A Big Thumbs-up for the Logitech Harmony 680

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.edbott.com/mediacenter/archives/a-big-thumbs-up-for-the-logitech-harmony-680/' target='_blank'>http://www.edbott.com/mediacenter/archives/a-big-thumbs-up-for-the-logitech-harmony-680/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The Harmony 680 passed a crucial test yesterday. I showed Judy the remote, briefly described how the three main activity buttons work, and placed the remote on the coffee table. When I left, a DVD was playing. When I came back an hour later, Judy was watching a program on the TiVo. With the previous collection of remotes and three separate inputs to adjust, that wouldn’t have happened."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/log.jpg" /><br /><br />I've been burned on all in one remotes before. Either they have been so complicated that nobody else could figure out how to use it or it would operate most items, but would not work for one or two key features that made it necessary to still use the original remotes. I've seen more and more people post that they are happy with the Harmony series that I might just have to pick one up.

[ChunkyMonkey]

I just bought the 659 model a couple of weeks ago. I was shocked at the $150 price tag. But I bought it at the local Best Buy and decided I would return it if I thought it wasn't worth it. I took it home and took about an hour to program it. I had a little bit of trouble getting the menu on the tv to switch between cable and dvd viewing. A 20 minute phone call to tech support and everything worked perfectly!!

My techo-phobe wife loves it as much as I do. I decided by that night that I not only wouldn't return it, I wouldn't give it up for nothing.

[Neil Enns]

Huh, I just might have to look into this. Right now we can nearly drive everything off the DirectTV remote, but it won't handle the media center PC, and can't change audio inputs on the DVD player (which acts as our audio system).

Neil

[leslietroyer]

I'm feeling left out... I'd like to get a all in one remote, but have one big stumbling block. The IR reciever went out on the TV about a year ago. It's not worth fixing and I don't want to buy a new TV till next year. Oh well, I guess I'll wait till I get the TV to get a new remote.

Les

[ryanmorris]

If you are going to purchase a Harmony remote from Best Buy, get the 880. The color LCD is really slick, and well worth an additional $50 for the cool factor. Be sure to bring in a print out of the price from an online retailer (several list just less than $200, but S&amp;H and return hassels exist...) so you can get a price match. Best Buy does not have to match online retailers, but they still knocked $50 off of the price for me to net $200 + tax. :)

I've only had mine for about three days, but I love it. There are actually better options on the Harmony 880 than some of the factory remotes (i.e., I can control brightness +/-, color +/-, tint +/- without navigating my TV's menu system). The 880 has assigned one of the LCD device-specific menus to do many setting tweaks without the cumbersome TV setup menu, and even my manufacturer remote can't do that. :D

The wake-on-movement feature is a nice battery-saver, too. Just don't carry the thing around in your pocket...

[adsbar]

Have to admit the 880 wins in "coolness factor", but the big selling point of the 680 is the Windows MCE remote capability. I didn't think the 880 had this capability.

Even more interesting is the new 890 remote, with RF capability to send to a hidden IR blaster. Leave all your media equipment in a room 50' away...