I love my Harmony universal, but I never got why anyone would ever pay as much for a remote as most people pay for a TV.

Go with the Logitech Harmony 880 instead. It has nearly all of the features as the remote above, and can often be had on sale at Amazon.com or Dell.com for around $129.

if there's no blue tooth is it really Universal?

I think not.

we just bought a floor model 32"samsung hdtv for 700 today....and we're using the normal remote.

It's probably good enough without bluetooth. How many home theater or home automation devices can you name that use Bluetooth? This is not a game controller, it's a remote.

I always liked that the Harmonys will control PS2s also.

I have a URC MX-850 (a couple years old, and not *quite* as fancy as this remote), and I love it. The advantage of a URC remote versus a consumer-level device like the Harmony is the near-infinite amount of configurability the URC device provides. You can configure these things to do nearly anything you need, but be warned: setting them up ain't for the faint of heart--it's more of an ongoing hobby than a one-time setup kind of thing. I don't mind, because I like the flexibility, and I always have new gadgets coming and going from my system.

A minor clarification to Chen's description: this remote can't learn RF or send it directly to an RF-receiving device; rather, it can take your device commands and send them *via RF* to a separate box ($75 or so), which then blasts out IR to your components.

@aseriesoftubes: You may want to check out the Logitech Harmony 880... it's inexpensive, fully configurable, and set up is for the faint of heart.

@OldSchoolGadgetLover: Oh, I have checked out the 880, and it was on my short list when I was in the market. And I have to say, the Harmony setup wizard is very cool. But at the end of the day, the URC remote was worth the premium to me. To each his own I guess.

I just got a logitech 676 with an led display that does everything that I need for $49 shipped (sans happy ending) and more...$599 for a remote must please me for the upcoming years to come. Otherwise, bite the dirt...seriously

I played with a Logitech Harmony for a few days, and absolutely hated it. I found the build quality to be atrocious, and the software infuriating. If you like your home theater controlled the way YOU want, rather than what the software will LET you do, skip the harmonies.

I really don't get why URC software is considered so "tough" anyway. I think its extremely simple. You click a button on the onscreen picture of your remote, click "learn", and then learn the function. Doesn't exactly require a Phd. URC remotes are built like battle tanks compared to the flimsy, junky harmonies. You get what you pay for, its as simple as that. Also, URC remotes are readily available for far less than their inflated MSRPs. My MX-900 is by far the best remote I've ever used.

While the Harmony's are nice, they are inflexible, cheaply built and unreliable in comparison to the URC's. I'm another MX-850 owner and programmer and could not be happier. We sell both Harmony's and URC's and I have yet to see a URC go bad while I've seen my share of the Harmony's with issues. My friends and roommate appreciate the flawless, idiot-proof operation that my MX-850 offer and the sturdy build (they have dropped it more than once). In fact, I'm considering retiring the MX-850 to the bedroom and replacing it with the 980.

I got the MX-950 about a year ago and it rocks. Unlike the Harmony units (very nice btw) you can program it without an internet connection. Not net connection? You are totally SOL with the harmony units.

The Universal devices are also far more programmable. If you want an exact behavior you can pretty much get it with the Universal stuff, with the Harmony line you get what you get and are forced to use their device control metaphor. Admitedly that works very well for lots of folks, but if you're a control freak with a pretty big system the Harmony may seem a bit limited.

I like em both and Harmony certainly has the edge /wrt cost.

What, no Crestron?

I've had an MX-500 for 7+ years now and wouldn't hesitate for a second to buy another URC when and if I ever need a new one.

It's good to get some perspective from folks willing to try out all of the devices (you know, do their homework), thanks for the input.