Harmony Remotes

[OtherSteve]

Hey guys,

I just posted this up this morning.  Hope you find it helpful!

Logitech Harmony 700 HD Video/Written review

If anyone's got any questions, I'd be glad to try and answer them!

Steve

[hhatkin]

Welcome to the forum Steve, and thanks for that!

I don't understand your reference to "ever improving" software, but I hope that some of our forum users who make a big thing about how awful the software is, and what a hassle it is to set up their Harmony, will see your enthusiasm for those features, and maybe realise that their problems are more of their own making than Logitech's.

[OtherSteve]

Hey hhatkin,

Yeah;  admittedly, I've never had much of an issue with Logitech's Harmony software, though I find it has definitely improved on my end (and from my perspective).  About the only thing I don't like is the requirement of logging in prior to setting anything up (and having to constantly re-login each time you want to change anything, even on the same PC).

Sure, it isn't perfect, but it allows for some serious customization.  I must admit that I question the six device limitation of this remote (especially at $150), but I figure Logitech has a premium device line to protect and that they must manufacture some limitations into these lower-end remotes to keep people interested in the pricier models as well.

I haven't personally used any other Harmony apart from a 550, so perhaps my opinion on this front is somewhat of a newcomer's... though I did work extensively with my 550.  I have also seen the 900 (as another editor at our site reviewed one), but that's about as far as I've gone with it.

The 700 most definitely has me impressed, however.  More than anything else, I enjoy the responsiveness of the device.  You press a button, and almost instantaneously, the IR command is sent to the device.  This couldn't be said for my 550, and I'm not sure about the rest of Logitech's remotes, but the 700 has it nailed.

Steve

[hhatkin]

As far as I know there's hasn''t been any noticeable change in the software, other than model-specific features, in the years I've been using it, but maybe I'm too used to it to notice.

That was the other point I had in mind, about the unresponsiveness of your previous model - I had a 525 and don't recall any difference in that respect in later models, though of course the buttons are so different that again it might be difficult to notice - or maybe you just had a slightly defective example!

[OtherSteve]

Perhaps it's just when used in conjunction with that device then... oddly enough, I know I've seen it mentioned by others who have the same combination (or similar).

All I know is the 700 corrects this.

Steve

[hhatkin]

That's good, Steve, and you were right to make it a prominent point in your review.

My experience after the 525 has been with One, 900, and 1100, and there has been no noticeable change in responsiveness.

Message Edited by hhatkin on 09-08-2009 01:10 PM

[OtherSteve]

Huh!  How strange.  I suppose it really depends on the devices then.  Even stranger is the fact that I loaded precisely the same device settings into the 700 as I had previously in the 550... and yet the lag disappeared all on its own.  My wife even commented on it without my saying anything.

Hopefully someone else will once again confirm lag issues with the 550, lest I begin to question my sanity.  

[Druwou]

I have a 550 that's working just fine, and I'm happy with it except for the delay between the time you press a button and the IR being sent out, as well as not being a big fan of the channel, volume and directional buttons. But all in all, it does the job and does it reasonably well.

With the new 700, all the buttons look good and I've read several comments/reviews that there's absolutely no delay between button press and IR, and so for those two reasons, I'd love to upgrade from my current 550 to a 700, but I can't because of this ridiculous six devices limitation!

I'm guessing Logitech Harmony product management thought that they'd put a limitation on the 700 so that it would motivate individuals not wanting a limitation to buy a "One", hence avoid canabilizing the One's market given how similar the two remotes are. Instead, I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd upgrade from an older model to a 700, but can't do so because of the device limitation, yet aren't in the least compelled to instead choose a One. This is due to the lack of the four colour buttons, preferring buttons alongside the screen rather than a touch screen and generally not willing to pay the 66% higher price for the One (based on list, which will presumably be of similar ratio with regards to street prices, once prices have stabilized).

I'm just going to wait until a model with similar charecteristics to the 700 comes out, but without the six devices limitation. Such a shame...

[hhatkin]

The slow response could then be a characteristic of the 550, though the possibility is still there that you both had a faulty example!

[towboy123 Logi Legend]

I have set up at least 20 550's including my own(1st Harmony) and never had any delay issues.