Logitech Harmony 880 - Thoughts...

[bsodmike]

What do you guys think? I'm not entirely sure I want to have a remote by 'logitech', but then again will it be the best thing since sliced bread?

--Mike

[5lab]

this the ~£120 one? read up on it a while back, its meant to be pretty good, but then i just got all my kit from the same manuf (toshiba) so it all works off the same remote anywyas..

[schmunk]

I had a go with a 655 which I picked up cheap. It was very good at what it did - macros etc, but it didn't work with my cable box (as the cable box uses IrDA), so back it went...

[BlueMagician]

We'd had a Phillips Pronto remote for ages - touch screen, code learning, multi-device control, PC driven menu design software etc. It is the most useful thing ever.
It's good to see more companies being adventurous and tackling this sort of thing - bring on the toys..

S.

[DavidM]

They look really nice

[bsodmike]

The one I saw, at least the latest offering 880, costs around £170+ and around $250 in the states. What would be nice is for something similar that integrates into your arm chair. This might be a fun project for me once I finish Uni where it'll be something along the lines of some embedded architecture (or a PC running linux?) + hack into some cheapish 'learning remote' or design the remote function and program in the functions. This would be very custom and would take time, planning etc.

It would be sweet to sit back and have a touchscreen thinggy at the touch of your figer tips! For now my Denon remote will have to suffice...thanks for the input guys

[RedPutty]

if it has a web based wizard based setup like my harmony H655 then you might find it frustrating. Mine still doesnt quite switch on/off everything properly but since it mostly works I dont want to mess around with the config as I might well fix the one thing that doesnt work but something else will probably stop working.

Prontos are apparently the ones to have if money is no object

Have you looked through the remote control section at http://www.avforums.com/forums/index.php ?

[BlueMagician]

Originally Posted by RedPutty

...Prontos are apparently the ones to have if money is no object ...

The lower end ones aren't as pricey as you'd think.. It's the big brothers of the model family that require a mortgage to buy and 4 hands to operate...

S.

[BlueMagician]

<double post>

[bsodmike]

I took a look at the Harmony units, the ProntoPro NG, and even the offerings from Marantz. They seem funky, and the Pronto seems great. My only gripes are lack of OS X support and better units *could* be around the corner. Seems that Logitech have just started to get into the whole 'remote' arena and they *could* come up with something fantastic.

If I were 'em I'd go with the general look of the 5xx remote they did, + a lovely huge touch-screen LCD. The 880 seems to have a semi cluttered, remotey look, the 5xx (can't remember the model no) looks like a Nokia but cleaner. Of course with a large display it would be this and a cross between a PDAish thing.

For now, my Denon remote will suffice. Thanks again!

[Alex]

I just got the 688 for my parents for christmas and its wonderful - it works, does everything I want (on 1st time set-up too) and is even 'my mum'-proof!

[Sk!mD4Rk]

I've not tried the Logitech one but i used to use a Pronto till i stood on it The Pronto would suit your system better than the Logitech i reckon. Moan at Phillips to support other Os'es.

Check out http://www.remotecentral.com/ great site with lots of info.