It’s obviously a serious gift-buying time around the world. And a countless number of “bad” gifts will be purchased and gifted only to be tossed aside to join the museum of bad gifts. Unfortunately well-meaning tech-centric gifts often end this way. I’m here to change all of that with yet another accessory, the universal remote control.
I’ve used countless universal remote controls over the past several years and this past year purchased one of the cheaper remotes that has proven to be my all-time favorite. The Logitech Harmony 650 isn’t the top-of the line in the Harmony lineup. Matter of fact I believe it’s being replaced by the Harmony 700 so I’m thinking of snatching up a couple more of these.
Limitations: 5 device limit, not rechargeable, not touch screen, not built-in RF
Advantages: not rechargeable (read on for why), back-lit buttons, simple & smart, easy to use, inexpensive
I’m a long time URC MX-500 fan who eventually moved over to the Logitech Harmony world as I learned that the Harmony system was easier for the non-techie guests in my home. The problem was the Logitech Harmony 880 I was using was cheaply made (read: breaks easily) and the need to recharge in it’s docking station was less than ideal in real living room testing. I preferred NOT needing to recharge the remote and being able to set the remote anywhere in the room – because this is where everyone except for me will leave it!
So this year I began searching for a good universal remote. My search brought me to a surprisingly inexpensive Logitech Harmony 650. Check it out – it’s a great gift for anyone with a 5-device or less setup.
Logitech Harmony 650 is available for $52 at Amazon.com
If you’re looking for more power (and more device control), check out the Logitech Harmony One
