Y6336

 

...which isn't something I'd want to write a novel with, but for adding something minor does the trick.

 

That's the mini-keyboard I have, I hate it... at least as a remote.

 

There's no backlit keys, so you have to turn on the lights to do anything... Everytime you breath in it's general direction the trackball moves, pulling the OSD on XMBC, and it really needs to have big arrow keys with enter and back on the bottom, where the empty handle is...

 

Kizer, think I may get me one of those old Xbox remotes, looks sweet!

Anyone have one of these?

 

ProMini 2.4GHz Tiny Wireless Keyboard (Built-in TouchPad/Laser Pointer) - Black

http://www.amazon.com/ProMini-Wireless-Keyboard-TouchPad-Pointer/dp/B003I60MBU/ref=pd_cp_e_3

 

What about a Logitech diNovo Mini

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-920-000594-diNovo-Mini/dp/B0011FOOI2/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_c

I can see several other alternatives on e-bay:

This looks very interesting, but has no backlight:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-Wireless-MCE-Media-Center-Keyboard-Remote-Control-/290456753133?cmd=ViewItem&pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item43a09253ed

 

As does this (with a backlight)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-Wireless-PC-Keyboard-Mouse-Touchpad-Remote-Control-/180538235744?cmd=ViewItem&pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2a08eadb60

 

I have no experience with either...

 

I can say from personal experience, the lack of a backlight makes a keyboard difficult to use in a darkened theater.

 

For anything requiring a mouse or keyboard, I've been using an integrated keyboard/remote from Lenovo:  http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/integration.workflow:ProductDisplayItem?GroupID=38&Code=57Y6336

 

...which isn't something I'd want to write a novel with, but for adding something minor does the trick.

 

That's the mini-keyboard I have, I hate it... at least as a remote.

 

There's no backlit keys, so you have to turn on the lights to do anything... Everytime you breath in it's general direction the trackball moves, pulling the OSD on XMBC, and it really needs to have big arrow keys with enter and back on the bottom, where the empty handle is...

 

Kizer, think I may get me one of those old Xbox remotes, looks sweet!

 

I wouldn't. They are great (i have 3) but they lack the buttons you will come to love. i.e. too few buttons to be really as useful and too many to be apple minimalist.

I can see several other alternatives on e-bay:

This looks very interesting, but has no backlight:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-Wireless-MCE-Media-Center-Keyboard-Remote-Control-/290456753133?cmd=ViewItem&pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item43a09253ed

 

As does this (with a backlight)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-Wireless-PC-Keyboard-Mouse-Touchpad-Remote-Control-/180538235744?cmd=ViewItem&pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2a08eadb60

 

I have no experience with either...

 

I can say from personal experience, the lack of a backlight makes a keyboard difficult to use in a darkened theater.

 

for XBMC, Tab key is important to me, as is the inverted T for searching music.

I'm thinking of the Logitech diNovo Mini

 

But in reality, I have a logitech bluetooth keyboard and mouse already.

 

My setup is kinda funny.

I have the 40" samsung in front of me, and then to the side of the stereo rack I have a small desk with a 24" monitor as the dual display, keyboard, mouse and remote.

I'll have to take pics one day.

I guess I don't know what I'm missing honestly. I play music, watch tv/movies, view photos and I've never thought man I wish I had some more buttons. I guess since I've never had anything else I don't know what I'm missing. LOL

 

The only thing I can think of honestly is the ability to type directly in the imput boxes opposed to using the on screen keyboard, but for my wife and kid my little solution has worked great since the Xbox went to the way side.

 

Remotes a Plenty

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m570.l1313&_nkw=xbox+remote&_sacat=See-All-Categories

 

You will also need an adapter to connect the dongle to and covert it to USB. They often popup and vary in price. Just make sure one end accepts the Xbox Controller (female) or in this case the DVD remote dongle and the other is USB. You don't want the male so you can connect a usb stick to your Xbox. LOL

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Xbox-Controller-PC-USB-Converter-Cable-Adapter-/180532683590?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Video_Games_Accessories&hash=item2a08962346

 

As for drivers they are available on XBMC on that thread I posted earlier and for Linux you would use LIRC and pick generic for the driver for the dongle anad generic for the remote.

I guess I don't know what I'm missing honestly. I play music, watch tv/movies, view photos and I've never thought man I wish I had some more buttons. I guess since I've never had anything else I don't know what I'm missing. LOL

 

The only thing I can think of honestly is the ability to type directly in the imput boxes opposed to using the on screen keyboard, but for my wife and kid my little solution has worked great since the Xbox went to the way side.

 

LOL!! That's funny!  Actually, for me there are some keystrokes that are not available on the remote.

I have to reprogram the remote and lately, I've been busy, so I just use the keyboard.

 

Although what I really wish was a way to do something like a CTRL-F type in a string and have it find all files that match the pattern.

 

I use file browse mode rather then the librarian mode, so I wish I could just click some search and type in what I want to find.  maybe one day I'll make a plugin or something.

 

I just find my current Microsoft Media Remote lacking some functionality that I use pretty often on the keyboard.

Besides, I use the machine for other things too.

Yeah in XBMC you can find the key map settings and you can determine how much a skip forward is and how much a skip backwards is.

 

Sounds great.  Where do you find them?  In a menu or in some file?

I just use the phone style 'keyboard' on my remote to skip to a particular letter or start typing in the title of a movie or artist (e.g. double tap '2' to type 'b', etc.).  Not as quick as a real keyboard, but it still saves a lot of scrolling.  Also in XBMC if you press the 'right' arrow while in a list of media, you will select the scroll bar, which will let you scroll much faster.

Yeah in XBMC you can find the key map settings and you can determine how much a skip forward is and how much a skip backwards is.

 

Sounds great.  Where do you find them?  In a menu or in some file?

 

here you go

 

http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Advancedsettings.xml#.3Cvideo.3E

What about a Logitech diNovo Mini

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-920-000594-diNovo-Mini/dp/B0011FOOI2/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_c

 

I primarily use a MCE remote with a diNovo mini for when I need a keyboard.   The battery in the diNovo seems to last forever, I bet I only charge it every 2 months or so.   

 

I used to use a full sized wireless keyboard, but it was always in the way...  Or the cat would step on it....  Or I would stash it under the coffee table out of the way and it would get full of dust/cat hair/crumbs...   The diNovo mini solves all of these problems because it is very small and has a clamshell cover.  The backlight pops on when you open the clamshell.

What about a Logitech diNovo Mini

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-920-000594-diNovo-Mini/dp/B0011FOOI2/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_c

 

I primarily use a MCE remote with a diNovo mini for when I need a keyboard.   The battery in the diNovo seems to last forever, I bet I only charge it every 2 months or so.   

 

I used to use a full sized wireless keyboard, but it was always in the way...  Or the cat would step on it....  Or I would stash it under the coffee table out of the way and it would get full of dust/cat hair/crumbs...   The diNovo mini solves all of these problems because it is very small and has a clamshell cover.  The backlight pops on when you open the clamshell.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll look into it.

I really like the diNovo mini, but it is just a bit too expensive for something that I'll only use a few times a month.

I really like the diNovo mini, but it is just a bit too expensive for something that I'll only use a few times a month.

 

Ive gone through 3 DiNovo mini's and there is no way in hell i'd recommend them to anyone. All three over time developed connectivity issues which could only be fixed by removing and replacing the battery to reset the connection. Over time even removing the battery didnt work.

 

This is a known issue with logitech with these keyboards. they dont have a fix for the issue and will just send out a new keyboard to you if you are still under warranty or tell you tough luck if you arent.

 

I've since replaced them with Lenovo paddle's. I lost the backlight feature as they arent backlit, which isnt a biggy, but there are no connectivity issues. And they are a lot mroe comfortable to use and type on.

 

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.35909

 

For general usage though I use a MS X360 Extended media remote control and just break out the paddle when I need to do some surfing or whatever..

 

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Universal-Media-Remote/dp/B000B6MLSM%3FSubscriptionId%3D19BAZMZQFZJ6G2QYGCG2%26tag%3DSquid656119-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB000B6MLSM

Ive gone through 3 DiNovo mini's and there is no way in hell i'd recommend them to anyone. All three over time developed connectivity issues which could only be fixed by removing and replacing the battery to reset the connection. Over time even removing the battery didnt work.

 

I had the same issues as well while I had it paired to my Mac Mini, but to be honest I thought it was just me and I never really bothered to look into it.  Then eventually I put the HTPC on a turn-off-at-night-and-turn-yourself-on-in-the-morning schedule and it never happened since.  YMMV though.

 

Primarily I use a Harmony One + Remote Buddy combo that emulates the apple remote, though I think there's a keymap specifically for Harmony remotes now and I believe there's a Remote Buddy equivalent for Win & XBMCLive, though I don't know what they're called, sorry!  But I guess my point is I was able to map all the buttons to the Harmony so I barely use the Dinovo Mini no moe.  Love that remote.  Get a room already, jeez!