Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote Control Reviews

• Has my search for the perfect remote finally ended?

  
  By ALR819EYYWX06 on 2005-07-16
  I'm not entirely sure this would be the end-all-be-all of remotes, but it sure comes close. I suspect if I spent $1,000 or more on a Pronto, I'd be a little more decisive, but the Harmony is still an excellent middle-range remote.
  
  Set up was quick and painless. The Harmony knew about all my devices, so I didn't need to go thru the painful process of head-to-head training.
  
  Once my devices were defined, setup walked me thru a wizard which assigned the most logical "activities" to the remote. "Activities" are basically macros - power on the selected components, select the proper inputs/outputs, and assign the buttons.
  
  An example is "Watch a DVD". This powers on the TV and selects VIDEO5, powers on the receiver and selects the DVD/LD input, and then powers on the DVD player.
  
  The wizard asked how I control the volume or channels for each activity. When I watch cable, I use the TV volume; when I watch a DVD, I use the receiver volume; and so on.
  
  This may sound a little confusing, but going thru the wizard takes only about 10 minutes. If you compare this to other remotes, you would have to press about six or seven buttons, and even then, you'd not have full functionality.
  
  If you're not happy with the Activities, you can redefine things. I changed the behaviour of the VCR, which defaults to pressing play when you select "Watch a video".
  
  When you're using Activities, the Device button will still let you fully control any device. I like to watch TV with Closed Caption, and that was actually easier to do with the Harmony than the factory Sony remote!
  
  My only gripe is the physical buttons. They're a little small and placed right next to each other, so it can be easy to fumble. I find that I need two-handed operation when I want to fast-forward my VCR, because the FF/REW buttons are in an awkward location which makes it hard for my fingers to find.
  
  

• Great Remote - Hope Logitech Fixes The Reboot Problem

  
  By A23Y9E4UHPMMYQ on 2006-01-10
  I'm on my 3rd replacemnt 880 since October, but still love it. For anyone having the dreaded reboot problem please read on. The remote will be working perfectly fine and suddenly reboot itself as evidenced by the "Testing" screen appearing before the Acivities screen reappears. The remote now thinks that all your devices that it turned on 10 minutes ago are now off because it has rebooted itself. Tech Support does not know how to resolve the problem except to replace the remote.
  
  After several replacements I have finally learned that the design of the battery compartment is the problem. The battery fits loosely enough in the compartment that it can move slightly away from it's contacts. When this occurs it is the same as quickly removing and replacing the battery, the remote shuts down and then restarts.
  
  Solution: Until Logitech redesigns the battery compartment, here is a simple fix. Take a piece of paper (card stock works well) cut the same size as the battery. Fold one end several times like an acordian and then place that between the lower compartment wall and the battery end. This should act like a shim and prevent the battery from moving away from the contacts.
  
  

• Can't Dumb it Down Enough for Mom

  
  By A1UEL5C1N6E5SE on 2005-09-02
  Mom is a senior. She is baffled by complexity. I'm able to make this device easier, more foolproof, then other remote contols that we've tried. We're still not there yet.
  
  Making this device simple takes time and expertise. Logitech has some outright bugs and lack of features that prevent this device from being even simpler. I've sent them feedback but this really isn't their target market. I told mom not to hold her breath. She can't anyway.
  
  The screen quality is improved over previous models but it's still a bit disappointing. Her old eyes have trouble reading the button labels and small screen fonts. Like others, I'm not in love with the button layout.
  
  

• This is not a Logitech device

  
  By A2GG15W3DS49Q0 on 2005-11-05
  I'm very disappointed, and that is an understatement. I have many Logitech products around my house, mostly computer related, and i usually find them to be user friendly and correctly designed. If the Harmony didn't have a Logitech logo on it, I would say a third world country designed this remote, possibly during a coup de'tat.
  
  The Design:
  Like many Amazon reviewers rightfully said here, the remote does NOT sit comfortably on the cradle. It's more than a mere nuisance, since the cradle is also the charger and if it doesn't sit precisely on it, and we're talking microns here, it will not charge itself. I said microns, and I'm not exaggerating - you can tap the table next to the remote and it will set it off charging. It's that delicate. The remote beeps when it recognizes a charger, but funnily, it also beeps when it recognizes someone picked it up, so the result is that you can't tell which sounded when. You would think the human race would know how to create charger cradles by now.
  
  The Color LCD:
  Call me a weirdo, but why does a Universal Remote Control have to be in color? It has to have an LCD screen with lights, ok, but why color? What good does it do to see a hamburger with fries, pixelated and visually unpleasant, as the background of a black and white text that says "Watch a DVD". The resolution is such that even the black and white text is very pixelated. You get a feeling that the screen is there simply because some product designer said "Hey lets make that LCD in color, we can charge 100 bucks more".
  
  The Button Setup:
  Some good, some bad. The Volume control and channels are not illuminated enough, as you would expect of such important buttons. The VCR/DVD controls are all positioned in a rectangle, not surrounding the Play button, so if you like how most remote controls are built, you won't like this one. The ON/OFF buttons, as well as the Help and Activities buttons are located on the top of the remote, and that's a good thing, since you won't be needing any of those, they are totally useless - read the next part to see why.
  
  The Activities:
  You would assume that a universal remote lets you pick a device and control it, as if you're holding the original remote in your hand. Well, Logitech thought it would be nice if you pick an Activity, such as "Watch a DVD", "Listen to Music", "Watch Tivo" and so forth, and the remote will decide which devices to turn on or off, based on prior configuration. This leads to two major drawbacks - the first is that you have to spend hours getting to know the ugly web based textual interface that the folks at Logitech implemented in order to design those activities. Nothing makes sense there, the most relevant options are hidden behind several screens and mouse clicks (such as the option to NOT turn off any unused device when you pick an activity). The second drawback, is that the device has to remember which device is in which state, so if you accidentally clicked the on/off button or an activity button while the remote was not directed at the device, you go out of sync. The next time you will try to turn the TV off, the remote will think it is already off. There is, however, an option to control the DEVICES in your household but since the remote is so ACTIVITIES oriented, I found it hard to operate the remote this way. It requires too many button clicks and too many menus to choose from. I think the breaking point for me was when I clicked "Watch PVR" and the remote turned off the PVR (cable box, which should be always on), turned on the TV, and refused to let me rectify the situation by turning the PVR on again.
  
  The Web Site:
  On your way to configure this device you will be taken through a user registration form in which you will have to put your personal details (including a MANDATORY SURVEY, where did you buy the device, how did you hear about it, etc etc). Then it's the wizards part. I had the assumption that wizards, such as those you use in windows when you try to add a new device, were built in order to make our lives easier. Logitech takes this assumption and throws it out the window. Nothing is short and to the point here, everything is question and answer oriented, so if your system does not adhere to the most basic configuration, you are in trouble. For example, lets say you have a Tivo connected to your computer. Since Logitech does not have this configuration, and you will have to specify a TV that is connected to this Tivo, you have no easy way of adding the activity "Watch Tivo".
  
  In Short:
  If you are a gadget guru with nerves of steel and the most basic devices configuration, then go ahead, buy this remote. Otherwise, keep looking, this remote, definitely, is not it.
  
  

• FINALLY - the PERFECT Universal Remote Control

  
  By A1UJ5ZMLHB9CEW on 2007-12-19
  This is the best universal remote control I've ever owned or ever seen.
  
  It has completely eliminated the need for all the other remotes. Even the more advanced/complex functions of a unit's remote can be easily programmed into the Logitech Harmony. And with Logitech's online remote control data base, you just enter the brand and model number of an electronic product and, chances are, it already has all the information you'll need, plus the features you'll most likely want to put onto your Harmony. Some of the default features that it put into the remote for my devices didn't work, however, and I had to adjust them manuaully.
  
  If you want to incorporate all the features of your old remotes into this one and have it work smoothly, it will take some time - programming, testing, reprogramming until it is tweaked to perfection. But once you're there, you'll be set.
  
  CUSTOMER SUPPORT IS EXCELLENT - Logitech has a dedicated department (at the time of this review) for the Harmony Universal Remote. I had to call them twice. The wait time was short and the technicians solved my problems quickly both times.
  
  CHARGER/CRADLE ISSUE: Several reviewers complained about problems with the charger. I, too, have experienced this problem - where the unit would not charge. I called tech support and they suggested I clean the contact points in the cradle. When I checked I saw one of the points was "stuck" and not actually making contact with the unit. Cleaning the contacts fixed the problem. That was four months ago and I haven't had a problem since. I suspect there was a manufacturing problem that left a tacky substance in the contact area that created this big problem. Since I don't see this issue mentioned in the most recent reviews, I assume it's been addressed. I still give this product FIVE STARS.
  
  
  Lastly, one of the best features of this remote, besides it's true universal application, is that it lights up when you pick it up so you can read everything on it, including the buttons (they're backlit). And it has a clock on the display. Don't forget it has its own rechargeable battery and charger stand.
  
  Great product!
  
  
• Probably the Last Harmony remote before Logitech destroys the company
  By A3LQ3YL5MJA5NU on 2005-12-14
  I've had 4 harmony remots and been a user since the first model came out. everything work on all the remotes. My latest remote is the 688 which came out right when Logitech was buying the company... I have watch Logitech infuse their horrific customer support, total lack of driver updates, and pathetic coding work jsut eat away at a great product. The 880/890 was in development at the time and will probably be the last real harmony remote, going forward I'm sure it will all be based on Logitechs incompetent engineering department to push out a defective product.
  
  The key to the Harmony remote is the website which customizes your remote and updates the firmware, allows you to add devices etc... The site under Harmony's control was a little slow and dated, but it did everything and worked perfectly. Logitech has come along and now made it so you can not choose the order of your customized buttons, you get 6 per page, but logitech wants to alphabetize it for everyones inconvience... so your least used buttons on the top, and important buttons such as power are 5 menu's into the remote. Different activities use to have independant buttons you could customize... until logitech stepped in and now anytime you add a button to one activity for a particular device... it now shows up in ALL of your activities. i.e. for your receive if you want to have a button availble while watching a DVD, you would add it to the DVD activity... but now logitech makes that button appear while just watching TV, or listening to a CD.
  
  One last thing, since logitech took over they no longer maintain their IR code database and it has fallen into complete shambles. If you try and add your TV, i.e. Samsung DLP HL-P4674, instead of seeing the TV and adding it as it would in the past when Harmony was running things... now you will get hundreds of TV's all with slight variations in the model number because users are making custom labels and have full access to add garbage to the master database, now you will see hLp4674, HLP-4674, Hpl4674, hlp46744, and so on... now because these are all inputted by users, 1/2 of the TV's don't work, the IR codes are wrong, they are missing commands, or have incorrect labels i.e. PowerToggle, PowerToggle1, PowerToggle2, PowerOff, PowerOn, PwrTgl1, PwrTgl2, Power, Pwr, Powr... etc... and you could spend hours trying to figure out how the frig' to turn on and off your TV... and every change to the remote is a solid 5 minute upload, verify, reboot process, then go test with TV, then come back, rinse, repeat.
  
  Logitech has been cripling this product since the first week they took over. It's still a good product overall, but I can tell you that if you think this thing is easy to use... you are sorely mistaken... with Logitech's new web site as your backbone you WILL spend 20-40 hours of effort trying to set this thing up... take a week of vacation for this one.
  
  I hope logitech fires all the staff and starts off fresh with some people who know what they are doing... this one's slipping quickly. and at a price of $200+ I demand more customer server and a better interface.
  
  Just to give you an idea of how back-ass-ward Logitech is... go visit the support forums and you won't find anywhere to get support on the Harmony remotes. Then go look at their products page, and you can't find a picture of their products larger then a thumbnail, click the larger picture view and it pulls up a medium size thumbnail.... you can't see any of the buttons or anything... that's the level of effor they put into trying to sell a $250 remote... imagine the effort they put into supporting it after the sale!
  
  
• In a perfect world versus the real world
  By A2EKMRM56D5WTW on 2006-10-05
  This remote, when it works, is incredibly good. Now that I do not have it, I miss it terribly. This remote could replace all of your remotes. So when you want to watch TV with a home stereo system, it controls all of your equipment. It rocks. It has a cradle that allows to recharge the system so you don't have to depend on batteries. It is perfect in a perfect world.
  In the real world, this will die within a year because the remote's contacts will no longer be able to contact the cradle. Then the battery will slowly die. Then you will have a very, very small brick. Then you will call Logitech technical support and then you will be very, very disappointed. You will wait weeks for an answer. You will get none. You will call them and give Tier 1 all of your information and then give Tier 2 the exact same information. And then you will receive no useful information. And then you will wait. And then you will do it again. And then you will repeat this again and again.
  [Update] Second charger dies 6 months later.
  
  
• Best I have seen - so far - for the money (UPDATED)
  By A26BKP5YFLJN34 on 2006-01-17
  I have been through a large number of universal remotes. This remote is light years ahead of the previous models Harmony has come out with, and really delivers outstanding bang for the buck. I say this from an ergonomics as well as functional standpoint.
  
  The screen is beautiful and highly legible. Icons as well as text make choosing an activity easy to understand and execute. The buttons are extremely solid. Much better than the 688 that I also own. It was quickly relegated to the bedroom system when I saw this unit.
  
  The keys are MUCH better located and logical. On the 688 you had to turn on the backlight to press any button because none were in a position that you could feel your way to them. On the 880 they are pretty much right where they need to be. The 4-way directional control and select buttons are very easy to find in the dark and the function is rock-solid, no question as to whether it's been pressed enough, and the command signals are very strong, so it's not usually necessary to point right at the equipment.
  
  For those of you who have never tried or maybe even heard of the Harmony line, you will love the internet-based simplicity of the programming. This interface has not changed since I first got my 688. To control both remotes, I had to add another userid/password, so I was unable to transfer any of my commands from my previous unit to my new one. This is a small peeve.
  
  Some notes on programming. The initial setup could not be easier, you just type in your equipment model numbers and it adds them to your remote. It found every piece of equipment I own easily, and some of my stuff is obscure. Then, you set up activities, like "Watch TV" and the website creates that activity instantly. Sometimes no tweaking is involved whatsoever, and sometimes you do have to either add or change equipment included in that activity or add a few buttons to the existing commands available when doing that activity. Here is where experience pays off. It's not 100% intuitive how to add soft buttons, nor is it always clear whether you need to train the remote by using the original remote for that command or whether that command is already trained and just needs to be added. Also, I found that often you need to relabel an existing command so that it reflects what is on the original remote, which means that the Harmony database is not perfect.
  
  However, the database gets you 95% of the way there, and after you play around with the website a bit, you start to understand it and can soon get to the point of customizing it exactly as you wish. In the end, I probably spent two hours to get my 880 to operate exactly as I wanted. But I'm pretty picky; many users may be happy with it after the first 5 minutes of programming. You will all be impressed by the enormous size of the Harmony database, and by the simple function of the remote.
  
  It is rechargeable as well. This is a big bonus compared with the previous Harmony 688. Another thing I really liked: even when the 880 is out of its cradle, it knows when you pick it up, and automatically lights up. I cannot hear any type of mechanical sensor rattling around in there, but somehow it knows when it is moved and gets ready for your input. I love this simple feature. Would be interested to know how it does that.
  
  All in all, I say it is probably not quite as good as having a Pronto or other really high end remote, but it is far easier to program, performs perfectly once correctly programmed, and costs MUCH MUCH less than any other remote with its power. The screen is sharp and beautiful, the keys function great. I have nothing but good things to say. I don't think you can go wrong for the price.
  
  UPDATE 4/21/06: On this morning, my remote stopped working. I contacted customer support and was quickly handled. They are going to send me a new remote. Lucky for me, the new one will be able to be completely reprogrammed by connecting it and downloading all my existing codes. I will update again once this is accomplished if there are any issues. Otherwise, I continue to rate this item a 5-star pending the results of this warranty issue.
  
  Update 5/22/06: The replacement remote came on schedule and has been working perfectly. Logitech's RMA system and follow-up were very professional and prompt.
  
  
• SAVE YOUR MONEY!
  By A3F3BPRX4PQIOJ on 2005-11-26
  I purchased this particular remote almost four months ago. Giving it an honest evaluation here, I must admit I have made a terrible mistake in purchasing it. I should have returned it after the first week. Hoping that this would be the "latest and greatest" remote out there for the money, I shelled out $285, only to be very, very disappointed. My wife had been wanting a remote that she was comfortable with to run most of our video/audio components........she is still wanting. One of our biggest gripes are the miniscule buttons.....too small for us with normal sized fingers and hands. This remote should come with a magnifying glass, or stylus? Watching a good dvd in subdued lighting in your home....then accidently bumping the wrong button....can be real exciting.....as in having most/all components switch off. All is preferred here as opposed to most. Oh well, whats another five minutes to turn on the lights, re-set the buttons on the 880, etc. Another gripe is the way this remote "re-sets" itself automatically...what gives? Mine is hardly consistent from one day to the next. Come on Logitech, you folks can do better. This has been really frustating, thinking you are controlling one component, when another component fires up......yes, I do know how to program the remote
  (I build/program custom computers for a living). Bugs galore here, in my estimation for the Logitech 880. In summary, this little jewel was fairly easy to initially set-up....it's good looking...it's light weight....but this is not "it". If you can find one to "test drive" at a friends home or local store...this will give you a good idea what I am talking about. Save your money until something really good comes out.
  
  
• Too many problems - Don't buy this
  By A5D1AMOI20Q2K on 2005-09-26
  I just returned our Harmony 880 after 30 days for several reasons (many are referred to in other posts, but here's my list):
  1. Remote won't seat properly in the charger -- lots of fiddling around every time it needed a charge
  2. The 880 would randomly forget the state that our system was in, and we would often have to reset its status manually for various components in our system
  3. The 880's buttons are too small and close together; even for simple (and common)Tivo tasks like play, reverse and pause; we had to LOOK at it to use it, as opposed to FEELING which button to hit. We found it much less friendly to use than our stock Tivo remote
  4. Slow response by our Tivo DVR to this control -- everything took longer to accomplish with the 880 than our Tivo control
  
  I really liked the concept of the simplistic power up and switching for a particular activity. The 880 was a gift, and I really tried to like it, but just couldn't. When a relatively expensive product exhibits such poor engineering and attention to detail, I get turned off. The designers on this product were amateurs. This model has a poor quality design, poor ergonomics, and exhibits erratic behavior.
  
  
• Best Remote Control
  By AKDDMEE4NAX15 on 2005-05-18
  This one Remote has replaced the 6 Original Remotes I had on my end table. I have owned 3 different All-in-One remotes in the past including the Producer 8 with macro, and the 6-in-1. This is the best remote control I have every owned. I bought the pre-release Harmony 880 made by Logitech. This remote is programable/learnable and can operate different functions from all your remotes on one setting without switching to a different remote. The rechargable battery will probably last a week without charging, but if you put the remote back in its charging cradle before the week is up, you will never have to worry about the battery. Bottom line is my end table only has one remote contol on it after all is said and done. For a more detailed review on the Logitech Harmony 880 go to www.tomshardware.com. They just completed a full review on this product. This remote is worth every dollar you invest into it for a product you will probably use every day. You will have to connect to the Harmony web site to program this remote, and use a USB cable to connect the remote to your computer, but this is an advantage to pushing buttons on other remotes numerous times and looking at a small two tone screen. You can program almost everything on a few computer screens. This remote will learn any function from your original remotes and add them to any button or custom name and add it to the display. Plus there are one button functions that will turn on your TV/DVD/Switch/Stereo/ then press the play button and change the channel all at the same time. Logitech has made this remote even better than the $400 dollar models on the market. Thanks for clearing up the remote clutter Logitech. Amazon has a great price for this Remote Control. The pre-release cost me $250, but I could not wait after reading all the reviews.
  
  
• Great Remote with a failing grade
  By AF8XXTXR6MNL4 on 2007-02-13
  I've owned the 880 for more than a year. It is the first remote my wife and I have both found simple to use and simple to set up. I could quibble about the buttons being too small, but overall the remote is a good product.
  
  The failing grade is the result of a miserable piece of junk that is called the cradle/battery charger. It is a disaster. If you're lucky, you'll get one that actually charges the remote. Or you might get one that is fiddly and that takes shifting it around until you finally get a charge going.
  
  Or you might suffer through a frequently discharged battery because someone walked through the room with a heavy foot -- and then find yourself with a charger that is dead and not easy to replace if at all. Mine failed completely after making me miserable for a most of the time I;ve owned the 880.
  
  The design concept might or might not have been good, but the execution in any event is bad. You can look on all sorts of forums and you'll find this is a common problem. Among myself and three friends who bought this remote, only one of us received a charger cradle that has worked with some consistency. And it's not great. That's only 25 percent. A local video store says it carries this remote but actively discourages its purchase because of this problem. They do recommend other Harmony remotes.
  
  I also have a Harmony 720, a Costco special. It does most of what the Harmony 880 does, i.e. it has less backlighting and small things. It costs a good bit less. And wonder of all, it has a cradle that at least consistently charges the battery. It works.
  
  In fact, were it not for the 720, I would have had to toss the 880. I use it to charge the 880 battery (the batteries can be swapped between the two). The design uses only two contact points and it does not require a lot of fiddling about.
  
  But I would not buy either of those remotes again despite their capability. The battery charger issue and Logitech's failure to stand behind its products is just too frustrating. This is a competitive field and there are other remotes with better support in terms of quality control.
  
  The only point here is that if you buy the remote, you'll like it. If you're lucky, you'll get a battery charger that works correctly. The 880 is a little like a Ferrari with an empty gas tank and no service station for a thousand miles.
  
  
• Harmony Remote even better than I expected!
  By A23ZNGL704AW7O on 2007-01-28
  Two of my TiVo remotes were finally wearing out. Some of the buttons on them didn't work so well anymore, and it was time to replace them. But I decided not to buy another TiVo remote. Nope, I went for the Logitech Harmony 880 Remote. Yeah, baby!
  
  This one remote can control up to 15 devices, which means I can and have configured it for all the remote-controlled devices in my home - all the tvs, TiVos, DVD players, Cable Boxes, and even the surround sound box thing. I have to say, this is sooooo nice! Plus, it is rechargeable, which means no digging for batteries when it all of a sudden runs out.
  
  You connect it to your PC with a USB cable to program it, and it is a snap. If you have the model numbers for your devices, which are usually found somewhere on the device itself, then it is a real no-brainer. Logitech had all of the devices I gave the setup program model numbers for in their database, and it was very quick to set those up. I had one TV that I couldn't find the model number for, so I just gave the manufacturer name, and it asked me if I had the remote for that device. I did, so it asked me to push a few specific buttons on the device so it could learn it, and it had figured out the best model match for that TV within 1 minute.
  
  I love the remote, and so far I think I'll be fine with just having the one, since it is rare I'll be watching TV in more than one room at a time - LOL. Plus, I still have the original remotes that I'll tuck away for emergency use. I won't be at all surprised if I decide to get another Harmony sometime in the future, though.
  
  The best price I found for the Harmony 880 was at Amazon.com. It is currently about $155 there, and has a $30 rebate offer with it. Couple that with my Amazon Prime membership, which affords me free 2-day shipping, and I am a very happy camper!
  
  
• Do NOT buy this remote!
  By A1K1AKXBB59874 on 2005-10-20
  Holy cow! what a piece of *&#@! this device turned out to be. I was so excited to buy this thing. It makes great sense to program a remote using your computer. I had relatively little trouble getting the thing set up in the first place. I did need to call tech support once, but I managed to get everything set up. The problem is that this tempremental little piece of junk resets itself 3 out of 5 times when you take it off it's cradle. You then have to wait for it to reboot before you can use it. More often than not, one item or another doesn't get the right signal and you go through the easy to follow trouble shooting steps to fix the problem. The remote also tends to reset when you move it too quickly (honey, pass me the remote). You then have to wait for it to reboot again and will find yourself with the stereo, TV and Cable on but the remote thinking that everything's off. You then have to choose 'watch PVR' and cover the remote for 30 seconds or so at which point you're all set to change the channel or lower the volume. An additional problem is the fact that the charging cradle often makes an unreliable connection and you show up to find the thing dead in the cradle. Finally there's the fancy LCD screen. It's not broken yet, but it's just a matter of time till I smash this incredibly infuriating little piece of junk to bits.
  
  
• Same Great Interface with Color Screen!
  By A101C1CK60FTW9 on 2005-04-11
  The Harmony 880 Remote has the same great interface as the previous models, but with a vibrant and colorful screen. It is much easier to read and has a higher resolution than the old monochrome models. The only drawback is battery life, which typically allows use for about 1 week. However, it does include a charger. The overall software has been enhanced as the menus are much easier the navigate and the information about TV listings is much clearer. Overall a thumbs up!
  
  
• If you are thinking about the Harmony remotes from Logitech, you should know two things
  By A2J7G9AENY92LL on 2005-12-27
  I have the model H880. If you are thinking about the Harmony remotes from Logitech, you should know two things.
  
  1. The remote itself is quite nice. It is very stylish and very functional. Some complain that the buttons are too small, but most say that they got used to them (myself included). The remote can be tweaked and customized to the max, even including a "slide show" feature of your own pictures (in the color display)... The remote is a bit overwhelming... This is no 3-in-1, so plan on several hours to get the hang of it, and to program it, which leads me to my second point (grip),
  
  2. You MUST use the Logitech Harmony website (http://www.logitech.com/harmony) for ALL configuration and changes to the remote. This also means you must have Internet access. While the website is clean and straightforward, accessing the website is problematic at best. I received the H880 for Christmas and spent the next two days greeted with an "Experiencing High Traffic" message each time I tried to program the remote. I am not alone in this. So, if you are frustrated with a slow and/or unavailable interface, I suggest you take some time to review the links below and see what others are saying. I believe most of the problems could be solved if the configuration utility was a self-contained stand-alone application, but that is not the case. Hopefully, someday, this issue will be addressed.
  
  I suggest you read the forums at:
  http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=93 (Remote Control Area)
  http://forums.logitech.com/pe/action/forums/defaultview?msgBoardID=10100205 *
  * Logitech has no dedicated Harmony forum; the posts are under "General & Off-topic"
  
  
  
• Poor Quality and Poor Customer Service
  By A1Z7ZKVMRXYLDI on 2006-01-17
  
  This remote is great when it works. However, my remote had a button fall off, and its now less than 2 months old. Apparently the buttons are individually glued on. I tried to call customer service and spoke with someone who barely could speak english. She said they would send me a new remote, but I had to send back the old remote at my expense. She explained they are receiving many remotes back every day.
  
  I purchased a Harmony remote for my father in law for Christmas, and it came with a defective USB cord.
  
  If you are buying this product, expect it to be defective. They appear to have very poor quality control.
  
  If you plan on buying it anyway, purchase an extended warranty so you are covered past one year and good luck - you will need it!!!
  
  
• Great ideas, but some flaws
  By A11GXMC5T9USGB on 2005-08-01
  This is actually a very nice remote, but given the price it had better be. I rate it 3/5 because of the price. If this were an $80 remote with these features it'd easily be 5 out of 5, but for $250 the expectations rise.
  
  First the nice features of this unit. The concept of organizing the remote by activities rather than devices is great. It requires a change in thinking for the user, but it really is the right approach for any modern home theater system. The key layout is good, and the remote feels good in your hand. There are raised spots on the keypad to help guide your fingers for blind usage. I have no trouble driving the 880 with one hand, which is important. Now the keys are small, so if you have big hands you might have a bit of trouble.
  
  Now the not so good stuff. The IR is not terribly powerful, so you have to point the unit directly at your components all the time. I moved from an old Philips Pronto to this unit, and the Pronto had a very powerful IR beam. So I was used to not worrying about my aim. With the 880 you need to aim.
  
  You program the 880 via a web interface, which isn't a bad idea. But the site does not work with Firefox, so you must use Internet Explorer. Further, I've had a couple occassions where the site just didn't work, at which point you are stuck. There is no alternative to the web interface, so if there's a a problem you cannot work around it.
  
  Finally the color display is just so-so. It's nice that it is in color, but the resolution is pretty poor. Obviously this doesn't impact the performance of the unit, but for $250 I think it's fair to pick nits.
  
  Bottom line: this remote does what it is supposed to do, and can take control of a complex home entertainment system. But for me it falls a bit short of the ideal I was hoping for.
  
  
• Boo! Boo!
  By A1W9O85XEX3N94 on 2006-08-30
  No doubt about it, this is a nice looking remote. Great color. Back-lighting. Sleek design...but then there's some problems.
  
  First the positives.
  It's really nice to have a remote that can hook up to the computer, download information about the remotes and devices that you have and have a LCD to display the buttons that it wouldn't always have. No doubt about it.
  It looks really cool and if everything is okay, performs well, as well.
  
  The Cons.
  This not only happened to my, but my neighbor as well. To recharge the remote you set it in the cradle right? No big deal. Except sometimes it just doesn't catch and by the end, it wasn't charging at all. I would leave it on the charger (one beep means it's connected and charging, two means it's disconnected) and it would beep. The next time I used it, it said that it needed to be charged with a red battery indicator. I even set something on top of it, licked it to ensure a connections...everything. It just stopped taking the connection and stopped charging.
  I didn't have the receipt because it was a gift (that I wanted) so I found out that the LCD screen is sensitive to being smashed by my fist. Repeatedly.
  
  The other down point. The remote lags when given a command. Example: I point it at my DVR and rewind to catch something I missed and it takes a moment. It's there, so I press play and it takes another couple of seconds to respond, missing what I wanted. Sure you get used to it, but it becomes annoying when it just feels like it lags.
  
  For the price and the charger....I wouldn't recommend it.
  
  
• Absolutely Fantastic Remote! Superior Features!
  By A38UGMVT60JPFM on 2005-08-04
  I spent a lifetime reviewing products as "The Gadget Guru" for the NBC Today Show, USA Today, my Syndicated Newspaper Column and numerous magazines and syndicated TV shows. Needless to say that over my career I reviewed thousands of new products. While I used to receive samples from the manufacturers, since my retirement I now purchase these items. When this unit was announced, I was thinking it was too good to be true and decided to purchase one through Amazon.
  
  I have a very complicated home theater system where my TV is used as a monitor and I have numerous components including a DirecTV HD Tivo and a ReplayTV via cable as well as a DVD and a VCR. Everything is routed via an audio receiver. While I have used just about every other universal remote on the planet, none of them were truly noteworthy. Yes, there were some that costs thousands of dollars, but not all of us can afford those. This is why I was looking forward to putting this one through its paces.
  
  I reviewed other Harmony remotes in the past, but they were when the company was in its infancy and while they had a great concept, its products needed to mature. Harmony was recently purchased by Logitech and the result is a remote, that once it's setup, is the best I have ever used.
  
  The setup is both good and bad and those lacking in computer skills may seem a bit overwhelmed. But, the tech support number is clearly printed in the included brochure and the techs are very good about walking users through the setup steps.
  
  What separates Harmony Remotes from most others is that instead of having a chip that includes remote codes, or having to learn remote codes manually, it connects to the Internet via your computer to capture the codes for your equipment. The on-screen interface is fairly simply and walks you through step by step and asks questions pertaining to your specific setup. You will need to have the model numbers of every component to be controlled by this device. (They are usually on front of each device). Be prepared to spend at least a couple of hours for the initial setup. What I really like about this system is that if you purchase a new piece of equipment and the code is not built into a standard learning remote control, it can be a real pain to setup. Since they keep a database of every new component online, it will not become quickly antiquated. Also, unlike other universal remote controls, it's not a problem if you lose your instruction book since setup and modifications are performed online. This is a real plus!
  
  Here's what separates this remote from the others. Instead of having buttons to go to specific components and then displaying another list of commands this model treats your components in a "lifestyle" fashion. Once setup, you simple press a button to Watch TV, Watch DirecTV, Watch a DVD, Listen to a CD, etc. A single press of a button triggers a series of macros that automatically deliver the proper settings. Even better, all the lables can be easily changed to make it easy for even the most technophobic to use. Once it is setup with your components, even the most primitive user will have no problem using a complicated home theater system. This device could save marriages!
  
  Even better, you can add up to 16 favorite channels for each tuning device that can be accessed with a press of two buttons and is individualized for each component. I don't know about you, but with all the offerings via Satellite or Cable, I can't remember all the channel numbers. Although each device has an on-screen guide, it can take quite a bit a time to scroll through to find the desired channel. With the Favorite Function on this unit, you can give each device its own list of channels. So, for my DirecTV, I entered my most watched channels and did the same for my ReplayTV cable box.
  
  It even allows you to add Icons so that you can simply press on NBC, CNBC, HBO, etc., and it automatically goes to that channel.
  
  Also, it's rechargable, so there's no need to constantly change batteries. Even better, it has a sensor in it that not only automatically turns off the screen to save battery life, it automatically activates as soon as you pick it up so it's great for dimly lit home theater setups.
  
  The only feature I wish they would have included was a Remote Control Locator function that would allow you to press a button on the charging base and have it "beep" the remote.
  
  All in all, considering the full functionality of this unit, I give it my highest recommendations.
  
  
• what an overpriced piece of crap
  By A1NR59KNVO9QQY on 2006-02-16
  where to start:
  the installation software is buggy to say the least -- totally incompatable with any firewall software including xp's own.
  
  the remote itself is lightweight and flimsy, and simply does not feel durable.
  
  the charger does not seem to cradle the remote adequately -- you have to slide the remote in just right, or place a weight ont top of it for the remote's contacts to connect properly to the charger's.
  
  For over two-hundred dollars I will use the various remotes on an as-needed basis.
  
  
• Harmony 880 Remote Control Overhyped
  By A1HDV0S1PFY0YE on 2006-06-04
  Logitech is bordering on fraud in hyping this horrific little device. 8 hours of trying to teach it and 20+ Internet crashes later, I'm rtn'ing it. If you're buying it to replace one of your lost remotes, don't think the purported online database will save you--it needs the device. Expecting drop-down lists of models to sync your AV center like Logitech advertises? Nope. You type them in (spaces, dashes, version viccissitudes, etc.), and if Logitech has an EXACT match, it let's your proceed. (Remember programming 2 decades ago and if you missed one ";" you crashed--that's what happens if you miss a dash or a space--and you get to start over from scratch--meaning from the loginscreen!) One error, and it sends you into a series of progamming steps you cannot escape from--for the WRONG model number. Several times the on-line programming simpy broke down into the infamous "webpage not found" screen of death--requiring you to close out and re-start from scratch. This is a good idea to program remotes--too bad logitech is more hot air than acumen. STAY AWAY!
  
  
• I tried!
  By A32FKXUCW4CIZO on 2005-08-13
  I really tried to like this remote. I'm a big Logitech fan (although not too familiar w/ Harmony) and was hopeful that this device would be a continuation of their trend in my book.
  
  Unfortunately, all aspects considered, this remote was very disappointing. Considering the cost of the unit, I expected it to work well, as well as have a quality-feel. The buttons felt flimsy and, like an earlier review, it wouldn't set well in the charger (the charging contacts underneath didn't properly meet). As for operation, it worked only Ok. Yup, just Ok. It did, however control a Sony receiver and Motorola Moxi PVR that no other remote would operate (newer devices) but it had an annoying lag-time in the channel-changing of PVR. Even if I got lucky and got the remote to charge properly, I found myself using my stock remotes because it didn't work the way the original remotes did. Also, the button layout is very poor.
  
  In the end, I can say I really did give it a genuine chance and quickly found it was definitely not worth the inve$tment. It looks cool, but look elsewhere.
  
  
• Hours of Frustration - again and again and......
  By AEA17PWKUEESF on 2005-11-06
  This is not a consumer-friendly device (or manufacturer), by any stretch of the imagination.
  
  If I started by counting up all of the time I spent with Logitech's surprisingly adversarial set-up program; added the two (yes, two) weeks I waited for a return email from Logitech's so-called "Technical Support", then tried to balance that against the time savings I'm supposed to achieve by not having to press multiple buttons on multiple remotes, I figure I'll have to wait about 12 years to come out ahead.
  
  The device does reset itself and can also change certain configurations in subtle ways that first makes you think you're going crazy but really just makes your previous programming useless.
  
  Customer service? You might as well try calling 911 in New Orleans, you'll get through quicker.
  
  Best to wait awhile - there's probably a couple hundred monkeys locked in a room somewhere that are bound to come up with a better device a lot sooner than the time it will take for these guys to get their act together.
  
  
• Good Technology but Terrible Hardware
  By A2CJZUAZKYKWWZ on 2005-11-26
  The Harmony Remote's software and technology with its internet update configuration capability is great, but the quality of the remote harware (except for the screen) deserves a negative 5 stars if that were possible. The remote buttons will make your hands go numb, likely cause permanent nerve damage, and give you RSI in less than a few weeks if you use it actively.
  
  Obviously, the high price of this remote is going to pay for their development and software costs with little of it going to the remote hardware. The remote hardware, with the exception of its screen, could easily come from a 99 cent cracker-jack box as its toy. I am very disapointed with Logitech as I have and continue to use a wide variety of their mice products. I can't use this remote after just a few days and will likely sell it via auction as the quality of the remote's buttons are so poor and damaging to one's nerves. They should be sued and likely someday will for the complete disregard of any and all ergonomics.
  
  
• Logitech customer support offers none
  By A3AO8X9X2LDB3X on 2005-12-27
  This remote looked like the alternative to a bowl of remotes sitting on my coffee table. We've had a half dozen promising remotes and each suffered some weakness. The biggest drawback for someone like me who changes out components is that the programming is totally a drag. Our favorite had been the MX-500 from Home Theater Master. But even this inexpensive powerhouse presented challenges when you added a device or swapped out the DVD player. So we had great expectations of the Harmony 880 -- but we've not been able to fully realize the potential of the device because of a complete lack of customer support from Logitech. It seems that although they knew fully well how many units they sold, they did not prepare their web interface to make the programming quick, easy or intuitive. And, in fact, for two days have been off-line more than on. I'm on my sixth hour of trial and frustration. Over and over, half way through the steps to program my remote their site responds with "heavy traffic" and I'm given the Logitech boot. When I go to their customer service site, I'm met with the same "heavy traffic" message and asked to try back later. When I finally get through and send an email to them the site re-directs and I'm told again that they can't handle the traffic.
  
  
• Save your money, buy a $20 all in 1 remote
  By A3GK81QTUR4GQT on 2006-03-04
  For years I have bought anything with the Logitech label. Their products have always been top quaility with good software. When I read about how this remote was programmed over the web I was very impressed with the concept. I bought the remote as soon as it came out and have been nothing but dissapointed since purchasing it for $240.00.
  
  Issue #1. Charing - The remote charges by being set on the base. Mine however almost never charges. I have to play with it wiggling it around in the base trying to get it to start charging. Even when it starts charing it often stops after 40 seconds.
  
  Issue #2. How softeware is downloaded. For some strange reason they have elected to use the web browser to download the data to the remote after you have selected your configuration. This is always a hassle as with SP2 in XP the browser blocks downloads and the user has to click the bar at the top. The process often hangs or just doesn't work. A USB driver has to be downloaded to the client's machine to start with, so why they do not use a thick client to do the downloads to the remote and communicate with their web server is beyond me.
  
  Issue #3 - The basic feel of the remote. The buttons on the remote look cool but are a pain to press and have a horrible feel under your fingers. I find myself always hitting the wrong button even when I am just trying to change the channel.
  
  I have switched back to using the all in 1 remote that came with my cable box and find it much easier to use.
  
  
• I genuinely loathed this product
  By A2U0EG43Z7IMEE on 2006-06-26
  Multiple reasons:
  
  1. Setup software was buggy. (In my career I configure software and document support procedures.) The Harmony 880 software was abysmal in my experience: would not install cleanly for Windows XP (and I tried two separate machines with different XP configurations). Once installed, it could not reload until I manually killed its process in Windows Task Manager. Did not find resolution at the support site and FAQs.
  
  2. Basic design flaw: the 880's "activities" approach does the thinking for me - even if its designers don't know my home theater nor what I intend to do. For instance, let's say I'm video taping a show from digital cable to give to a friend - or let's say I want two devices powered up for picture-in-picture use. I don't want the remote to turn off the digital cable when I turn on the VCR, but the 880 is designed to do that by default, and the workarounds felt cumbersome. Perhaps it knows what's best.
  
  3. Configuring home theater devices: PC Configuration only. I wanted to make changes on the fly from within my home theater, but my experience was that any tweaking required me to get up, leave my home theater, trudge back to my PC in my office, reload the setup application, wander through various setup screens, make the change, commit the change, download the change to the remote, then see if the results were successful (which typically were not, so I would have to repeat the process). So: how much fun is that? My time is my own, but it's not limitless. I would prefer to spend it enjoying my home theater.
  
  I promptly replaced the 880 with a Universal Remote URC200 (also available at Amazon.com) which supports remarkably easy and effective manual programming and also learns easily from my other remotes.
  
  
• Absent Customer service
  By A1I4DA64TDF458 on 2005-09-14
  I just bought the 880 and altough it seems like a promising device I can't get it to connect with my computer. The install instructions are not clear and give you no idea of what to expect. When I called customer support (within the posted hours) I get put on hold and then after about 10 min or so the recording asks you to leave a message and hangs up on you. I should have expected problems when the "test drive" on the web did not work properly and when others on the net had expressed problems with install and customer support. For the price I think they should at least answer the phone and have usefull and easy to understand prompts to guide the install. One of the automated recommendations is to click on a link and re-install the software. When you click on the link you get "file not found". I would look for a different product - this one is not worth the frustration.
  
  
• Overall Good Features - Too Many Small Annoyances Though
  By A1IUANSOUF93LY on 2006-05-19
  For controlling many items together with one macro button, this remote does what it says. But here is a list of my gripes that might help you decide to buy it or not:
  
  1. The buttons are annoying to push. They are hard and need to be pressed hard. Plus they delay, which is seriously annoying. When fast forwarding via Tivo, click the button (wait a second) then it reacts. I often mis-click because of this.
  
  2. The screen graphics should be able to be customized. They currently are weak.
  
  3. The web/usb updating software has good intentions but is honestly poorly built. It's a weak interface that has way too many steps. I am a developer myself and there are a ton of things that need to be corrected here. The updating process can take way too long and it really shouldn't.
  
  4. Some buttons don't work - the skip button for Tivo just stopped working. And going through the steps to correct it not only don't work, but it takes a good 10 minutes every time. Really annoying.
  
  Overall, I like the remote, but I find myself generally dissapointed in the simple things that bog down what would otherwise be a good experience.
  
  

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