It is personal preference, many people prefer the touch screen type for the ease of use.  We customize to make things as simple as possible for the way you use your system.  Touch screens are preferred in more complex systems such as whole house audio systems.

 Many enthusiasts prefer the remote with lots of buttons because they can control functions slightly quicker.  If you are the type of person who uses the rewind, fast forward, skip +/- buttons frequently a hard button remote is definitely for you.

 If you have a simple system the hard button types are usually the less expensive.

NO! You might think I'm biased but the remotes we carry actually have little computers in them.  The universal remotes at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc. typically only know the codes of your equipment but can't automate your system.

For instance a programmed remote can do the following sequence and remember what it did so when you switch functions later it can adjust everything.  The big retailers remotes can't do these functions.

Turn on your TV

Set TV to the correct connection for your high definition cable box

Turn on the cable Box

Turn on your audio equipment

Set the audio for the connection for your high definition signal

Set the correct sound mode

Tune to your favorite channel

Dim the lights

Lower the shades

Etc.

These remote work with almost any equipment.  We do charge an extra charge for programming your equipment.  It is typically $130 per device which reflects the additional time needed learn and program unfamiliar equipment.

YES!!!  All our remotes have a wireless option.

It depends on the remote.  The RTI remote would violate our dealer agreement with them so we don't do it for RTI.  With the URC remotes it is left to a dealer decision whether the customer may have a copy of the software.  So it is on a case by case basis.  URC doesn't provide programming support for the end user (neither does RTI).