Review: Logitech Harmony 880
Ever since I started using audio/video components about ten years ago, I’ve had to deal with multiple remotes. One for the TV. One for the receiver. One for the DVD player. One for the cable box. It’s a pain to juggle two remotes just to change the channel and the volume. Sometime last year I played around with my cousin’s Logitech Harmony 880, and it was amazing. I had total control of all the different components. Usually with cheaper universal remotes, you have to sacrifice some commands unique to that remote, but not with the 880.
To reward myself for doing well on my GRE’s, I bought myself the 880. Using my computer, the Harmony remote software, and a USB connection, I had five of my components programmed in under 10 minutes. The remote organizes itself with activities like “Watch TV” or “Watch DVD”. With the touch of one button, it sets each piece of equipment to the proper setting and you’re ready to go. If you find yourself using a command that is buried in the menus, you can easily configure the remote to have it on the main LCD screen. I’ve gone from five remotes all the way down to one, and haven’t had to pull out an old remote to do a special function such as change the aspect ratio, or turn on PiP.
Pros:
- Easy to program. Took less than 10 minutes for five components.
- Highly configurable.
- Ergonomic. Still looks like a remote rather than a small computer.
- LCD screen activated by a tilt sensor to save batteries.
- Backlit screen and buttons, easy to see in the dark.
- Comes with charging base, so no need to buy batteries.
Cons:
- Buttons aren’t easily discernible by shape/touch.
- Sometimes the buttons aren’t placed within thumbs reach.
- Somewhat expensive.
Conclusion:
I don’t have many negative things to say about this remote. Even though I have different brands of components, the Harmony 880 easily took control of all of them. You can find this remote on sale at Amazon at times for only $125. If you have a complex set up like I do, this remote is well worth the investment. Pictures after the jump…
complex and confusing…
simple and easy.
My gripe is that it’s a little slow to responded to commands and the rew/ffwd should be centralized around the play. I can’t tell you how times I accidently skipped to the end of the program looking for the play button. The Tivo remote really got this part right.
Chris
April 10, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Okay so evidently these comments don’t support HTML.
Just look here:
http://customersupport.tivo.com/TiVoCollection/6FA261FA-ECDF-440C-866F-1717A194F317/Media_Resources/Images/3001/tv2125_000note.gif
Chris
April 10, 2007 at 2:23 pm
I agree, it all comes back to button layout, which the TiVo controller definitely had down to a science. But…it’s worth having one controller vs 5. I’ve only had it for a week, but I’ll get used to the less than optimal layout.
jeff
April 10, 2007 at 3:15 pm
so even the cox dvr remote got the rewind/ffwd button placement right…
http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=449818957
jeff
April 10, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Here’s what I had orginally. The 880 is definitely better at A LOT of things, especially ease of programming, but this shows that they didn’t exactly think about the standard for DVR button layout.
http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Remote-Control-MX-500-Viewscreen/dp/B000065UDU/ref=cm_cr-mr-title/104-1136596-7159113
Chris
April 11, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Just replaced the DVD player in the upstairs room so the changer can go in the theatre room. Added the new DVD player and replaced it in the Watch a DVD activity in 15 minutes. The software alone is worth the price.
Chris
November 19, 2007 at 9:18 pm