Logitech Harmony 720 Universal Remote | List Price: $179.99
Discount Price: $159.00
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Brand: Logitech Harmony
Binding: Electronics
Features: - Universal Remote Control
- Other Features: Slim Design, Backlit Keys
- Black Finish
Design: Inspired Quality: Atrocious [Posted on 2008-02-18]
The poor review score because of software it died in less than a year.
The remote control unit is the perfect design. Good placement of buttons, nice touch, intuitive design. Sturdy unit for 10 months of mid-moderate use. Then the screen went haywire. The screen is unreadable. None of the buttons work either. I didn't sit on it or anything; one day it was just fried.
Until yesterday when the screen died my biggest beef had been with the software. Indeed, it controls everything in the Living Room AND Bedroom. But not without much irritation during the programming stage. Navigation within the remote control unit does not suit navigation within the online programming software. Remote commands learned in one Device may not be accessible in another Device, which isn't a big deal when you actually have the manufacturer's remote, but if you've lost your original remote, it's needlessly complicated, and maybe impossible.
I didn't use to be fond of the online aspect... you have to be online to update your Remote. But Logitech upgrades its software all the time, so having it online like that is actually good. The software HAS IMPROVED over the past 10 months. The unit, however, is done for. I'll try again with a newer model.
Buy the unit, but get the EXTENDED WARRANTY when possible.
Almost perfect All-In-One remote [Posted on 2008-02-25]
The Harmony 720 has been removed from Logitech's site, probably to make way for the Harmony One. This remote can give the One a run for its money, considering the very high price being asked for the newer product.
Many manufacturers offer universal remotes, however there's certain features which are key:
1. Availability of as many common features as buttons as possible
2. Ability to add as many custom keys as needed
3. Ergonomic design of keys (enough tactile feedback, possibility of reaching for a key without looking at remote, user doesn't press wrong keys by accident)
4. Easy programmability, large database of codes for common devices
5. Easy usage for common activities (Watching DVD, playing XBox, etc.)
6. Price
7. Great design
While many remotes offer some of these, none offer a great blend of all like Logitech. The 720 excels in a lot of these (below). Others in Logitech's series of remotes differentiate price points based on other esoteric features - RF capability, black/white LCD, curvy design, etc.
Here's the 720's features from the list above:
1,2. The 720's layout incorporates standard functions for TV's, VCR's, DVD's, Cable boxes, Dish, etc. In addition, there's the capability to add a large number of custom keys, which are shown on the LCD and used by buttons on the side of the LCD. 6 functions are shown at a time, and many sets of 6 can be configured.
3. Very well designed. Buttons are rubber and squarish, while on the One they're plastic, rounder and more tactile from what I can tell. The One has improved on the 720 in this regard.
4. Logitech has an amazing online setup process and great support. I am sure this is the same across all their remotes.
5. The remote offers the concept of activities as sequences of actions on any number of configured devices, so the user can configure things like Watching DVD, Watching Cable, Playing Game, etc. The remote does a great job of helping you out if things end up in the wrong state, or if you manually operate a device so the remote is out of sync with state.
6. The price was very decent for a 720.
Flaws:
1. The remote doesn't sit incredibly well in the charger base - one has to twiddle it around until it seats itself.
2. Keys feedback is not as amazing as that of the One or 880/890.
All in all, the new Harmony One offers a better keys layout and design, but at a much higher price. Unless it falls to about $150, the 720 is a great bargain.
HH
Awful, Worst experience I have ever had with an electronic product purchase [Posted on 2008-03-03]
March 2, 2008
By Nancy D (Colorado) - See all my reviews
I have had this for one week and spent the first two evenings just trying to get the software downloaded.
This remote does not do what the ads lead you to believe.
If you purchase this, you better keep your other remotes handy or you will not be able to operate your other devices. For example (after 7 evenings of trying to get this piece of junk to work), when I press "watch a DVD" the DVD player turns on but not the TV so I have to get the remote for the TV and turn the TV on and then choose AV.
There are more problems but I am exhausted from trying to get something to work on this remote so I will just say, please, please do not buy this product.
I did try to email them (on their very poor web site) but the email would not go through. I printed the manual and I have accessed their software repeatedly but I cannot get it to do anything other than what I described above.
I am going to return this as soon as I have enough time and energy to ship it back.
Everyone should have a true univeral remote... [Posted on 2008-05-15]
As the title says, everyone should have a *true* univeral remote, but not necessarily the 720.
While I only have experience with the 550 and the 720, it is my understanding that all of the Logitech Harmony remotes are virtually identical, with bells and whistles (and layout/shape) of the remote being the key differences (and therefore affecting price).
The 720 has a nice color screen and allows for 6 customizable buttons, and comes with a charger, as opposed to the 550 (4 customizable buttons, monochrome screen, a bit harder to read, and uses AAA batteries). Note however that the list price for the 720 is roughl 2x that of the 550. If I had to pay $150, or especially $200 for a 720, I would say it's likely not worth it -- consider going with a lower-cost option.
My setup consists of a cable box, TV, HD-DVD player, standard DVD player, home theater receiver, and a PS3. (Note that you can use any harmony remote with the PS3 by purchasing an optional adaptor made by Nykko, as the PS3 actually uses blue-tooth, not iR or radio waves.)
I've set the control up such that with the press of one button, it will (a) turn on my TV, (b) turn on my HD-DVD player, (c) turn on my HT receiver, (d) set the receiver to the correct input for the HD-DVD player, (e) set the TV to the correct input for the HD-DVD player, and finally (f) mute the TV's internal speaker. Moreover, with one single remote (and without having to select any options) I can pause the HD-DVD, or adjust the volume on the stereo.
I've also programmed it to control an iR air-purifier (more just to see that it could do it than anything else).
Note that the 890 (and a few other select harmony remotes) support RF signals (so you don't run into the line-of-sight issues faced with iR), and something called Z-Wave (used for some ceiling fans). Of course, you pay a LOT more for the remotes that support these (again, bells and whistles -- depending on what you need, it may/may not be needed).
But even if you have just a simple setup, I'd still highly recommend this remote.
Finally, Logitech customer service is fantastic. My remote had a functional problem -- called them up and they sent out a replacement remote asap.
harmony 720 remote [Posted on 2008-06-25]
brand new factory sealed. Very good remote.comes with usb cable to connect to the internet. you will have to go online to program your devices.Easy to do even if you are not computer savvy. it is not complicated to program this remote. sometimes forgets commands but the help button corrects malfunctions almost instantly. Worth the price
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