Logitech Harmony 676 Universal Remote Control
by Logitech
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List Price: Our Price: $119.98 You Save: $80.01 (40%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $48.25 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech Harmony 676 Universal Remote Control
Customer Review: No more special instructions!
Summary: 5 Stars
Overall I'm very happy with the remote. I have a fairly complex system, where 2-4 components (depending) have to be adjusted when I switch sources. The baby-sitters can now operate the system with a few simple button presses!
I got the basic functionality programmed fairly quickly, but did have to spend 3 hours or so tweaking the settings. My Kenwood laserdisc player was missing a lot of commands, and the Tivo settings were not that optimized (for example they had not mapped the "+" key to the logical operation of "clear"). One nice example of flexibility was the ability to adjust the repeat rate (by default the remote sent commands too quickly for my preamp volume-up and down, and too slowly for the Tivo commands).
I'd say the website was adequate, but not great. It was geared towards getting beginning users through the initial setup, and was kind of clunky when I needed to tweak specific things. Towards the end I got fairly efficient using it, but despite the fact that I'm a software programmer I would occasionally go down the wrong path because of non-intuitive sub-menu labels.
Ergonomically, I think this is the best of the current Harmony remotes. It is quite good, and in some ways rivals the Tivo remote (my favorite example of good remote design). It does fall down in a few areas, in particular the fast-forward/rewind and pause/play keys are inconveniently located (see the Tivo remote for how to do it right, although to be fair Tivo does not have skip-forward and skip-back buttons).
Customer Review: Very disappointing useless gadget
Summary: 1 Stars
I just got it, and I am sending it back for a bunch of reasons.
1st, it doesn't work with my Dish system.
2nd, the setup is a nightmare. Even after downloading the firmware, and software updates, this was a disaster. The remote would just display firmware successfully updated, and would not leave that screen no matter what buttons you push.
3rd, their database is horribly incomplete, and inaccurate.
4th, it's a cute idea to try to have one button control but unless it works right it is just another useless selling gimmick.
5th, again, it doesn't control my dish sytem, but the $8 Philips remote I have, does that just fine. What a crock.
6th, if a company can't answer their phones within 10 minutes, that is normally a clue that they aren't well managed.
Of course you have to install software but it doesn't stop there, you have to disable your firewall and popup blockers, and all that good stuff, and of course you have to answer no in 5 different places to not get their email solicitations, as well as answer questions like where you live, and your comfort levels with different products, most likely more market research. God I'm so burned out on companies gathering every piece of info on me that they can.
Overall an abosolute nightmare, and waste of a perfectly good evening.
I originally bought this because of the high compliments other users gave it, but I just don't see how that is. Now I get to pay to ship this junk back.
Customer Review: Brilliant design
Summary: 5 Stars
A flexible remote that truly allows you to get rid of your other remotes in the house. The best part is the activity buttons that take care of all the commands necessary to turn on/off needed components and do the right switching for a given task such as playing a DVD with sound through the receiver. The PC interface is awesome for setting things up. It is a little intimidating to any computer novices. For the advanced user the sky is the limit on customization of your remote down to the sequence of commands displayed on the LCD. Downside is it may take a while to tweak everything.
The online database for devices is immense. Even less than common devices are on it (I have a roku hd-1000 for displaying memory card images in HD and a 12 year old yamaha CD changer-both in their database!!). If it's not in the database, the remote has learning capability. You can create your own macros to control all your components. Can even control the speed at which commands are send from the remote! Best of all you can create a backup of your remote's programming to store on your PC/Mac in case of catastrophe!!
For the price you can't beat this remote.
Pros: Immense flexibility and programmability via PC/Mac online connection, button design and layout, a novice can operate it (when set up correctly!!), price
Cons: Set up can be tedious and intimidating to computer novices, could use next AND previous buttons for scrolling through LCD display commands.
Customer Review: Excellent...while it lasts!
Summary: 2 Stars
I've owned this remote for about 13 months. First let me say, it has a solid feature set and it works as advertised. I control a Samsung TV, a MacMini, a Pioneer 5.1 sound system and a Tivo all from the same remote. The setup is relatively easy (could be more intuitive) and it's still customizable. It's a little annoying that you have to have an online account to set it up, but for the most part it's worth it.
But now it's starting to wear. The play, pause, fast forward and skip forward buttons take extra ooomph to work. They used to work great. Maybe as a Tivo user I rely on them too much? I honestly don't know. But now, I have to really press on them for it to work. I imagine in another month, it will become unusable.
I had expected this remote to last the life of my Television and Tivo. Eight-five dollar is a a steal for this remote. But $85 ever 14 months is a complete rip.
Edit: December 18, 2008
I was reading other posts complaining about the longevity of the buttons when I came across a suggstion made by Terry Solomon. Following Terry's advice I disassembled the remote (six screws in total) and cleaned all the contact with nail polish remover . . . good as new! Ten minutes of effort and I now once again love my remote. It'd be nice if Logitech made it easier to take apart to clean or better still if they provided some instructions. I've would now give this remote four stars.
Customer Review: Great once it is setup
Summary: 5 Stars
I have had this remote for 3 weeks now and am loving it. The first day I had this remote I was considering returning it as I couldn't figure out how to do some of the customizations to it that I wanted. Amazingly it all came to me on my second visit to the website a couple days later.
This remote does take a long time to setup, assuming you (like me) have a lot of varied equipment and want to fully utilize this remote. If you don't then I don't understand why you're looking a pricey remote. As I'm sure is mentioned in most reviews all this setup has to be done via the web. This has its perks like gaining access to remote codes that others have painstakingly entered for you, but also has the negative of having to hook the remote to your pc to change any of its settings not to mention logging into the Harmony site. I have high speed internet and found the Harmony site worked well for me. Still it took me HOURS to setup this remote.
The beautiful part is now that it is setup it works great. It's the first remote that can control my Sony Tivo from any distance. I can finally sit at my dining room table and fastforward through commercials!! I was never able to do that with the original Sony remote nor with my last wonderful (until now) Sony universal remote.
The other great thing about this remote is with it being task oriented my Mother can figure out how to utilize my entertainment center when she visits.