I also considered the Sonos before buying my SB3. It has been said many times before that people choose the Sonos based on the its sexiness and on the two way functionality of its remote. Folks also buy it because of its ease-of-installation reputation. These are similar to the reason why people buy iPods. The iPod and the Sonos are "close" systems whose components are made by the same company. Because of this, there aren't many issues of integration and therefore they are "easier" to install. BUT, with a "close" systems there is very little flexibility. If Sonos does not enhance the system it is very difficult for anyone else to do so. You won't catch me dead holding an iPod or a Sonos remote. I rather have the freedom of open components like the SB3. This is the reason that I have owned portable DAPs like the Nex II (Flash based) and a Rio Karma (hard drive-based) and more recently a Cowon D2 4GB. I bought these portable DAPs and the SB3 because they don't tie me to their software platform, because they provide support for many media file formats and because they don't tie me to a single online services provider like the iPod. Btw, I know that there is pain associated with "open" systems, but thoroughly reading the components manuals and having friends or family members with a little tech savvy... helps.
About the two way remote... Now that Logitech owns Slim Devices, maybe the Harmony division would consider making a "Universal" IR/RF remote with two way WiFi capabilities. This would be a better remote than the Sonos as it would take only "one" remote to control your whole A/V system. I've been dreaming of this remote for quite some time. It should be an "open" remote and support other popular media servers not just the Slimserver. The battery and docking stations are issues that can be addressed. There better batteries technologies in the market and there many ways to save power like putting the remote to sleep and waking it up with a motion sensor like the Harmony 880. A high resolution color LCD and a navigation wheel would be icing on the cake. Of course, I'm assuming that this would be an "optional" (expensive) remote made so that Logitech can sell it in other market segments not just in the SB-Slimserver market. -- tamanaco ------------------------------------------------------------------------ tamanaco's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4620 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=33224 _______________________________________________ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
