Harmony Remotes

[docScsi]

Hello 

I want to remote control a Compaq NC6120 Notebook, running on Windows XP. Is this possible with a Harmony remote? Is there also a way to start and shutdown the notebook with the remote?

Thanks scsi 

[SashFierce]

Do u have an original remote for that device? If u don't, the harmony remote won't control it...

[bevhoward]

One important question is what is your definition of "control"

While Microsoft's Media remote is designed for the "media center" os versions, but there are options (Including Harmony) for XPPro which are detailed here.

Before going there, you might consider other options... my quest for the same ended with microsoft's "presentation mouse"  It's bluetooth, has great range and where any wireless mouse can achieve a lot of control depending on the application, the presentation mouse adds transport and volume controls on the bottom of the mouse so that you can control things such as windows media player's transport and volume controls.

In additon to the above, using start/run/osk the mouse can then be used for keyboard input. 

Beverly Howard

[docScsi]

Thanks for your answers so far!

To be a bit more precise: I want to remote control XBMC (XBox Media Center) installed on a nc6120 notebook (running Windows XP). What I already figured out that controlling XBMC with a harmony is possible.

One question still remains: Will it be possible to startup/shutdown the notebook (or hybernate and wake up from hybernation)?

[bevhoward]

>> Will it be possible to startup/shutdown the notebook (or hybernate and wake up from hybernation)? <<

hmmm... how about the answers "yes, no, maybe..." and not necessarily in that order ;-) 

The media center ir commands include a sleep command but, while that will will suspend the cpu, most computers power down the i/o ports such as usb and ir, so you would not be able to use the remote to wake it back up.

As for shutdown and hibernation, it's possible to build desktop shortcuts to trigger these, but, again, under XP, I have not found a reliable way to trigger shortcuts... i.e. if you are on the desktop and the remote shortcuts are named with the numbers 0-9, you could trigger them with the remote, but, how often is the desktop in foreground?

Beverly Howard