Check out the Dell Store on CNETLogitech Harmony 1000
Manufacturer: Logitech Part number: Harmony 1000
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Though it lacks real multiroom capabilities and may not offer quite the flexibility of competing high-end tablet-style remotes, the swanky Logitech Harmony 1000 can be programmed by the average consumer, which saves the cost of hiring a home installer to program it.
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CNET editors' review
Logitech Harmony 1000 price range: $310.00 - $482.00
- Reviewed by: David Carnoy
- Edited by: John P. Falcone
- Reviewed on: 02/08/2007
- Updated on:02/19/2009
- Released on: 01/15/2007
The good: Logitech's first tablet-style universal learning remote incorporates both IR (infrared) and RF (radio frequency) wireless operation and includes a rechargeable battery and a docking station. Compared with other high-end tablet-style remotes, it's less expensive, and like other Harmony remotes, the 1000 is Web-programmable and compatible with Windows and Macintosh machines.
The bad: For those on tighter budgets, the Harmony 1000 is going to appear pricey, especially when you consider that no RF module is included. In addition, this model lacks some of the design flexibility (you can't design your own buttons or customize screen layouts, for example) that many high-end remotes offer, and setting up systems with more than five or six components can get pretty tricky. There's no easy way to use the 1000 in more than one room. And finally, because of the large color display, battery life is mediocre.
The bottom line: Though it lacks real multiroom capabilities and may not offer quite the flexibility of competing high-end tablet-style remotes, the swanky Logitech Harmony 1000 can be programmed by the average consumer, which saves the cost of hiring a home installer to program it.
Editor's Note: As of February 2009, an upgraded version of this product, the Logitech Harmony 1100, is now available. The ratings on this product have been updated accordingly.
Logitech has been gradually going more upscale with its PC-programmable Harmony remotes, so it's no great surprise that it's finally entered high-end territory with a touch screen, tablet-style model, the Harmony 1000. Unlike other high-end--and more expensive--models from the likes of Crestron, Philips, and Universal Remote Control, this swanky Harmony doesn't require hiring a professional home installer to program or update it. In other words, while $500 certainly isn't cheap for a remote, it's still about half the price of what you'd pay for a competing touch screen model once you combine the cost of the hardware with the cost of the programmer.
The first thing you'll notice about the Harmony 1000 is that it's about twice the size of your typical smart phone (4.1x5.5x0.7 inches, HWD), but it feels pretty light in your hand. The screen measures 3.5 inches diagonally and features QVGA resolution (320x240), which means it's fairly sharp but not supersharp. The brightness is adjustable, but even at a moderate setting, the screen is easily viewable.
As noted, this is a touch screen model, but you'll find a handful of hard buttons on the device for frequently used functions such as Channel up/down, Volume up/down/mute, and a four-way navigation button to get through menus. All these buttons, including the small Activities button just below the screen, are backlit with a blue glow. As with a lot of remotes, the identical-size Channel and Volume buttons are right next to each other, so we occasionally hit one when we meant to hit the other.
Like some of Logitech's more expensive Harmony models, the 1000 includes a docking station for juicing up its removable and rechargeable lithium ion battery (the remote sits at a 45-degree angle when docked). The 1000 also has a motion sensor; when you pick up the remote, it automatically turns on, a feature now available in other, less expensive Harmony remotes. To customize the look of your screen, you can also add your own digital image as background (say, a shot of your family), but we preferred to stick with one of the several monochromatic backgrounds that Logitech offers.
All in all, we liked the overall design of the 1000, though if you're used to using a wand-style remote, the horizontal nature of the tablet-style remote takes a little getting used to. The biggest advantage to using a tablet-style remote is that when you click on a menu function such as Watch TV or Watch a DVD, the remote's screen automatically switches to a virtual set of buttons designed to work with that device. However, since you can only fit so many virtual buttons on one screen, you'll be dealing with layers of screens. In each corner of the display, you'll find an icon that takes you to another set of virtual buttons. For example, to get to the numberpad for changing the channels on your cable box, you click on the 123 icon in the lower-left corner. Another icon leads you to a set of buttons that allow you to access content from your DVR.
Logitech has designed the remote to have a maximum of four layers of menus, so users don't get buried in an overcomplicated menu tree. All in all, it seems like a good system, but as with any new remote, it will take some getting used to. You can also create customized buttons in the Harmony software. However, we didn't see a way to create your own button design--something that's possible in competing models such as the Philips Pronto TSU9600 (which requires setup and installation from a professional installer).
As with other Harmony remotes, you program the Harmony 1000 by connecting it to your Internet-connected Windows PC or Mac with the supplied USB cable, installing the model-specific version of Harmony software, and answering a fairly simple online questionnaire. You simply choose your home-theater components from a list, explain how they're connected, and define their roles in activity-based functions, such as Watch TV, Watch a DVD, and Listen to Music. For each function, you specify which devices and inputs the remote must enable. You can also choose which keypad functions will "punch through" to which specific devices--always having the channel buttons control the cable box or the volume controls dedicated to the TV, for instance. After you've completed the questionnaire, the software uploads all the relevant control codes to the Harmony 1000, as well as the relevant virtual buttons.
If you have a system that only has a few components, the Harmony 1000 is generally very easy to program. However, when you have more than four or five components, things can get trickier. This reviewer has eight components and was programming in six activities, and the ride was smooth for about 90 percent of the journey, but the last 10 percent or so was bumpy and challenging. In short, with a couple of hours of diligent trial and error (connecting and reconnecting your remote to your computer, tweaking the settings, and uploading the new settings), you can get your system working almost the way you want it to. Doing so with a laptop or a computer that's in the same room is a huge advantage. Unfortunately, achieving perfection can be maddeningly elusive, and getting those last kinks worked out can tack on several hours of additional labor and have your significant other asking just what it is that you're doing.
Some of the problems inevitably involve the use of IR. When you've got a lot of components, you have to make sure that all the little delays and response times are set just right for your components to respond the way you want them to. The default settings Logitech provides for various types of components work fine in many cases, but when you have several components competing for IR commands, sometimes not everything works as it's supposed to. Inevitably, some component just won't turn on or off when it's supposed to. Hitting the help button on the remote and answering a couple of simple yes or no questions will usually rectify the problem, but ideally you want to hit one button, not several, to get what you want, especially considering how expensive this remote is.
The good news is that if you really hit a wall while programming your remote, Logitech's customer support for its Harmony remotes is really good, though you'll probably have to wait 5 to 10 minutes to get through to them, and perhaps longer. If your problems persist, you'll get kicked up to a level-two technician, who can go into your setup and adjust some of the advanced settings.
One big way to help alleviate any IR conflict issues is to go the RF route--whether you've hidden all your equipment in a cabinet/closet or not (RF technology allows you to control devices through walls and obstructions without the need for line of sight). Unfortunately, to use this remote's RF capabilities, you'll need to purchase the optional Logitech RF Wireless Extender and plug it into an outlet fairly close to your equipment. You then connect the wiry IR blasters to the wireless receiver and literally stick each blaster onto the front of your equipment so it's in line with the component's IR port. If you have more than eight components--or components in separate rooms--you'll have to purchase additional Harmony Wireless Extenders, which list for $150 per unit. (They're closer to $110 online, but that's still steep.) While we didn't have an opportunity to test the remote with dimmer switches, climate controls, or security systems that use the Z-Wave wireless protocol, Logitech says the remote supports the standard.
Again, if you have a simple system, IR probably will be fine, and the nice thing about the Harmony 1000 is that you can always upgrade later to RF should you someday decide you want to hide your components. That said, at this price, we're little disappointed Logitech didn't include an RF module. Also, it would have been nice if Logitech had made the remote more conducive to programming multiroom setups. As it stands, you can program in a setup for TV2 and DVD2 that would work for another room, but there really needs to be a layer on top that allows you to switch from room to room. Logitech has a professional version of the Harmony 890 that offers this type of functionality, but that model isn't widely available and is really designed for the home-installer market. We assume that the Harmony 1000 will be offered in a professional version at some point, but the company should consider opening up this type of functionality to more adventurous consumers. (Alas, it probably won't happen as it does present a potential customer-service headache.)
Our only other significant gripe is that the battery life just doesn't seem to be all that good. Granted, most folks will leave the Harmony 1000 in its dock when not in use. But one night we forgot to dock the remote and 24 hours later, when we went to use it, the low-battery warning flashed across the screen almost immediately. We're not sure why this happened, because the screen shuts off when the remote is not in use, but the long and short of it is the remote does not appear to be all that energy efficient. We suspect the remote needs some sort of firmware upgrade to correct this problem and make it really go to sleep when not in use. Of course, our review unit was one of the first off the assembly line, so it could just be our unit.
One final note about LCD touch screens: Make sure you're ready to commit to one before you make the plunge. Like all touch screens, you'll need to actually take your eyes off the TV screen and look down to the remote itself whenever you want to do anything more than adjust the volume. You might find yourself nostalgic for a more conventional wand with hard buttons if you prefer to navigate a remote by feel.
Savvy shoppers can buy the aforementioned Logitech Harmony 890 with the RF Wireless Extender for about $100 less than this remote. Overall, however, we did like the Harmony 1000 better than the Logitech Harmony 890, but it may be a stretch for those on a tighter budget who are simply having a hard time choosing between the 890 and one of Logitech's step-down models. That said, if you've got the dough for a high-end LCD touch screen remote but are a little appalled by the idea of paying upward of $1,000 for a Crestron or Philips model that requires its own professional programmer, the Logitech is an appealing alternative.
User reviews
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Frustrating set-up experience
by recoveringgeek on June 30, 2007
Pros: great UI, ease of use after setup
Cons: ridiculous over-engineered security,
Summary: The upside is that the device works. It really does. The screen is bright and the graphics are intuitive. The buttons are big and tactile, and the response is good. ...
Summary: The upside is that the device works. It really does. The screen is bright and the graphics are intuitive. The buttons are big and tactile, and the response is good. My wife can use it, which is a miracle. Happily, all of the problems can be fixed easily with a little software written by someone with a modicum of common sense.
The problems are all about the over-engineered set-up and security process. Ultimately, we could not get the device loaded without several grueling hours of Level-2 support and a back-door fix that would make a dandy installation process.
The concept is great. You go to a website, pick out your devices, organize your activities (e.g. play a DVD, watch TV, etc), then download the "program" to your device through a USB cable. Seems simple enough, no?
Unfortunately, they've turned this intuitive and straightforward approach into a horror show of unnecessary technical complexity and user hostile troubleshooting. Ultimately, in order to get the program onto the device, the support folks at Logitech had to send me an email with a self-installing file containing the program I'd assembled on the website...which makes me wonder why they didn't use that approach in the first place! Instead, the way it works is that there's a website, a piece of client-side software for your PC, a driver for the device, and then code on the device. According to their support folks, they've designed the configuration process such that when the USB cable is connected, the Harmony 1000 obtains its own IP address, and then communicates directly with the website. Of course this means that Vista, Norton, Cisco and the network need to be configured in a manner to permit such communication ---not a task for beginners. If it actually worked, it might be the ideal virus delivery mechanism!
Dealing with support was interesting, as well. They were nice enough, but they won't let you talk to them without a user-id, a password, the serial number of the device [conveniently located under the battery, written in a tiny font, and in a particularly light shade of gray on a white background -- 'nuff said], and the names/device types of two elements of your media environment (e.g. SIM-2 projector and Rotel DVD). I think this is intended to prove that I am, in fact, the owner of the control program safely stored on their website. Like it contains a Nike missle launch sequence? There's less security on my online checking account!
Suggestions to avoid installation torture. 1) set aside a good amount of time. 2) Have someone with superb eyesight under the age of 40 on hand to read serial numbers. 3) Use a Windows 2000 or earlier PC without security. 4) connect without a router or firewall. It should work like a charm !13 out of 14 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Another Paper Weight
by tallshooter on February 9, 2007
Pros: Feels and looks Good
Cons: very difficult to program with the proper codes
Summary: The Harmony remote out of the gate looks and feels great; the screen is very bright, the screen is also very sensitive to touch,
but that where it stops!. The ...Summary: The Harmony remote out of the gate looks and feels great; the screen is very bright, the screen is also very sensitive to touch,
but that where it stops!. The programming is very difficult to get all the codes to work. I have about eight hours in the remote and it still not up to speed. The colour icons in one of the screens disappears occasionally while programming the remote, then you have to remove some of the devices and start for scratch. I have removed my devices a number of times and started over fresh but found near the end of the programming that the colour icons had vanished again.
I had the Microsoft touch screen before this remote. The harmony remote is far better remote. My advise to wait for the next generation of the Harmony 1000.
Thanks BryanUpdated
The Logitech remote gets my vote. I had some problems with it when I purchased the remote but when they released the most recent firmware update it made the remote come alive. The remote works very well, there is a programming curve. worth the money , I would say yes.
Thanks Bryan LumleyUpdated
The Logitech remote gets my vote. I had some problems with it when I purchased the remote but when they released the most recent firmware update it made the remote come alive. The remote works very well, there is a programming curve. worth the money , I would say yes.
Thanks Bryan Lumley12 out of 13 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Solid product, very happy and wife can use it too!
by jnsplude on April 30, 2007
Pros: solid feel build quality, bright,easy set up.
Cons: can benefit with more custom config modes for devices
Summary: So far had no issues with set up. Firmware auto loads and all my componets were recognised. I was first concerned with my devices since I use seprates and hifi ...
Summary: So far had no issues with set up. Firmware auto loads and all my componets were recognised. I was first concerned with my devices since I use seprates and hifi brands. Previous remote was a phillips pronto which was too complicated to program. O.K. truthfully I was too lazy to reconfigure every little qwark I found. So then the 1000 came along and what a simple solution for me. Easy to set up and easy to follow buttons. My wife tested the remote first right after I did the set up and was pleased!! ENOUGH SAID!!!
5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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What an amazing piece of technology
by sfeldner on March 7, 2007
Pros: Very easy to program. Knew about ALL my equipment!
Cons: It allows you to put icons on your "Favorite Channel" buttons but have no icons included with the software. I was hard pressed to find a con!
Summary: I have had other all-in-one remote controls and this one is by far the best one I've ever seen. It is very easy to program and it knew how ...
Summary: I have had other all-in-one remote controls and this one is by far the best one I've ever seen. It is very easy to program and it knew how to control every one of my devices with NO tweaking or "learning". It's whole set-up process revolves around "Activities". Choose the devices you have and then tell the remote what steps you would normally do on the original remotes to "Watch TV", "Watch a DVD", "Listen to the Radio" and many more. It even controls your lighting if you have an IR compatible X10 system! And if you want to play with advanced settings, there are hundreds of tweaks you can apply. I can't say enough - this unit is amazing!
5 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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For a non Tech. outstanding
by c104333 on December 16, 2007
Pros: Couldn't not have been easier to set up.
Cons: For the money, there should be an easier way to get the owners manual.
Summary: I checked out the Universal Remote TX1000, the Mirage and the Harmony 1000. I needed to get a remote that would be as simple to operate as possible. It didn'...
Summary: I checked out the Universal Remote TX1000, the Mirage and the Harmony 1000. I needed to get a remote that would be as simple to operate as possible. It didn't need to handle too much, just the Samsung DLP, Cablebox with DVR, DVD player and Surround sound.
When I checked out the others they needed a professional to program at a cost of $300, and they tell me it would take 3 to 4 hours to do. Not to mention that everytime I added or changed anything I would have to call them to program it. Of course no other charges for that. But are you kidding? If I have something like this I want to be able to program it or I don't need it. Oh, yea by the way $400 to $1000 for those remotes plus the $300 for programing.
With the Harmony, using my computer to program my remote was really easy. The whole process took me 45 minutes and I not a tech guy at all.
I read one review that said not to use the disc that comes with the Harmony, I did and it worked flawlessly.
First time I used the Harmony, it worked perfectly. With the touch screen, all I had to do was touch "Watch PVR" which means turn on the TV with the video 2 setting , Cablebox,Onkyo receiver with the video3 setting and it did that all perfectly.
Then I tried "Watch DVD", and it turned on the TV setting it to the DVI connection, turned on the Onkyo with the video 2 setting, turned on the DVD player.
It did the same with setting up to listen to CD's and Radio.
Remember that prior to this if I wanted to play a DVD, I had to use four remotes hitting several buttons each. Now it is one touch to the color touch screen and it is all done.
I love it! It is the best purchase I have made in a long time. Also it is very intuitive to operate.
It has a nice dock that recharges the lithium battery when not in use.
Which brings me to the only complaint I have. The owners manual was difficult to find. For the money I would think it would come with it or at least make it much easier to find.
The price threw me a little, but I was sick of four remotes. It goes for $499, but you can get it for $449 at Best Buy now.
If you can get by the money this is a keeper.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Idea, horrible execution. Logitech should stick to mice and keyboards
by JpnExpat on December 29, 2007
Pros: Technology has the ability to be a good product, good catalog of remote controlled devices
Cons: User experience and Logitech's horrible set-up and help system make this the most frustrating experience you may ever have
Summary: On the surface, this device had everything I was looking for; a IR transmitter and the ability to connect with a RF transmitter for extended range (outdoors).
That is where ...Summary: On the surface, this device had everything I was looking for; a IR transmitter and the ability to connect with a RF transmitter for extended range (outdoors).
That is where the positives ended, and the week of frustration started. Logitech has missed the mark on so many counts, but the main offender is a user hostile set-up routine for anything past the most simple of set-ups.
The set up software is buggy, and the on-line help is the worst in the industry. The interface does not allow users to make any adjustments during the set-up, you can only pick from pre-selected items. Basically you have to set up your devices, then go back and modify them to fit your situation, but not really knowing how and where to do the modifications.
Eventually, I think I have it working, but at this point I would have been better off spending more money on a high end system with proper support from a company that has experience in devices more complicated than mice and keyboards. Leave the programmable remotes to the AV experts.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Perfect Almost
by raptorantill on June 16, 2007
Pros: Easy to use information can be updated and is stored on Logitechs site
Cons: Information is stored on Logitechs site
Summary: I bought this for my wife. We have had several Command remotes and this is the easiest to use. It takes about twenty minutes to set up but after that ...
Summary: I bought this for my wife. We have had several Command remotes and this is the easiest to use. It takes about twenty minutes to set up but after that it can be updated with new information in under five minutes. Just point and press the activity you want to do such as watch TV and it turns on all needed appliances and turns off those that are not needed.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Very Good . . . But . .
by Jack Casper on June 16, 2007
Pros: Controls nearly everything - reduced clutter
Cons: Will not control my blu ray (playstation). Somewhat difficult to set up
Summary: The bottom line is that I now have only 2 remotes sitting on the table as compared to 8 previously. The Harmony controls my Satellite HD DVR, HD DVD, receiver, ...
Summary: The bottom line is that I now have only 2 remotes sitting on the table as compared to 8 previously. The Harmony controls my Satellite HD DVR, HD DVD, receiver, several other components, and even my HD camcorder when I plug it in.
It won't control my blu ray player which is a Sony Playstation as the Playstaion is bluetooth.
with 8 components it took several days to get it to work like I want it. It will actually do everything all of the remotes will do but sometimes takes multiple pages to get to the deep functions (for in-depth programming it's easier to just take the original remote out of the drawer and do it that way).
I'm getting used to it. I like it, and I like the reduced clutter on my table2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good Touch Screen Universal Remote
by intermonkey on February 25, 2008
Pros: User friendly, Good Design
Cons: Price, Advanced functions are not intuitive to program
Summary: Have had this remote control for about 6 months now and no significant problems so far. The on-line remote control programming works as advertised. However, when trying to add a ...
Summary: Have had this remote control for about 6 months now and no significant problems so far. The on-line remote control programming works as advertised. However, when trying to add a multi-step activity which involves turning on and setting functions on multiple devices it took a little longer to program and make work as desired.
That being said, there is no other product on the market with as sleek a design. My only other gripe is that at $499 MSRP it's not value for money (However, I bought on Amazon for $240, which is still expensive for a remote control!)...1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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It Works Grest
by Ray6789 on October 31, 2007
Pros: Easy set up, best I've seen yet
Cons: Have to push the OK buttons too many times
Summary: I first saw this at Best Buy for around $500.00 way more than I would pay. So went to E-bay and got it for $290.00. I never buy ...
Summary: I first saw this at Best Buy for around $500.00 way more than I would pay. So went to E-bay and got it for $290.00. I never buy any product without checking this web site. I read all the pros and cons and suggestions and followed the recommended disconnect fire wall, router etc and only had one problem. The program would freexe my computer on and off, but not enough to stop the download. It works great, controls my HD plasma, my AV system, my BlueRay DVD, my regular DVD, my Direct TV PVR. You will ned the RF modulator to control your x-box and I'm not sure if I'm willing to pay $130.00 for that. But I'm very happy with it.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Logitech
- Part number: Harmony 1000
- Description: The Logitech Harmony 1000 features a brilliant 3.5" color touch screen that allows for one-touch activity-based control of even the most sophisticated A/V components. Say goodbye to the wasted time and unnecessary complexity of multiple remotes controlling multiple devices; Logitech's patented Smart State Technology makes it easy! Control your HDTV, adjust aspect ratios, or change sound modes - there are no complicated macros to program. Just press an on-screen activity icon and Harmony does the rest. The Harmony 1000's sleek shape and brushed aluminum surfaces will look right at home as the centerpiece of your digital living room. One remote is all you'll need to control even the most complex home entertainment systems. And when used together with a Harmony RF Wireless Extender (sold separately), you can further reduce clutter by placing your components out of sight. Since the remote can transmit both infrared and radio frequency commands, you can control equipment inside a cabinet or even in the next room.
General
- Device Type Universal remote control
- Enclosure Color Black
Remote Control
- Connectivity Technology Infrared/radio
- Supported Device Qty 15
- Supported Devices TV, DVD player, DVR, VCR
- Input Device Joystick, Touch screen
- Features Learning
- Display LCD display - 3.5 in TFT active matrix
- Color Display Yes
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB
System Requirements
- Operating System MS Windows ME, MS Windows XP, MS Windows 2000
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1 x USB cable
Power
- Battery 1 x Remote control unit battery - Rechargeable - Lithium ion
- Included Qty 1
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Manufacturer info
- Logitech
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Logitech products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.logitech.com/
- Address:
6505 Kaiser Dr., Fremont, CA 94555
