Comments on: If You Are Drowning in Remote Controls, Harmony Is a Lifesaver http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20070927/if-you-are-drowning-in-remote-controls-harmony-is-lifesaver/ from The Wall Street Journal Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:56:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ron Lockhart http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20070927/if-you-are-drowning-in-remote-controls-harmony-is-lifesaver/comment-page-1/#comment-618 Ron Lockhart Sat, 29 Sep 2007 13:25:30 +0000 http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20070927/if-you-are-drowning-in-remote-controls-harmony-is-lifesaver/#comment-618 There is one issue that is troublesome when using the Harmony remote. If it's used to, say, turn on all necessary equipment to watch a DVD, and you subsequently turn off one of the devices manually, the Harmony will not work the next time around. It expects to see the devices it controls in the same state it left them. If you change it manually, using a programmed Activity won't work. The lesson is that if you're using the Harmony as your remote, you need to use it all the time-or at least as much as can be programmed into it. There is one issue that is troublesome when using the Harmony remote. If it’s used to, say, turn on all necessary equipment to watch a DVD, and you subsequently turn off one of the devices manually, the Harmony will not work the next time around. It expects to see the devices it controls in the same state it left them. If you change it manually, using a programmed Activity won’t work. The lesson is that if you’re using the Harmony as your remote, you need to use it all the time-or at least as much as can be programmed into it.

]]> By: elliottpesut.com » Some Ma.gnolia Links For Your Enjoyment http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20070927/if-you-are-drowning-in-remote-controls-harmony-is-lifesaver/comment-page-1/#comment-616 elliottpesut.com » Some Ma.gnolia Links For Your Enjoyment Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:36:04 +0000 http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20070927/if-you-are-drowning-in-remote-controls-harmony-is-lifesaver/#comment-616 [...] If You Are Drowning In Remote Controls, Harmony Is Lifesaver | Personal Technology | Nick Wingfield ... [...] [...] If You Are Drowning In Remote Controls, Harmony Is Lifesaver | Personal Technology | Nick Wingfield … [...]

]]> By: Jim Frost http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20070927/if-you-are-drowning-in-remote-controls-harmony-is-lifesaver/comment-page-1/#comment-615 Jim Frost Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:13:38 +0000 http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20070927/if-you-are-drowning-in-remote-controls-harmony-is-lifesaver/#comment-615 I have had three different Harmony remotes. The first one, the second-generation model, was kind of fragile and needed less button overloading. But the third and subsequent generation models were vastly improved, including everything since Logitech bought them. Two of them are in frequent use at my house and both have proved extremely durable. The fact that I have bought so many should indicate how good I think they are. The setup process is a little bit of a pain if you have a complex setup, but it's way less of a pain versus something like a Pronto. There is less flexibility in programming, but by and large it does what you really want anyway. Its task-based programming is a huge win. The large Harmony 1000 is not what I would buy; any of the others, with hard buttons, are the thing to get. Cheaper, too. We find that the Tivo remote is still better for TV watching, but having the Harmony for everything else (and turning everything on and off) works just great. Unless I have to go reprogram a unit I keep the original device remotes in storage. I have had three different Harmony remotes. The first one, the second-generation model, was kind of fragile and needed less button overloading. But the third and subsequent generation models were vastly improved, including everything since Logitech bought them. Two of them are in frequent use at my house and both have proved extremely durable.

The fact that I have bought so many should indicate how good I think they are.

The setup process is a little bit of a pain if you have a complex setup, but it’s way less of a pain versus something like a Pronto. There is less flexibility in programming, but by and large it does what you really want anyway. Its task-based programming is a huge win.

The large Harmony 1000 is not what I would buy; any of the others, with hard buttons, are the thing to get. Cheaper, too.

We find that the Tivo remote is still better for TV watching, but having the Harmony for everything else (and turning everything on and off) works just great. Unless I have to go reprogram a unit I keep the original device remotes in storage.

]]>