I got a new toy...

Thanks to a combination of waiting for the right moment, gift certificates and free super saver shipping from Amazon.com, I find myself now the proud owner of a Logitech Harmony Remote 550 for a mere fraction of its suggested retail price.

So...what do I think of this miracle device? Actually, now that I think I have it set up correctly, I quite like it. Sure there was some trepidation about the initial setup and install of the software to program the remote. The new 7.5 version was released just a few days ago, and the comments on Versiontracker.com worried me about the stability and usability of the software. Then I remembered that I was reading comments from users on Versiontracker.com and carried on with the install of the software. Software which, unlike was written about to the point of near-hysteria on Versiontracker, worked perfectly for me. Some of the more strident comments were amusing enough since they were criticizing Logitech for emphasizing work on the Windows version of the software over the Macintosh version. However, the software is primarily browser and Java based...so really fairly platform agnostic. Sometimes my Macintosh brethren do need to pull their heads out of somewhere and seriously get a grip.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with Harmony remotes, it's a universal remote, and if you know me at all, you know quite well that I've been in need of one for some time. However, instead of the TV/DVD/VCR/CD function-type buttons that you'd find on a typical universal remote, the Harmony-series is instead task-oriented. Post-setup, you use an LCD screen (with a lovely blue glow on my model) to select from a menu of what you would like to do. For instance, if I want to watch TV, I scroll to that on the LCD screen, click the button while pointing the remote at the equipment like any other remote and then the TV will power up if need be, flip to the HDMI input, turn on the receiver and set that input appropriately and then control my HD cable box to change channels, watch shows on the DVR and turn the volume up or down on the receiver. If I want to play my XBOX 360 after that, I just scroll to that selection, push the button and then the input switches over to my VGA input, the audio switches over appropriately and it will even power up the XBOX for me. When I'm done, a single button powers down everything I want powered down. Clever. Very clever.

So basically instead of reaching for four or five remote controls, all I need is the one and instead of flipping  between different modes to switch over inputs and so on, it does all the work for me. I like it! I like it quite a bit! In fact, anyone with a whole mess of equipment to control and enjoys LCDs with a soft blue backlighting should pick one of these up. There are more expensive models of this remote, but this one was perfect for my needs and budget.

Oh so very, very recommended...