When I can I try to make entries here about products that I have used and feel comfortable recommending to others.  The Harmony® line of universal remote controls from Logitech® is one of those products that I have not only used and find to be an excellent product, but I can't live without it either.

I should tell you before I start in on the Logitech® remotes that I have been using, or more accurately trying to use universal remote controls for quite a few years.  I think I have gone through at least 20 different models from four different manufacturers in the last 6 or 7 years, and they are all in a box somewhere in my garage.  That doesn't even take into account the remotes that were provided with AV equipment that I have purchased that the manufacturer claims to be "universal".  Trust me, they never are.

The biggest problem with most universal remotes is the setup.  They usually have a limited number of devices pre-programmed, and "training" them is an exercise in futility.  The next challenge was getting my wife and kids to use them.  Just setting up to watch a DVD, or switch over to the satellite receiver required a 10 click finger aerobics session that would typically culminate in the brand new and very expensive remote being launched across the room. (my family, in general, is my worst customer when it comes to the usability of the toys I bring home). Before the Logitech®, the longest any of my previous universal remotes lasted was about a month.

Things are different now.  My six year old daughter presses one button which turns on the TV, selects the appropriate signal input (mine has eight!), turns on the audio receiver, turns on the satellite receiver, and tunes in to Nickelodeon.  The remote then displays her 6 favorite channels (with network logos!) for one-click access to channel changes.

When my wife, teenage son or I are finally able to wrench the remote from her little, but strong hands, one click will take us to the living room computer (it's output goes to the HD TV), the DVD player, the XBox 360 or just about anything else with one click.  Keep in mind that this requires changes to at least three different devices at the same time.  When we're done, one button turns everything off for the night.  If something doesn't work quite right, we can click the "Help" button and the remote will ask us questions concerning what went wrong until the problem is rectified.

There are six remotes in the Harmony® line that I would like to talk about.  First I'll talk about the features common to all of them, then I'll list a short rundown of each model.

Devices You Can Control

This was always a problem for other universal remotes.  It was inevitable that no matter which one I purchased there would be at least one thing in my AV system that it wouldn't control, completely negating the whole idea of owning a universal remote.  Logitech® fixed this with a database of 175,000 devices to choose from, which is updated regularly.

Another thing about the old remotes was the number of devices you could program into the unit.  You would typically buy a remote that could control four, six, or eight devices.  If you had more devices than your remote could handle, you were out of luck.  The Harmony® line handles up to 15 different devices, and not just your standard DVD players and TVs.  It also handled lighting, security and HVAC thermostats!  You name it, if you can remote control it, you can use a Harmony® remote for it.

Setup/Programming

This used to be a huge pain.  First you would have to look up the four to eight digit code for the device you wanted to control.  Then you would go through about 12 clicks on the remote (no menus, you have to follow the steps in the manual) just to get to the point where you can enter the device code.  If you didn't get the "Save" click sequence right you'd be right back to the start.  I can't tell you how many times I programmed a device into a remote six times before I was done.

With the Harmony® you plug a USB cable into your computer and go through a very easy to follow menu to set up a device, and for that matter, everything else with the remote.

Tivo and other DVR unit control

Even the remotes that I bought that claimed to be designed for DVR's never really worked very well.  The Harmony® remotes are a different story altogether.  It's almost like the engineers at Logitech® had heard of DVR technology when they designed the Harmony®.  Go figure.

Ease of Use and Support

This is one area where Logitech® definitely got it right. The help function on the remote is fantastic.  So much so that my six year old can run through the troubleshooting menu easily when something doesn't work quite right.  Logitech's® free tech support is one of the best in the business, and if you can't manage to get things setup or running on your own (not likely), they can help.

One Touch Use

The old style universal remotes usually had a "macro" feature to turn on or off several devices with one click, but good luck programming it, let alone getting it to work.  The Harmony® remotes seem to have been built around the idea of one touch use, and they set up and operate seamlessly.

So let's take a look at some of the Logitech® Harmony® remotes.  I'm going to list some pricing information for you as well.  While we don't typically sell home electronics products on a regular basis, I like these products so much we're going to start taking special orders for them.  We're even going to have special pricing until the end of October, 2007, so look closely.  You can also click on the images for more information from Logitech®.

We'll start with the mother of all universal remotes, the

Logitech® Harmony® 1000 Advanced Universal Remote

Just looking at it will fill any gadget freak with envy.

• 3.5" Color Touch Screen
• Charging Station: just drop it on it's base overnight and never buy batteries for your remote again
• Online Wizard Setup: Plug in the USB cable, and you're done in no time
• Learning Port: Add favorite functions from your old remote just by pointing at your new one
• Up to 15 Components: Video, audio, gaming -- even lights and appliances
• Help Button: Only Logitech® has this, and it's great!
• Suggested Retail $499.99, $489.99 from LKTech through 10/31/2007

Logitech® Harmony® 890 Advanced Universal Remote

My personal favorite.

You have probably heard from me at one point or another my distaste for Gateway, as well as another un-named PC manufacturer or two.  Probably more that once.

Read the article linked below from Network World Magazine.  Third party verification that I'm not just holding a grudge.... 

How Gateway's tech support tortured an editor - Network World