Logitech Harmony 890 user reviews

Pros Easy set up. It worked for a while.

Cons Stopped working after about 3 weeks.

Summary Like others who have posted reviews, I bought this very expensive and fancy remote to go with a new home theater system. I spared no expense on my system, so I didn't want to go cheap on the remote to control it all. To make a long story short, what started out as a nice device, quickly turned to frustration and, ultimately, surrender.

The unit is easy to setup. I have had Harmony remotes in the past so I knew what to expect. The web-based setup is an ingenious idea. Harmony just has not perfected it yet. Like others, I felt like the remote had a cheap feel and that the buttons are too close together. But the ease of setup cinched the deal for me. The first time I set it up, it worked great. I originally set up a Sony TV, Denon Amp, Denon CD, Denon DVD, XBOX, and a Zektor switch. For about three weeks the remote worked great with these devices.

Then, one fateful day, I tried to change the configuration a bit. I wanted to add profiles for my new PS3 and Wii to the Zektor and the remote. That's when the problems started. I could not get the remote to update properly. I would change the settings with the software, and then click the update button, but it would get stuck on "Examining Your Settings" and never update. If I flashed the firmware, I could get it to update once. But heck if I am going to flash the firmware each time I need to update.

An even stranger thing is that the button funcionality went totally crazy on me. For instance, when I pushed the volume up or down button once, it would sent the volume ALL THE WAY UP or all the way down. It didn't do this in the beginning.

Since I paid $400 for this remote - and I wanted more than another item to sell on eBay - I called customer service. After a 40 minute wait, I surrendered. The remote had beaten me.

I went out the next day and bought a Universal Remote for around $100 that does everything I need it to. It takes more programming time, but it allows me to do the same things as the Harmony 890.

I cannot reccomend a product that just up and stopped working on me. But while it worked, I liked it. I guess that makes it all the more frustrating.

Pros Has a help button

Cons Needs a help button

Summary There is an interesting discrepancy among the editor and users for this remote. It probably has something to do with the fact that the "expert reviewer" did not test the remote thorougly and/or they are biased because its Logitech. Either way, shame on CNET. This remote fails in its most basic requirement; to work! I had read countless negative user opinions and figured these people must be dopes. I bought the remote based mostly on a few "expert" opinions. All I have to say is thank goodness I saved the receipt. The software is buggy, the remote crashes regularly, it is slow. The buttons are too close together, feel cheap and are in the wrong place. The remote has a help button for when it screws up. I used the help button way too much. If you buy this remote, keep the receipt. I will never trust a review by David Carnoy again until he admits he should have rated this remote a 3.8 rather than an 8.3.

Pros Easy to set up and excellent phone support.

Cons Had trouble with RF. Web site is not totally user friendly. Keys on remote are close together.

Summary Easiest RF remote to program for your money. However, the buttons are small and close together. They are hard to differeniate without looking at it. Phone support is easy to reach when you have a melt down.

Pros Can't live without it. Easy setup -- . no IR extenders and closed doors. One remote. ZWave for light control.

Cons Paint rubs off used buttons. If Harmony One remote gets RF

Summary Very easy setup -- the Logitech site knew everything in my setup and configured it right. Love not having IR extenders all over the place and of course, one remote. Even use it to control outside and inside lights with the ZWave. Control PS3 in blueray play mode -- would like remote power on / off in PS3 (not fault of 890)

Non-techie wife has no trouble -- the color screen and the multiple actions on one push helps.

But\...Paint rubs off used buttons. Would wait for the design of the Harmony One remote if it gets RF -- otherwise -- go for the 890.

Updated on Oct 7, 2010

I have used the 890 so hard, so long, and so successfully that I am in the process of wearing it out. In re-reviewing the reviews on this and the replacement 900 I am noticing a trend in the user reviews -- dramatic difference of opinions. Based on ownership for a long time, I know for certain that the positive reviews are correct. What I suspect is that the very bad reviews are a determined attempt by a few to skew the results. My guess is that these fall into two categories; "Want extensive macro capability" and "working for the competition". As the 900 review states, maybe 5% want the big gun, hollywood screening room control, way out of proportion with the comments. the rest are suspiciously like competitors lying.

Or maybe Logitech made two models under the same name.