Product Review - Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote
Category Product Review Logitech Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote
My Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote that I got through the Amazon Vine program actually showed up about a month ago, but I've been a bit distracted with life to give it a proper review. So this evening, I decided to sit down and work through the setup process so I could try it out.
Bottom line for me, it's a very nice remote to have if you have two or more remotes sitting in front of you when you are watching TV or watching DVDs. Or, if you want a single remote you can take with you from room to room, this is definitely one to consider. But if you're just replacing a single remote because your original one is broken, you probably won't get the full effect that this remote offers.
After opening up the various boxes, bags, and disks, I gathered everything up and took it downstairs to my computer to get the setup started. You actually log into the Logitech site and set up an account for the remote. This allows Logitech to download updates and load just the specific information you need for your devices. My first trip upstairs was to write down all the device manufacturer and model numbers of my HDTV, DVD, and digital cable box. The next trip upstairs was to get the remotes so I could automatically train the new one based on IR communication with each of the old ones. It's a bit time-consuming, but based on other "programmable" remotes I've had in the past, it was FAR more intuitive. After I got the three devices upstairs programmed in, I also decided to program in my TV downstairs. Much to my amazement, all four devices actually worked the first time! Will wonders never cease...
Ergonomically, the remote rests nicely in my hand. The LCD touch screen takes a lot of the guesswork out of the remote, so you're not fumbling around trying to find the right buttons. In fact, you can program in "activities" that will, with a single click, turn on multiple devices at once and start up the correct sequence of events. So instead of hunting for the TV and DVD remotes, turning each one on, switching input channels on the TV, then starting the DVD player, etc., you can just click the Play DVD activity and everything happens automagically. Very nice...
I mentioned that this remote seems less confusing than the others I have. I base this on the fact that I generally tend to go down the wrong path on the digital cable box when it comes to the menuing, and then have a hard time getting back out. My first foray into the menu structure using the Logitech remote was flawless. Between a keypad layout that is labeled well and the LCD touch screen, I find I'm not "guessing" on what button I should be clicking next. And when you don't have the proverbial 12 year old to teach you these things any more, that's appreciated. :)
Very nice device, and far better than others that try and do the same thing. I think I'm going to like having this one around...
My Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote that I got through the Amazon Vine program actually showed up about a month ago, but I've been a bit distracted with life to give it a proper review. So this evening, I decided to sit down and work through the setup process so I could try it out.
Bottom line for me, it's a very nice remote to have if you have two or more remotes sitting in front of you when you are watching TV or watching DVDs. Or, if you want a single remote you can take with you from room to room, this is definitely one to consider. But if you're just replacing a single remote because your original one is broken, you probably won't get the full effect that this remote offers.
After opening up the various boxes, bags, and disks, I gathered everything up and took it downstairs to my computer to get the setup started. You actually log into the Logitech site and set up an account for the remote. This allows Logitech to download updates and load just the specific information you need for your devices. My first trip upstairs was to write down all the device manufacturer and model numbers of my HDTV, DVD, and digital cable box. The next trip upstairs was to get the remotes so I could automatically train the new one based on IR communication with each of the old ones. It's a bit time-consuming, but based on other "programmable" remotes I've had in the past, it was FAR more intuitive. After I got the three devices upstairs programmed in, I also decided to program in my TV downstairs. Much to my amazement, all four devices actually worked the first time! Will wonders never cease...
Ergonomically, the remote rests nicely in my hand. The LCD touch screen takes a lot of the guesswork out of the remote, so you're not fumbling around trying to find the right buttons. In fact, you can program in "activities" that will, with a single click, turn on multiple devices at once and start up the correct sequence of events. So instead of hunting for the TV and DVD remotes, turning each one on, switching input channels on the TV, then starting the DVD player, etc., you can just click the Play DVD activity and everything happens automagically. Very nice...
I mentioned that this remote seems less confusing than the others I have. I base this on the fact that I generally tend to go down the wrong path on the digital cable box when it comes to the menuing, and then have a hard time getting back out. My first foray into the menu structure using the Logitech remote was flawless. Between a keypad layout that is labeled well and the LCD touch screen, I find I'm not "guessing" on what button I should be clicking next. And when you don't have the proverbial 12 year old to teach you these things any more, that's appreciated. :)
Very nice device, and far better than others that try and do the same thing. I think I'm going to like having this one around...
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Comments
Posted by skip At 04:10:55 On 03/03/2008 | - Website - |
The wife even approves of this remote as she couldn't figure out how to watch a movie before we got it. As for setting up devices, all of mine were in the database so I didn't have to do the IR thing, which was a big surprise to me as our surround sound and/or cable box wouldn't work with any of the high end remotes I had previously purchased and returned.
I think you'll enjoy this remote a lot and will probably keep finding things you can control with it. - Keith
Posted by Keith Strickland At 06:00:35 On 03/03/2008 | - Website - |
Posted by Great Product At 15:28:35 On 20/02/2009 | - Website - |