Sonos CR200 Controller - Really? I need that?

Consumer, look away.  Don't waste your time or money.

Home installer crowd with coin to burn... indulge and earn zero respect from the gadget-savvy.

The iPod Touch + free Sonos app makes so much more sense and it's cheaper... and it does more....  and it looks better.   Need I go on?

I sure hope Sonos has NOT carefully enabled a few features on their new remote that their iPhone software can't do... that would be very consumer-unfriendly, and I would issue a full-on revolt to my 35 loyal readers [sarcasm].

As a consumer and market watcher, I give companies the most brownie points, and ultimately the most dollars, when they build solutions that make my geek-life easier, and less expensive.  The CR200 does neither.  Doh!

And on a subjective note... the remote's industrial design seems already outdated.  As was the CR100's the day the first iPod touch was released.  Another problem with esoteric hardware.  Can't keep up with the sexy, subsidized, high volume gadget-art that is iPod/iPhone.

See: Gizmodo. Engadget.