Review on 📺 Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote Control with Color Touch Screen - PREVIOUS MODEL (Discontinued by Manufacturer) by Amber Hickman

I used to have a universal remote control MX 700 (URC). The bottom line is that URC has fooled past and potential customers. I didn't want to pay more than $200 for a URC remote and then $125 installer programming fee (base price) and then another $50 each time I needed to update the URC, so I got the Harmony Tried one out when I turned on FiOS TV. The Harmony One is handy in terms of usability and programming, which is good, but it's also handy in that it's like a buttered banana. It's so smooth and slippery that it's 10 times easier to fall off or be abused than URC non-slip remotes. Mishandling means all sorts of weird commands will be sent to the device, and falling means the remote control could be damaged. I was hoping that the guys at Zagg, who make non-slip protective cases for cell phones and related devices, would make full coverage for the Harmony One, but they don't - just a screen protector. On the plus side, the online IRC codes for Harmony One are extensive and accurate. The programming is quite simple and offers many possibilities. The color touchscreen is bright and adjustable, and the built-in accelerometer that turns it on when you move is a nice touch. My local URC dealer basically lied to me when he said that the Harmony isn't as capable of running complex macro sequences as the URC remotes - you just need to figure out how to get them working. The reason URC dealers don't like the Harmony One is because they can't cheat you out of programming fees. The Harmony is a lot easier to use for people unfamiliar with your system, and once you've programmed your cable favorites the station's onboard visuals and logos are cool. The USB cable connection is nice and works well. Many of the older and even some modern URC remotes still use old serial cables, which isn't a big deal since the URC doesn't allow anyone but dealers to program the units online. On the other hand, programming selected cables was a real chore on the Harmony One, but when that's done the artwork for the stations will make any tech junkie happy. The more complex your system, the more difficult it is to program your Harmony One. Things like 12-volt triggers on interconnected audio devices can cause seizures until you figure out how to deal with those quirks. Other reviewers report that the screen is a fingerprint magnet, and that's absolutely true. I will try the Zagg screen protector to fix this issue. [.] Again, my biggest criticism of the Harmony One is that it's like trying to hold fresh WD 40 trout on your fingers - it just wants to fall out of your hands. So the Harmony One is an impressive device. , it runs on almost any hardware, and the programming learning curve depends on how complex the system you want to control. There are MANY sub-features that require specific skills and a potentially steep learning curve. So don't think you can set up this unit for a 6 piece system in 30 minutes. It took me 3 to 4 hours to program really accurately and I'm still improving it from time to time. The battery stand is good and works well. The color touchscreen is bright and all buttons are backlit, which is great at night, but it's easy to hit the wrong button when fiddling with the device, which is inevitable. $200 is a lot of money for a remote, but compared to URC remotes that cost at least $200 plus a $125 dealer programming fee, it's a steal. If you're really into technology and have some computer skills, the Harmony One is a solid choice. Update - I've been using this remote for about a month and my opinion of this unit isn't as favorable as it was originally. The commands work sporadically and I've reprogrammed them several times to make them work. To put it simply, this is not a remote that I use regularly because it's as slippery, very sensitive and not as intuitive as the URC MX 700 that I've been using for several years.