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"Excellent and Intelligent!!!" on by mouseclick
Pros: Even people afraid of typewriters can work this remote
Cons: takes a bit of effort to work out initial bugs
Summary: This remote is actually intelligent! It actually knows the state of your devices to get you to what you want to do. For example, if you accidently switch your TV to the wrong input and end up with static on the screen, you can just hit the "watch TV" button and it will set it back right. Try getting any other macro-based remote to do this with a one-button push. With other remotes, you have to program all your macros and they are limited. This remote actually only needs a handful of macros because of its intelligence. For example, I used to need 18 macros for my set up. This remote does it in five. And with my previous remote, if my macro accidentally didn't work, I'd have to manually get myself out of it. This remote will actually notice it didn't work and will fix it. And if it doesn't, just hit the button again. If all else fails - which it hasn't yet for me - it actually has a troubleshooter that will ask you yes or no questions to get your setup back and working. There is no better remote for the money. Cons, the buttons are somewhat crammed, but considering the advantage of being able to handle the remote with one hand, this is acceptable. It will take you a full day to work out the kinks during initial set up, give or take an hour depending on your set up. But once it's working, it is a dandy. This is also the most flexible universal remote I've ever seen. You can seemingly make unlimited macros (identified as "activities" with this remote), but you really won't need as many as you think, if you're used to traditional macro-based remotes. You can name the activities what you want (like, "play Xbox" or "listen to XM," etc.). It would be nice if you could set the buttons to beep when you push them so as to confirm it accepted it, but that is minor. After having two previous expensive name-brand universal remotes prior to this one, neither was as intelligent or sleek or user friendly. If you're looking for a remote that even people afraid to set the clock on their VCR can work, then this is it.
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"Takes time to program and work out bugs, keys are mushy" on
Pros: This product does what the review says, it integrates all of your products fairly seamlessly. All HT devices were turned on that were needed and set to the proper input. Good All in one design.
Cons: The buttons are mushy and slightly on the insensitive side. My wife nor I could tolerate the center directional switch, it seemed unresponsive. I had slight glitch with controlling my Digital cable box which was connected through TiVo. I could not get
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"Even my Techno-phob wife likes this remote" on by ramz1999
Pros: easy to program
Cons: small buttons.
Summary: It took me all of 20 minutes to program 5 devices into the remote.
My wife and kids really like the one-touch feature for watching a dvd. By pressing one button it turns on all the devices needed (surround sound, TV and dvd player) They don't have to learn a new remote every time I get a new toy umm I mean component.
My mother recently bought a remote from sony for $499 that was hard to program. The store that sold her the remote offered to have someone come to her house to program it for her (for a fee of course) She returned it and got a Harmony remote instead. She was able to program it herself without any help. -
"Truely One Remote Left" on by acurran
Pros: Easy web setup, really replaces all my remotes
Cons: Buttons too close hard to find them by feel
Summary: This remote really did what it said. It replced all 5 of my remotes. Almost every button on my remotes was in the database and I only had to make it learn one command, which was very easy to do. The buttons took some getting use to but replacing all my remotes outways this small problem.
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"It really works!" on by dmegeath
Pros: Web site used to set up components worked well.
Cons: Buttons are numerous and intimidating but you quickly learn how to use them; couldn't get my ancient Quasar VCR commands right (even trying to read the old remote's IR codes).
Summary: At last we have retired the conflagration of remote controls and have on truly universal remote. Well worth the money in my estimation.
Logitech Harmony 688 user reviews (silver)
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