Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote Control

Product Details: Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal

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Product Description: Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal

User Reviews: Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal

1. A very good, but not perfect universal remote

   , July 5, 2005
   Reviewer: Ciemo - See all Ciemo's reviews

   Overall:
   Features:
   Quality:
   Support:
   Value:

   15 of 15 Yahoo! Users found this Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal review helpful

   Pros: First true Universal remote I've owned, Web updatable

   Cons: Ergonomics, Web UI, No Macros, Help

   I've owned several other "universal/programmable" remotes,
   all under $250. This one is the best so far. However, it's
   not perfect.
   
   What I do like is that the buttons are a good set and
   work well with Tivo (many other remotes don't), my DVD player, my Cable set-top box, and my TV.
   
   Another likable attribute is that the Web programmable UI
   is pretty comprehensive and that there are many many
   opportunities to remap buttons.
   
   Okay, now the downsides:
   
   1) Less than stellar ergonomics. The oval arrows (up, down, left, right) ring is too small for my hands (and I have small hands). It's uncomfortable to operate Tivo menus using this ring. The volume and channel buttons are too
   stylistic to operate comfortably with your eyes off the
   remote. Logitech designers should take styling cues from
   the Sony Tivo remote.
   
   2) The WebUI is very clunky. All programming operations must be done via the Web UI. The UI is appallingly slow.
   There is no reason for the UI to be as slow as it is.
   
   3) The default key mappings are not always correct and will
   take multiple iterations with the slow Web UI to get it
   right. But atleast you can eventually "get it right".
   
   4) The Activities menus and Help features are interesting
   and more "intelligent" than most other remotes -- they
   remember the operating state of all components. However,
   if the state is not correct for any reason (a component is
   on when the remote thinks it is off), you can end up in
   20-questions hell as the Help walks you through each
   component one-by-one-by-one-by-one. I really want a menu
   of buttons for changing power and A/V inputs on a component
   by component basis. You can add these virtual buttons to
   the menu yourself, however, there is no macro feature for
   programming a sequence such as "TV/Video menu, 5" to get
   your Tivo input set up correctly on the TV.
   
   So, should you buy it? Well, the wife and baby sitter can
   now operate the AV system with a single remote. I've yet
   to teach my 6 year old to operate the system with the remote
   (he has, however, mastered the Tivo remote).
   
   Maybe Logitech will listen and a future software update
   will get me the features I want.
   
   It's a tough call. At the price, it's a bit expensive. It
   does work as advertised, but there is certainly room for
   improvement. ...

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2. The Only Remote You Need

   , January 5, 2008
   Reviewer: Patrick M - See all Patrick M's reviews

   Overall:
   Compatibility:
   Durability:
   Ease of Use:
   Features:
   Quality:
   Support:
   Value:

   Pros: Ease of use

   Cons: May be tricky to set-up for some

   Much research on the web showed many (mostly) negative reviews and this made me uneasy but I decided to take the plunge based on the positive reviews I read. I consider myself above-average when it comes to configurining electronics.
   
   Equipment I needed to set up included a Samsung DLP 50" TV, Toshiba HDDVD, a Panasonic HT system that's about 4 or 5 years old, XBOX 360, and a Motorola HD DVR cable box.
   My configuration is as follows:
   Watch TV: TV on and set to S-Video, Motorolla cable box on, HT on and set to Aux. Watch a DVD: TV on and set to HDMI, HT on and set to TV, Toshiba on. Play XBOX: TV on and set to component 1, HT on and set to TV, XBOX on. Naturally, it took 4 remotes plus one game controller to do all of the different settings plus having to go in and out of menus.
   
   The remote arrived and I immediately liked the asthetics of it. It appears to be well-made. The battery had enough charge to begin programming it. I managed to get everything set up via the USB and software. Entering the devices was very easy. All I had to do was write down the make and model numbers. There were a few problems synching the devices to power up and down together but the remote's built-in help quickly solved it.
   
   I did have one problem. It was getting the DVR and OnDemand buttons on the LCD screen. I called Logitech customer support and was not on hold very long when a lady attempted to help me. Unfortunately, she did not speak or understand English very well. While she really did try to help, it just wasn't working and I ended the call. At this point, I was really thinking about returning the remote because I simply couldn't get the two buttons on the screen. After a bit more fidgeting with the remote, I decided to call back to see if I got someone else. A very cheerful guy answered and quickly solved my issue for me. He could actually go into my software on his end and set up the remote the way I wanted. I found out he was on the West Coast. After call #1, I was afraid Logitech does what many computer companies do, and have call centers manned overseas.
   
   I now have everything working perfectly and couldn't be happier with my purchase. Logitech sent a customer satisfaction survey following my second call. I never received one from my first experience.
   
   The remote is an absolute joy to operate. My wife loves it and my 4 former remotes are safely tucked away in a drawer. MOST OF THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS SEEM TO BE CENTERED AROUND BATTERY CHARGING AND/OR PROGRAMMING THE REMOTE. MY BATTERY CHARGES VERY WELL AND IF YOU CAN NOT GET THE REMOTE TO SET-UP PROPERLY, CALL TECH SUPPORT, THEY WILL MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU IN A TIMELY MANNER. ...

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Pro Reviews: Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal

•        
  First Look: Logitech Recharges the Harmony Remote
  New Harmony 880 universal remote gets a boost from longer battery life.The same things that make the rest of the Harmony line outstanding are back, including an easy-to-use Web interface for programming the remote; a Help button that makes troubleshooting a breeze; and a comprehensive database of... more...
•   CNET     
  Logitech Harmony 880
  Designing its first universal remote, Logitech takes a nice step forward with the Harmony 880. more...

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