Customer Reviews:
 Security for these uncertain times October 10, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The world economy is in turmoil, our leaders have failed us, and the future is a fog of uncertainty and fear.
So why am I so happy? Because I just got a Logitech Harmony 670 universal remote.
My set up includes a television, an AV receiver, a Mac Mini-based media computer and Sirius satellite radio. The 670 controls them all.
Setup wasn't too complex, though it did take me a few minutes to figure out how to properly set up the "activities", chains of actions the remote can execute to make, say, watching a dvd or listening to Sirius through my stereo a one-button operation.
I traded in my old Tivo for a Mac with DVR software (EyeTV 3), so the faux-Tivo peanut look appeals to me.
I give it four stars and not five just because the design could be slightly more elegant (there just seem to be too many buttons) and set up could be a bit more streamlined, but overall I'm quite pleased.
No, the 670 won't allow me to fix world markets, but at least I feel I'm in control of something.
Update 10/16/08 -- I would add a fifth star to this review now (if only I could figure out how) due to something that happened over the weekend. Like many couples, I'm the gadget obsessed nerd and my wife likes things that just work. The other night she came home late after a work-related shindig and I was already asleep. She had a few drinks in her and decided she wanted to watch a little teevee before bed. As she told me the next morning, in her sodden state she couldn't quite figure out how to use the remote to turn on individual components in the entertainment center, but had a vague memory that if she pressed the red button marked "watch tv" it would work. She pressed it. Nothing happened. Now I don't know if she was aiming it in a strange place or what, but all I could think was "this is where things start going to go badly for me", since I was the one who convinced her we should dump Tivo and set up a media center pc (and I could make it as easy to use as a Tivo). But the Logitech Harmony stepped up to save my reputation.. She noticed another button marked "Help". She pressed it, and a little message popped up on the backlit LCD screen. "Is the Television on?" it asked her. She pressed "no". Suddenly the teevee turned on. "Did that fix the problem?" the remote asked. She hit "yes" and watched her show. She was so excited telling me the story she was almost giddy. And now so am I.
Controls my TV, COX DVR, DVD/VCR Recorder, Receiver October 2, 2008
I have Sony 52inch KDL-52V4100 LCD, Onkyo TX-SR605 receiver, Cox Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8240HDC, and a SONY combo recorder DVD/VCR RDR-VX560.
PROS: Great product. My wife loves it (she says you mean I don't have to press the INPUT button on the tv anymore to tell it I'm watching tv or COX cable box or the DVD player?).
CONS: The software 7.5 has a bug: The WATCH MOVIE button only points to the DVD ACTIVITY (which is fine) even though the software says it can be mapped to ther activities -- tech said new software version will be released around Dec 2008. Tech support is wonderful... waited less than 30 seconds. Techs from India are hard to understand but very polite. Sometimes I get an American tech so I don't have to struggle to understand what's said.
- When I press the MORE ACTIVITIES button, there's only the NEXT buttons and no BACK button (although I can click the MORE ACTIVITIES button to go back to the first screen).
- In the MORE ACTIVITIES button, the other activities can't be sorted the way I want, I would have to delete my activities in the software and recreate them in the order I want to see them sorted.
- There are only 6 buttons for the LCD screen choices instead of 8 like the Harmony 880 or 890 which means I have to flip to the next page.
- The LCD screen resolution is low so I have to abbreviate my labels. (The Logitech Harmony 880 or 890 have a better LCD with higher resolution so I don't have to abbreviate.)
- Difficult to see the buttons in dimly lit room so I always have to press the lite on the remote first.
- When controlling my DVD player, the REWIND button is on the other side far away from the FORWARD button which forces me to use my left hand to press the REWIND button.
 Great remote for sub-$100 - Does it all September 30, 2008
Not fancy, but just a peanut that getter done. Programming software intuitive. Did have to make 2 calls to support, one to obtain correct codes for my Dish DVR-722 and properly set up Watch DVD/VCR modes.
I have a Sony combo DVD/VCR hard to find remote that control this device, but the 670 can. This remote has a lot of options and customizing features you would expect from a $200 remote. RECOMMENDED.
Samsung PN50A650 Plasma TV
Sony SLVD370P DVD_VCR
Yamaha RX-V663 AV Receiver
Dish Network VPI-722 DVR**
(**probably will have to IR learn one code for Logitech to update remote with proper codes.)
All of your remote programming is on Logitech's server (internet access required), tech support can view, update and simulate your programming.
 Disappointed in customer support and button arrangement September 30, 2008
After reading the great reviews, I had high expectations for this remote, but it failed me in two ways:
1. A bug in the latest 670 firmware does not allow customizing the activity buttons...those buttons which allow you to turn on or off all the video and audio components with the push of a single button. Although the activity buttons are what distinguishes this remote from other remotes, Logitech decided the bug was not important enough to fix immediately because there are some awkward workarounds. But explain those workarounds to your wife that you promised a simple remote for your complex setup... The best estimate now is that it be at least another month to fix what should be a minor firmware bug that was introduced two months ago. You can check the Logitech Forums to see if it has been fixed.
2. The buttons are small, not arranged logically, and difficult to read. As a result, the the only advantage of this remote over the five factory remotes it was to replace is the currently-awkward activity buttons, which only reduced the number of remotes we juggle down to four. Needless to say, my wife was not impressed.
Great features; Buggy software; Good technical support September 20, 2008
This unit does a good job in locating all the devices I use at home correctly. Some of the models I have were over 10 years old. I was also able to conveniently program all the key activities for my entertainment centers.
The software was pretty buggy. There is a known bug (support acknowledged it) which you cannot re-assign the activities buttons correctly. I was told that they are working on a fix which would be available within 1-2 months. The other issue is that you cannot arrange the activities on the screen in the order you like neither.
The support team was great. Response was timely and they are honest in acknowledging the existing software issues.
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