Hi all,

My mother runs a small dance class and untill recently has been using a speciallised CD player with combined amp PA system. The amp blew in this system so we have purchase a new PA system but at the same time we were looking to move away from CD to MP3s, yet still have the ability to resort to CD if required. To this end we have come to the conclusion that a laptop would be the best source medium.

My mother is now getting on in years and her eyesite is poor, but she can operate a PC, rip CDs, create playlists and use Windows Media Player with no real problem. A laptop will give her flexibility, ease of finding the correct MP3 (which would be too difficult if trying to navigate a small screen) and an abilty to slow down music so dances can be learnt a little easier.

What she will need to do is be able to control the laptop within a hall or outside open space, so an LED remote may not work. In addition the remote needs to be simple, and reasonably inexpensive.

Does anyone have any suggestion for such a device? What is the operating distance of an RF remote?

To control volume, source, etc RF and media center you are looking at a fairly complicated remote possibly running Mirage Software from autonomics. Conversely you you are only using the laptop into an amp and using the laptop volume control and this is the only source then I would highly recommend switching her to itunes, purchase and iTouch, and install iRemote.

hope that helps.