Logitech Harmony 1100 Review
There's a lot of good to be said for the Logitech Harmony 1100. I used to have 6 different remotes to control my different devices, and they had to be used in bewildering combinations depending upon what I wanted to control. I had never felt as though that was a particularly ideal situation! I was excited to find a universal remote that really could do it all.
Can It Really Handle So Many Devices?
At first I was skeptical of the claim that it could handle so many devices. I was really worried that some of my devices might not work with the Logitech Harmony 1100, but they all did! There's a 15-device limit to the remote that some people might see as a detrimental feature, but for me that was perfectly fine. I have a lot of devices, but I dont have 15 of them!
Dealing With Set-up
The set-up is pretty easy. When you hook the remote to your computer youll be guided to a set-up wizard. It took me about 15 minutes to get all the way through the wizard. I've found the remote very easy to use and I didnt have much trouble with it. I even had some fun choosing out my own icons for the touch screen. Sure, you can use the defaults, but who doesnt enjoy a little bit of customization? Ive heard that some Mac users have a few problems with set-up, but it did a great job of set-up on my PC.
Handling
It also wasn't as big or as bulky as I imagined it might be. I was both surprised and pleased to find it didn't look anything at all like a wand remote. The cool factor is pretty high. The remote wasn't any bigger than my Xbox 360 remote and the touch screen is just plain fun to use. Who doesn't enjoy impressing their friends with streamlined technology? Besides, I enjoy the feeling of total control. It makes me feel like my entertainment system is truly a system: something designed to work together rather than a cobbled together array of different technologies. The Logitech Harmony 1100 really makes me feel like I have one device that can do many things instead of having multiple devices who each do their own thing.
Weaknesses
Of course, nothing is perfect, so there are some disappointments. My PS3 uses Bluetooth, and I discovered that I needed a separate Bluetooth accessory to access that feature from my Logitech Harmony 1100. On the plus side, when I called technical support to try to figure out the problem I actually did have a very pleasant experience. They were friendly, helpful, and they knew their stuff. It just seems to me that a lot of devices incorporate Bluetooth these days and it would have made more sense to incorporate the capability directly into the device, especially at the price theyre asking. I was also a little disappointed at the need to buy the separate RF extender to control my devices from any room in the house. Again, I feel like that could easily have been incorporated into the total package since this remote is such a pricy little item.
You should probably be aware of the fact that the device does work a little slow sometimes. I chalk that up to the fact that its got so much going on! Still, the delay is noticeable, especially when Im so used to instantaneous push-button responses.
Overall Impressions
Would I buy the Logitech Harmony 1100 again? Absolutely! I love it and I think if it broke Id feel the need to replace it immediately. Im also extremely excited because it makes such a great gift for so many people in my life. I can't wait to share how awesome this entertainment experience can be!
