2008 Writer
mhew
Clifton, NJ

This thing is so cool!

5 star rating

loving this product, value conscious, computer literate, mom of 2, married, a busy person, not rich, practical
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Pros

    easy setup, looks great, works great, Bright screen, One touch acess

Cons
    pricey

OCT
17
2008
The Logitech Harmony One universal remote control is about the coolest little gizmo I have come across!  My husband and I love it, it's so easy to use and you rarely have to get up out of your seat to use your entertainment system (if only it could put the discs into the DVD player for you).

What's different about this remote?
This remote control connects to you computer by USB input.  It comes with a disc that you use to download the set up program.  Using this program, you set up a user name and password so that you can personalize your remote and come back to customize it any time.  We have foudn every one of our entertainment electronics in their database.  Our TV, mini-system, VCR and even our projector!  Once you've selected all of your electronics and set them up the way you'd like to use them, you complete the set up and the program sends the information into your Harmony One remote.

It has a touch-screen where you select which activities you want at the moment.  Our remote is programmed with the following activities:

  • Watch DVD
  • Watch TV
  • Listen to CDs
  • VCR
  • Listen to the Radio
What's so wonderful about it is how you can click onto one activity and sit back and watch all of the electronics switch on for that particular activity.  For example, "Watch DVD" turns our TV on, switches it to the correct video setting and turns on the DVD player.  Once you're done watching the DVD, you can switch to "Watch TV" and sit back as the DVD player is turned off and your TV switches back to the tuner setting.  Say you're done watching TV and want to listen to music?  Easy, just click "Listen to the Radio" and sit back as the TV is switched off and the stereo system is turned on!  It's that easy!

If your remote is not controlling your electronics exactly the way you want it to, you can reconnect it to your computer, go into the Harmony One program and customize it some more.  I've had to do that on occassion, and now my remote works just the way I want it to.

What We Love About the Harmony One
Besides all of the above features, we absolutely love the fact that we never have to change the batteries because the remote comes with a rechargeable base!
It is ergonomically designed so it's really comfortable to hold.
You can actually add pictures to it for the slideshow it plays when it's sitting on the reachargeable base!
It "sleeps" when you put it down.  Meaning, the backlight shuts off to save the battery.  But when you pick it up, it is motion sensitive and lights itself back up.  I've also found that while it is lying flat beside you, if you stroke the side of the display lightly, the backlight switches back on.

The "Turn-offs" (pun intended)
It's really expensive.  I'll be honest and say there is no way we would have purchased this remote at $250.00!  I honestly don't think I'd spend much more than $25 for a good remote, but I have to say this remote is in a league of its own.  I was surprised to get this remote for free as part of a campaign on another website.

My husband will sometimes manually turn the TV or DVD player on and off and that throws the remote off.  It "thinks" it's controlling all of the devices, so if you do it manually, it will only remember its last command.  So if we turned something on manually, the remote will still think it is "off", so if you try to turn it "off with the remote, nothing will happen.  Or, if you try to switch to "Watch DVD", it will turn the TV off instead of on because it thinks it is the opposite.  Very annoying, but that's more of a habit I'd have to break my husband of.  Still, you don't come across that issue with your regular remote.

That's about all.  I'd probably recommend this to people who have the extra money to toss around, or as a really generous gift.  Anyone else would just think we were crazy.



I_thumb_up Logitech - Harmony One Remote is recommended by mhew

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I_comment_shdw24 Comments about mhew’s Review

 


TheBard wrote on Oct 26, 2008 at 3:57PM

Another outstanding review! This might be something I will have to look into.

LadyMagic wrote on Oct 24, 2008 at 3:43PM

Really good informative review. I love the convenience of universal remotes.

5 star rating
"How did we manage without the Harmony One Remote???"
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4 star rating
"Logitech-great name, great product."



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