I have to tell you that I've been one of those multi-remote guys since I was about 10 and we had the TV, VHS and the Beta-max player all hooked up at once. It's saved a lot of pain with my various family members, roommates and even my lovely wife. The issue wasn't whether or not the super remote could control everything - it invariably could. The issue was that of usability.
"What buttons do you push?"
"Can you write something down on how to work the TV?"
"Can you change it over to the DVD for me?"
Even when the modern units started to incorporate macros where you could program multiple functions into a single button, the setup time took forever and it still wasn't easy to use without some training.
Until now. I had read a lot about the Logitech Harmony series of remotes and finally found one on sale and picked it up. I'm not kidding when I say this thing changed my life.
First of all, it's a USB device so it talks to your computer. Download and install the Harmony software and you are off and running. Tell the software the models of the equipment you have and it starts walking you through creating activities such as "Watch TV" or "Play XBox 360." I was using the new remote in 10 minutes and it was functioning correctly with all my gear. That may seem long but it is a HUGE improvement over having to find the codes to program each device, or even worse, have to teach the remote, button by button how to work your TV.
Pick up the remote and the color screen lights up (it has an accelerometer and knows when you are moving it). It is ready to go and you just choose your activities and it does all the work for you. Add a piece of equipment later and you just use the software to configure and update the remote. Even if it breaks you can re-download the settings to a new unit. Brilliant!
Ok, it does cost a bit of cash. I'm not going to lie. But the amount of time you'll save setting it up, and the joy you'll have over the easy and seamless control over your stuff, is well worth the price of admission.
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