Customer Reviews:
 Not perfect, but I'll never go back to an ordinary remote! September 25, 2008
I've had the Harmony 1000 and RF Extender for a year and love it! I have a very complex system but I'm one of the lucky one's cuz setup was a breeze. Sure, it's got some quirks, but nothing so bad that I regret buying it or have stopped using it. Truth is, I can't imagine ever going back to my old universal remote. Or worse still, an array of manufacturer's remotes sitting on the table. For my experience, this remote was worth every penny and the RF Extender is an added must have!
Back when I got this, the remote was $275 with a rebate on the RF Extender which covered the entire cost, making it free. The software used to configure the remote has its limitations, but I think it's intentionally designed that way to help people with limited understanding of cabling and video inputs and outputs. If you have a basic grasp of what channel or video inputs your components need to be on, then you really shouldn't have much trouble. I was able to setup a complex home theater system with an HDTV, Onkyo receiver, 2 DVD players, 2 DirecTV HD DVRs and a multi CD player all within 90min. I was so encouraged by how simple it was that I then setup a second TV in the bedroom with a VCR.
I think where some people may have trouble is with a lack of patience. We expect everything to work perfect out of the box with little effort. The RF Extender also adds a slight delay to the equation because when you push a hard button or touch the screen, there's a nano second delay before you get the desired result. But it's not that big a deal really once you get used to it. We also tend to resist change and this remote as a stark departure from the standard rectangular remote with rubbery buttons you're likely used to. For me, I wanted a remote that was the next step up from the old boring remotes we all know. But that's not to say it doesn't have some issues though.
I gave the remote 4 stars instead of five because of the quirks. Sometimes I get runaway volume where it goes all the way up or down after just one button press. Others have said they can only correct the problem by popping out the battery, but I've never had to do that. I just hit a couple different hard buttons on the remote which stops the problem for me. I have, however, had to pull the battery out once or twice when the remote wouldn't respond. But that's been pretty rare. I liken it to having to reboot a computer and I've come to realize that I should treat the remote like a computer, and give it time to "boot up" when I remove it from the charging cradle. This isn't an official suggestion from Logitech. I've just noticed that when I pull it off the charger and use it immediately, that's when problems can happen. But if I take it off the charger and set it aside for a couple minutes before using it, I rarely have problems. Also, keep in mind if you've setup a complex system, there's bound to be a few hiccups from time to time. But for me, nothing I consider to be a big deal.
Overall, I'm very happy with this remote and can't imagine not having it in my life. If you're reading about some of the problems people have had and are on the fence with buying it, why not give it a try for yourself? After all, you can always return it if it doesn't work for you. And who knows, you may very well love it as much as I do.
Good luck!!
:)
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