Some great ideas, software a little weak and unreliable... | Logitech Harmony 1000 Advanced Universal Remote

Not perfect, but I'll never go back to an ordinary remote! | Logitech Harmony 1000 Advanced Universal Remote

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	• Logitech Harmony 1000 Advanced Universal Remote Logitech Logitech average customer review:based on 267 reviews view larger image
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Too quirky to really replace all the standard remotes

I'll keep it short:
My Harmony 1000 stalls too often, actually reqiring me to take out the battery and repower it. Then, it often seems to forget various tasks of an activity, forcing me to go through a tedious "Everything not working yet?" wizard.
Navigating through the touch screen menues is very cumbersome, as the fairly mediocre touch screen allows only 9 (non-editable) buttons per screen.
The setup routine is very user-UNfriendly as well. Adding a specific command to an activity compares to rocket science.

The idea of uniting all your remotes to one single touch-screen-based controller for only a few hundred dollars is a (very) good one. And Logitech does deliver 85% of this promise. But lacking the final 15%, my Harmony mostly sits on its dock, unused.

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Some great ideas, software a little weak and unreliable...

I love the idea of "activity based" remote. You set to do common-sense tasks like "watch TV" or "watch DVD", and for each activity it turns on the right things to the right settings, and gives you all the relevant controls. It'll turn everything on and off, and let you adjust volume, change channels, etc. without ever needing to tell it which device you're controlling while you use it, that's all determined by the activity.

The set-up software is weak. Even though it runs as PC software, it clearly works mostly as web-based software and is calling the Windows built-in browser functions for most screens. Sometimes after making settings you get errors like "page not found" and when you click next it gives a Windows dialog about needing to "re-submit form data" as if you were in a web browser, even if you're just programming changing settings via the USB cable.

Sometimes it takes a really long time to connect to the remote, and you don't know if it's an Internet problem or a firewire stopping the web-based software from working with a peripheral, or what. The remote never even changes its screen to say "USB mode" or anything, it just ignores the connection most of the time.

The help screens in the software aren't all that helpful. You choose a Sony Playstation 3 as a device, it gives you a screen saying you need an optional Nyco Infrared receiver. But if you have one, it doesn't tell you what device settings to use for it, it just says you need one, without asking if you have it or suggesting any settings.

Once it's all working this can work well, but you certainly need to jump through a few hoops to get it set up.

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Not perfect, but I'll never go back to an ordinary remote!

I've had the Harmony 1000 and RF Extender for a year and love it! I have a very complex system but I'm one of the lucky one's cuz setup was a breeze. Sure, it's got some quirks, but nothing so bad that I regret buying it or have stopped using it. Truth is, I can't imagine ever going back to my old universal remote. Or worse still, an array of manufacturer's remotes sitting on the table. For my experience, this remote was worth every penny and the RF Extender is an added must have!

Back when I got this, the remote was $275 with a rebate on the RF Extender which covered the entire cost, making it free. The software used to configure the remote has its limitations, but I think it's intentionally designed that way to help people with limited understanding of cabling and video inputs and outputs. If you have a basic grasp of what channel or video inputs your components need to be on, then you really shouldn't have much trouble. I was able to setup a complex home theater system with an HDTV, Onkyo receiver, 2 DVD players, 2 DirecTV HD DVRs and a multi CD player all within 90min. I was so encouraged by how simple it was that I then setup a second TV in the bedroom with a VCR.

I think where some people may have trouble is with a lack of patience. We expect everything to work perfect out of the box with little effort. The RF Extender also adds a slight delay to the equation because when you push a hard button or touch the screen, there's a nano second delay before you get the desired result. But it's not that big a deal really once you get used to it. We also tend to resist change and this remote as a stark departure from the standard rectangular remote with rubbery buttons you're likely used to. For me, I wanted a remote that was the next step up from the old boring remotes we all know. But that's not to say it doesn't have some issues though.

I gave the remote 4 stars instead of five because of the quirks. Sometimes I get runaway volume where it goes all the way up or down after just one button press. Others have said they can only correct the problem by popping out the battery, but I've never had to do that. I just hit a couple different hard buttons on the remote which stops the problem for me. I have, however, had to pull the battery out once or twice when the remote wouldn't respond. But that's been pretty rare. I liken it to having to reboot a computer and I've come to realize that I should treat the remote like a computer, and give it time to "boot up" when I remove it from the charging cradle. This isn't an official suggestion from Logitech. I've just noticed that when I pull it off the charger and use it immediately, that's when problems can happen. But if I take it off the charger and set it aside for a couple minutes before using it, I rarely have problems. Also, keep in mind if you've setup a complex system, there's bound to be a few hiccups from time to time. But for me, nothing I consider to be a big deal.

Overall, I'm very happy with this remote and can't imagine not having it in my life. If you're reading about some of the problems people have had and are on the fence with buying it, why not give it a try for yourself? After all, you can always return it if it doesn't work for you. And who knows, you may very well love it as much as I do.

Good luck!!
:)

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The Logitech Harmony 1000 features a brilliant 3.5-inch color touch screen that allows for one-touch activity-based control of even the most sophisticated A/V components. Say goodbye to the inconvenience of multiple remotes controlling multiple devices; Logitech's patented Smart State Technology makes it easy to control your HDTV, adjust aspect ratios, or change sound modes?there are no complicated macros to program. Just press an on-screen activity icon and Harmony does the rest. One remote is all you'll need to control even the most complex home entertainment systems. And when used together with a Harmony RF Wireless Extender (sold separately), you can further reduce clutter by placing your components out of sight. Since the remote can transmit both infrared and radio frequency commands, you can control equipment inside a cabinet or even in the next room. Package Contents - Logitech Harmony 1000 remote control / Charging station / USB cable /AC Adapter / Lithium-ion battery / Installation CD / Installation guide / 1-year warranty

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