While the Harmony works well for they're 'proposed' client base(TV, reciever,sat,vcr,dvd,etc) needing a 'simple' remote to operate, they've overlooked the fact that most people over the age of 40 can't distinguish one button from the other without glasses.

Its also difficult to distinguish one button from the other by feel.

The 'cool' factor quickly disinegrates when your neighbor has an HTM or Pronto that will do things like zone 2 DVD, zone 2FM, Pause on DVD brings the lights up in the theater room, Play brings them back down,pressing TV shuts the shades, lowers the lights to a preset level, and selects your favorite channel with the 'proper' surround sound setting.

But then, I guess thats what 'custom' is all about!!

Personally, I prefer an HTM because I can run it without looking at it.

I own a Pronto and several HTM remotes. Love the flexability of both.
As 'good' as the Harmony remote line is, I would never consider buying one.

Harmony doesn't fit my needs, nor my clients wants. To each his own, I guess.

Sorry,but, I consider Harmony a poor choice, considering what else is available that can do a lot more.

Oh yeah, that's it, you got me. I routinely spec inferior products out of fear that BB is going to put me out of business.

Comparing Harmony to the HTM's is like comparing X-10 to Lutron.

That is funny!

I am not an installer. Just a user. Before I purchased an MX-500 I looked at several remotes. Harmony being one. And a couple touchscreens being the other. Then I read a lot of stuff online (especially here at Remote Central) to see what other people think.

I decided 2 things. I wanted hard buttons. And I wanted big buttons. Those decisions eliminated a lot of remotes, including the Harmony.

Quote:
I have to agree the buttons are way to small/close on the harmony remotes.

I agree 100%!

Quote:
Personally, I prefer an HTM because I can run it without looking at it.

That says it in a nutshell. I have only had the MX-500 for about 3 months now. And I run it in the dark for most operations. Sometimes I do have to hit the backlight to change something.

Bottom line for me is the HTM remote does everything I want it to do. I might of been saying this about the Harmony if they had bigger buttons though.

I only have a Harmony 768, but let's be honest PB is PB and you can just as easly learn where the buttons are located on the Harmony as any other PB remote.


I also have been using at home Harmonies since they became available, and I definetly would not consider them POS. I can understand and agree that the Harmony is more user oriented and that the HTM is more installer oriented, but that has nothing to do with one being a POS and the other not, they are just fulfilling different needs.


yes, but

a) it can use discretes if they exist (so it is not a one or other case)

b) there is a help button, and it guides the user into resynching stuff. with easy questions
--is the TV on?....

That's really the main issue here. The very fact that the harmony isn't RF capable puts it in a completely different class.

I also think that HTM evolved it's MX3000 beyond the place where the Pronto should have gone. They have built Philip's better moustrap.

Hmm, this seems to be a can of worms I've opened. :)

Well, firstly I'm not from Logitech or affiliated in any way. What I am is someone who deals with rich old couples, who complain about two things.

One: How hard it is to control equipment.

Two: How much they're paying for this and that, including remote controls.

So, a relatively low-cost remote, that can be programmed fast, and explained even faster? Push 'watch TV', it works, and turns on zone 2 if they need it. Oh and drops the blinds and lowers the lights too.

I do understand the customising thing, although I think many of you haven't explored how much the Harmony CAN be customised, but maybe we're just addressing different customers. A customer I'm going to today has never owned a cell-phone, or operated a DVD player, yet she lives in a million-dollar house. I would much rather tell her 'push this watch a movie button' after maybe an hour of programming, than spend hours with a pronto or MX to get a similar result, assuming you have discretes.

In the end it's my favourite because it's my customer's favourite, they like it more than any other remote, the help button solves any sync issues for us, and nobody so far has complained about button size.

I set up two 700's for a kind and somewhat excentric 80 year old widow multi millionaire that deals with depression, arthritis etc. This was about 8 months ago.

She doesn't use an "on" button. She just pushes "TV", "VCR" or "DVD" (notice how I didn't include the silly words watch, play etc. When she's done, she presses "off". The "main" button isn't used because each device page has the identical layout.

She has called me twice insisting on a service call (the remotes wouldn't work). When I arrive, I discover the batteries are dead and we replace them.

How simple/easy to use is a properly programmed MX? Easier than it is to realize that remotes need batteries.

It's been about 2 months, I'm expecting a call from her any day now.

Ok, but two things.

1) How long did it take you to get the remote programmed that way, more than an hour?

2) Did it require all the equipment you installed have discrete codes?

1. Do you give them choices so they can decide which is their favorite, or do they just like this because it is unified and it's THE ONE you set up for them? My customers' favorite remote is ALSO the one I have supplied for them!

2. Again, if they have never seen another remote, they won't know that bigger buttons can be easier to use. I lay out 3 remotes regularly for clients. THEN you find what preferences people have: "I don't like touch screens ", "I like this, it looks like my palm pilot", "I don't like this one (small buttons) because I have to find my glasses every time I use it", etc, etc.

I'm glad you are having success with it. Enough people have chimed in with the button and LCD size issue and the no discrete issue that it's obviously just not perfect. It is however, another good solution. We all have our favorite "solutions", and you read about them daily all over this forum.

Your posts seem to be leaning in the direction that you are on a mission to convert us to your remote or have us all say, "I guess you are right, yours is the best".

How bout just "I like mine, and you like yours"

Lol, true. I'm a crusading a little.

I don't mean to rub anyone the wrong way, I'm just passionate about technology I like - you should see me when I tell customers they REALLY don't want to buy that ED plasma they saw in Costco. I'm HD all the way. :)

I do prefer the Harmony remotes, and true, most customers just accept the remote we give them. However we have also converted over former MX, and pronto users - and they've all said they're much happier. The response from customers that have only had the Harmony has been better than ever before - so I feel no guilt about only offering the Harmony now. :)

Lastly, and I think I'll shut up after this, I understand we may be dealing with a different segment of the market. Most of our customers are over 50, and are both fearful of the new technology, and have a tight grip on their cash. So a lot of our setups involve equipment with no discretes etc.

You ought to give some other remotes a whirl.

However, it's all in how we are able to design simplicity into the clicker. I've seen quite a number of worthless MX's & pronto designs that made them useless to clients. I'd rather walk up and push the buttons like they do (or use a hammer) than have to use it in the goofy ways they're setup.

Just a thought, you never hear many people say "I worked my boat yesterday". Rather, "I had fun at the lake".

Remotes ought not to be a distraction or even a focal point. Most of us want to tune out and experience a movie, not run a system...

For the tweaks (us), make it a head game. For the rest of the world make fun easy.

This message was edited by Steve Garn on 02/22/05 09:53 ET.