I've been using the Harman Kardon for about two weeks now and outside of the channel/volume buttons being a bit low for my hand, it is much better than the 880. Plus it's extremely light and very thin. More $ than 880, but the button layout and response/feel is well worth it compared to the 880.

Can I dance Witchyo date?

I think all that crazy busy stuff on the LCD is nonsense. Just spell out DVD, IPOD, etc. Who needs the ridiculous graphics?

We do it because we can.

A lot of our clients need to put on their glasses when they grab any of the remotes. Using large icons instead of rows of tiny text means that they can leave the glasses on the end table more often.

none of the Harmony remotes had on/off. You don't need it. You choose activities for on (with power being shorthand) and then all you need is a quick off.


don't know Julie, must agree with the rest. For young kids, older people icons are much easier then words

The majority of my clients are over 45... need those "cheater glasses" to decipher the graphics... Otherwise looks like a very nice piece...
That's why I print out my proposals in larger than average font... They feel good about not having to search for their specs to read them!

julie...
WOW!!! The Xantech is awesome looking! Any pricing info yet?

At CES I was given price of $999 (retail), but I don't know what that includes. RF (zigbee) base station won't be available til later so I assume $999 is Ir only

As for icons ... I'm all for icons, but the overly detailed graphics plus all that text on the Harmony-esque remotes is too busy for my tastes. "Listen to the Bridge"??? why not just say "IPOD".

The good news is now people over BB and CC saw this remote for $500 and they starting to realize the control system ain't a toy anymore. BB client try to program it and next thing you know, he got confused and noone could help him, until he realized there are "true custom installation " that can help him, when the client is frustrated, you'd be surprised how much money he is willing to spend to fix the problems.

Don't be afraid to step up client to MX3000 or crestron when he has a problem, afterall, they called you because they think and believe you'll do some miracle.

Most of my client who spent the big dollrs is the client has given up BB and CC and some rookie.

all I am saying, it is a good thing for us...at least for long run.

Yay Julie! I second this thought that you posted earlier. Several people seemed to get it.

The young kids who like the minuscule graphics are, sooner or later, going to need glasses. Most of my clients need glasses now.

The clients who haven't yet admitted that they need them all the time might be a total pain because of trying to learn the remotes without their glasses, not getting it or, worse, learning it wrong, then needing to be untrained and retrained.

Everything we can do to make the operation simple and clear will pay off over and over simply by not having the phone ring with a call from one of these folks.


By the way, I prefer Harmonoid to Harmony-esque. That title might help keep your client from sitting on the remote, too. Nobody likes sitting on their Harmonoids.

The Monster remote appears to be the Harmony 520 in disguise....

Did a small install Thutsday for a client that had a 520. Client thought it was a PIA to program (via the net of course), which "never seems to do as it should".

And I must agree with Julie on the print thing. Even with "cheaters" it's dang hard to see that tiny, tiny print. And in real life, that print is EXTREMELY tiny.....

The Xantech remote looks interesting. Who knows?

So close to the truth Carl.

On Star Trek "Next Generation" the Triquarters were Marantz remotes with the screen blanked out and the text removed. Laughed my head off when i saw it.

Simon.

Yes, ok i'm a Star Trek fan. My wife thinks i have spock ears hidden somewhere.

another z-wave remote. Don't know if it does IR too for AV or if it's just for controlling zwave rf devices.

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