Why get a Universal Remote?

November 26, 2008 · Filed Under Suggested Hardware

Ok well I was always one of those people that would not spend the money on a universal remote. I mean it can’t really be worth all that money just to have only one remote, but boy was I wrong.

The other day I got a Logitech Harmony 550 Universal Remote for my birthday, and I really regret not buying one earlier. This remote is great, and I love having everything being controlled from the one place.

Currently I use my HTPC to record things, my DVD player just because I like it, my surround sound system, and my Xbox, and I have a lot of remotes to do this.

With the new remote when I press the on button, it turns on my TV, HTPC and surround sound, and sets all the inputs to match so I get the right sound. I press another button, for example the Xbox button, and the Xbox turns on and the inputs change. I have to do no setting up. When I press off, everything turns off at once.

To be honest I never really thought the benefits of having one remote would be worth the cost. But it just makes everything so much easier. I can control everything on my HTPC, and easily switch to other devices without having to use a different remote or change settings.

This really does make watching TV a lot more enjoyable and also even my non-technically minded parents like it, as they can press only one button to turn everything they want on.

So which universal remote is best?

Well at the moment I think the best buy is the Logitech Harmony 550 Universal Remote. This price has just been about slashed in half, and you get all the features you will need in a remote for a reasonable price.

This remote is highly configurable, making it really great for whatever setup you have. The only downside is that while setup is easy, it can take around an hour to get everything setup perfectly. It also doesn’t have rechargeable batteries. Some people prefer this, others don’t.

If you are looking for extra features and willing to pay a bit more, the Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote is a great buy. This remote has a color screen and rechargeable batteries. It also has a very cool feature, where the remote lights up when you pick it up. This sound useless, but it really is helpful for using the remote in the dark.

So if you want to make your whole entertainment system easier to use, go get a universal remote and start enjoying your entertainment more.

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