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210 of 226 found the following review helpful:
 Affordable Color Touch Screen Feb 02, 2007
By J. Ramsey
After a 1 year delay, Logitech finally released the Harmony 1000 on January 26, 2007.
A warning for Mac users, although Logitech claims this Harmony remote works (can be programmed) using a Mac, and the box clearly shows the Mac logo stamped on it, the Harmony 1000 cannot currently be set-up using your Mac. Plenty of web forum users have reported the same issue. Hopefully a Mac patch will be posted on Logitech's site. Shame on Logitech, especially given the one year delay to get the product right.
Secondly, if you currently own a Harmony web-programmed remote, the web software is EXACTLY the same as your previous experience. In other words, if you hated Logitech's old on-line software, you'll still hate it with the 1000.
The touch screen itself looks and works great, but as with any touch screen remote, you may find yourself longing for tactile rubber buttons after a week or so of touch screen use. DVR users might struggle to get the remote button layout to work to their individual satisfaction, as the colored default touch screen buttons that are professionally laid out by Logitech are in fact permanently labeled. So if you choose to change the function of any colored button, the old default name must remain painted on top of your "custom" button. Strange oversight.
However, you can customize additional pages of ugly buttons to your liking, but they will be black and white buttons laid out in static tic-tac-toe fashion. Hardly what the box cover would lead you to believe. As with all touch screens, you will have to "look before pressing" - every single time - you want to send a command. That's OK when using an ATM, but not so great when watching a TV across the room.
I'd recommend a trip to your local retailer to play with the 1000 for a while before deciding to buy. It does feel solidly constructed, though not as comfortable in your hand as a $45 programmable remote after two hours of commercial busting DVR use. Also keep in mind that while you're shopping for a touch screen remote, there's someone next to you in the store looking to change back to something smaller with real rubberized buttons on it!
To add to the fun, the user manual for this $500 wonder is not located in the box or on the installation disc, but rather it is buried in the online remote software. Once you get the remote's firmware updated from the web (using the online software) the right side of the website screen will have a "Tip Center - More Help" button. Click that, then click "Manuals" to download the 15 page PDF manual for the remote.
A steep learning curve might await buyers new to the Harmony line due to the "Activities" philosophy. Just keep in mind that everything is done with Activities and you'll be way ahead of the game. Don't waste time programming each "device" as you would normally want to do. Harmony remotes don't work that way. You only need to enter your devices (audio/video components in your collection) once during the initial set up to give the database your overall equipment list. After that, concentrate on setting up your activities (Watch Cable, Watch DVD) for two or three days to get everything just right.
If all this sound like fun to you, you'll probably love tweaking this remote to near perfection. But if the thought if spending hours in front of your PC setting up a remote control sounds ominous to you, steer clear.
23 of 23 found the following review helpful:
 This is a great remote, check the dates on previous reviews Mar 14, 2008
By noahas
I thought it was only fair to write a review to comment on this remote.
Like many people, I was slightly apprehensive to buy this remote even with the great recent deal here on Amazon for the 1000 & RF extender combo. I already had an 880, but really wanted a remote that had a nice touch screen and worked with radio frequency (RF), so I didn't have to worry about my kids holding the remote still while pointing it at all the various devices.
If you look at many of these reviews, they are either older ones or recent reviews where people have HAD the remotes for a long period of time. There was a software/firmware update which came out in early February which has taken care of many or all of the issues presented, specifically, the remote pairing with the RF extender, the need to repair if the power goes out, etc.
The touchscreen itself has been fine, it also makes use nicely of some hard buttons. The RF extender and IR blasters work well, and the unit is totally customizable to work with your components. I had a small amount of difficulty with getting one macro to work, so I called Logitech and had the best technical support experience I have ever had. Problem was solved with a friendly and knowledgable attitude.
Bottom line, if you can get this on sale again, snap it up quickly with the RF extender (if needed), update the software/firmware when you first set it up, and you will be very happy.
I have previously owned the Logitech Harmony 880 and several different models of $200-$400 remotes from the Home Theater Master line, and this is definitely a well made, well though out remote. It certainly sounds like previous purchasers got a bad deal as Logitech didn't have all the bugs out, but purchasers at this point are getting a fine model.
117 of 141 found the following review helpful:
 Great idea. Wait to buy unless you want to pay $$$ and time to be an alpha tester... Mar 01, 2007
By Mark Permann
"mpermann"
I can't add much to what's already been said but I want to echo the disappointment in hopes that Logitech will hurry up and fix this product.
It's great hardware. The screen is bright & legible, it's the perfect combo of hard & soft buttons, and it's also the perfect blend of easy to operate while being light and small. BUT the software is just unbelievable. This product should not be on the market. I have never used a product that out of the box was so buggy. The whole reason to buy this remote is customizability, and so many of the customizations just won't "take" (you put them in, and they disappear, and you lose your work). And I think I'm pretty patient - I've owned a Slim Devices Squeezebox for more than a year, and though there were many frustrations with that device, the company was very responsive, with nightly software updates and a bug list that anyone can post to. Logitech has a lot to learn from this company, which they recently acquired.
That said, I'm keeping the remote - it does function and I'm hopeful they'll work on the software. But for the price, Logitech has no excuse. The remote is essentially a nicer version of what they already offer; there's not really any new functions, it's mostly the packaging of non-standard hard buttons into soft. Someone should get fired over this. No backup for customer programming? Come on.
16 of 16 found the following review helpful:
So Much Potential. Such Poor Execution. Awful Customer Service Dec 05, 2007
By Robert E. Lewis
This is my second Harmony and I used to rave about them. Now I have to say I am most displeased. My first one started to not use the charger without some major finagling to get it to charge, then it just died completely and wouldn't do anything.
So I get the 1000. Lovely looking unit and it held such promise. I have had it for two months as I write this and I am VERY disappointed. It seems I probably have a bad unit, but Harmony says they've never seen a 1000 do what mine has done. It began okay. If you think being slow to respond to the touchscreen okay. If you think random lockups are okay. Well, after numerous of those random lockups which required me to remove the battery and then put it back in to reboot, then wait the two minutes to reboot (all the while not being able to turn on my gear!) only to have it start spewing all nonsense of commands upon restarting, It has died. I had it on the charger overnight and went to pick it up this morning. As soon as I took it off the charger it started an activity I didn't request, then locked up. I removed the battery and put it back in but it never came back to life. D E A D DEAD!. Except for the Activities button. It still lights up! Yay, a $300 nightlight.
Logitech customer support was most unhelpful, but after 45 minutes on the phone, connecting the remote, disconnecting the remote, battery in, battery out, on the cradle, off the cradle, hold this , do that, stick it there, place it here, they are going to turn it over to their warranty department. So it's being taken care of, right? If only. They say the warranty dept. will contact me in 4 or 5 business days to DETERMINE if they will warranty the unit at all. What the heck do they need 4 or 5 days to do that for?
I'd stay away from Logitech Harmony if given a choice. But since there is nothing out there that I know of that is so cost effective and easy to use, it's hard to do so. Just hope that you get a unit that is not so clearly possessed as mine was/is.
***Update- April 14th, 2010*** So, it's been awhile. They DID warranty it and sent another out to me. I have been using it ever since, but only to turn on and off my gear and switch between activities. For $300, I want more, but this remote barely does this well enough, so I'm not gonna push it. The sound it makes for the first 30 secs on the charger is beyond annoying. I pull it off to start an activity and it's like I'm trying to launch a missile strike, it takes so long to actually send the commands. That's if it even responds. Sometimes it just sits there for a good thirty seconds to a minute all lit up and pretty, but won't do squat, touchscreen or hard keys.
As part of a class-action lawsuit against Logitech regarding the lack of capabilities of this remote that it was advertised as having, I just received my settlement. A refurbed 890 with all the goodies. I'll be setting it up to work my system now... Haha, no that's a joke. I just wanted to make sure Logitech had to send me one for my troubles. I won't be using either Logitech once this 1000 dies, which I am confident will be soon, either on its own or from being thrown out the window in frustration. Maybe the best would be retiring this POS to the used electronics box aong with the 890. To be pulled out in 50 years to wow the grandkids with the crap of the past.
Please do not waste your hard-earned money on this garbage product that Logitech is somehow still allowed to peddle. I would only try a Harmony "One" in the future, but I'd certainly have to use it a bit before I even thought about buying another Logitech Harmony.
15 of 15 found the following review helpful:
Awesome Remote!!! May 24, 2007
By Marcus
"Marcus"
I was a previous owner of the Harmony 880. This is a very good remote. It gets around the fixed buttons by allowing you to re-program the buttons with new functionality.
The Harmony 1000 raises the bar considerably. With the touchscreen, all the relevant buttons appear with the correct labels. So, if you have a five disc CD changer, you will see options labeled to change from disc 1 to 5.
The screen is very bright and not overly sensitive. True, you do sometimes need to use two hands (seems a bit obvious since it's a touch screen!!), but you can hold your finger over the fast forward button for a PVR and not accidently wind up pressing the key before it's time.
The fixed control keys (volume, select, etc.) can easily be used with one hand. The touchscreen, if needed, will give you three layers of menus to manage sophisicated devices - all are very clearly marked.
Addressing some of the other reviews:
"a beta product" - NOT. It works exactly as advertised. It took me less than 30 minutes to update the firmware, add 7 devices and program 5 activities. The only thing I wound up changing after updating the remote was the order of the activities - everything else worked perfectly.
"stand doesn't lock the remote in place" - well, I'm glad it doesn't!!! It holds it very firmly in place and is very easy to slip it into the stand.
"battery life not very good" - if you can have the base reasonably near to you, this doesn't matter at all. The remote battery life is very reasonable and it recharges very quickly.
So, if you have the money and want a touchscreen remote, this is an excellent product. Logitech has hit a homerun with this one.
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