SnapStream Firefly PC Remote

Pros: Allows me to control my HTPC from the couch

Cons: Poor layout; horrible reception

Summary: I have had this remote for nearly a year and it just isn’t that great. The button layout isn’t horrible, but compared to TiVo it is severely lacking. The channel and volume buttons are fine, but the skip and fast forward buttons are too small and poorly labeled. I often hit the wrong button. If I only used this remote I would probably get used to it, but my HTPC is not able to supplant my TiVo. A backlight would help.

The worst problem is the horrible responsiveness. The responsiveness was fine for the first couple weeks and then it just stopped. I have changed batteries and receiver locations. It will work fine for a few clicks and then I have to wave the remote around like a wand hoping to get it to work. Then it will double work and I need to back up. Snapstream (Beyond TV) forums bear out that I am not the only person with this problem. I can hold the remote next to the receiver and it still won’t work until it decides to, so it seems unlikely it is a reception problem.