Ok Seriously Logitech Harmony remotes are awesome. I’ve been using the Logitech Harmoney 360 remote for a while now and a few months ago I started using the Harmony One.

Like everyone else nowadays I had a plethora of remotes lying around for my tv, dvd player, audio receiver, cable box.. you know all that good stuff. But unless you like having all those remotes lying around on the coffee table you have thought about getting a universal remote. But the problem with those cheap remotes is that you can’t do everything you need to and still end up needed to keep the original remotes around, then there are those $800 remotes that look sooo uber cool but who wants to spend that much on a remote. That’s where the Logitech Harmony remotes come in. Not only are they affordable but they do the job and then some.

Since I started using A Harmony remote I haven’t had to touch another remote. They are pretty simple to setup just install the software and connect the remote to a computer via the usb cable. Tell the software the model numbers of all your stuff and define your activities (like Watch TV or Watch DVD). When setting up your activity it will ask you what settings all of your equipment needs to be in for each specific activity. The software connects to Logitechs website so it always has an up to date library for all sorts of equipment.

Then once you have all your activities setup all you have to do is hit the appropriate activity button on the screen and the remote will automatically turn on all required equipment and change all inputs to whatever they should be, its just that easy. You can customize all the buttons to do what ever you like and the small LCD screen is great for flipping through pages of commands that you may not use often. The one thing that is slightly annoying is with the Harmony One remote that has a touch screen lcd, as is common with touch screen lcds there is no tactile feedback to let you know if you are hitting the right button. So when you are watching a movie in the dark you have to look down at the remote to make sure your hitting the right button but other than that the color LCD screen of the Harmony One is pretty slick.

Also these remotes works great with my xbox360. They act just like a controller would, and is perfect to use for watching dvd’s or with the media center extender which is what I mainly use it for.

These remotes are so simple to use that soon after I got it I bought one of the standard harmony remotes, with out the 360 buttons, for my parents so that I don’t have to get those annoying calls anymore asking

“how do I watch a dvd? I can hear it but I can see anything? I think the TV’s broken”

They also feel great in your hands with a slightly rubberized underside they are really nice to hold. As with any remotes It takes a little while to get used to the layout of the keys but if my mom can figure it out anyone can. They make a great house warming gift for people of all ages and you’ll never know how you got along with out one before.