Price Paid:  $275.00 from One Call

Summary:
Great remote.It replaces all my others.1 thing though,when naming inputs,say something other than cable box, when naming that input on your tv or receiver. It flips out Harmon Kardons data base.Just name it video whatever where your cable box is connected to your tv or receiver. This caused me many hours of grief when I first got this remote. A call to a HK tech straightened my mess out.

Strengths:
Does everything I need in 1 remote.

Weaknesses:
Number buttons are too close together. Bad for people with big fingers or like my wife with her beautiful long fingernails. That's why it gets a 4 star rating instead of 5.

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $160.00 from eBay

Summary:
Awesome remote! I had a little trouble initially setting up because of firewall issues I had with Norton internet security. Anyway, the remote works great. For those of you who have never seen or used anything like this, it is a pretty cool set up. To program the remote, you have to install software onto your computer. This software takes you directly to Harman Kardon's website. On the website, you list what make and model of any component you have. Plug the remote into a USB port on the computer, and your remote is automatically programmed to run whatever devices you have. That is not the end of it. You can create what are called activities. For example, let's say you want to watch a DVD and listen to it through your stereo. Turning on and controlling all of the aformentioned devices (TV, DVD player, stereo), for example, would be classified as one activity. One can via the website tell the remote which audio, and visual componets they want to turn on at the press of a button. Not only do they turn on, the components are also set to the right inputs/outputs. Great idea! No more table clutter from several remotes laying around. Also, a technophobe can operate a complex system with ease.

Strengths:
Easy to program the remote. Handles up to 15 infrared devices. Some incredibly absurd number of activities. Buttons glow and LCD screen lights up when tilted. Battery strength meter. Controls all types of devices. Has renameable buttons to get rid of useless functions, etc. I would rate this remote a 10 in the ratings however the scale only goes to 5.

Weaknesses:
Buttons along side of the LED screen are small. Must be kept charged, and it takes a long time to charge a dead battery.

Similar Products Used:
None. Every remote control from every other device that I ever bought.

Price Paid:  $98.00 from harmankardon.com

Summary:
I must say that after some quilty time spent using this remote, I can't deny that I truly LOVE this remote. You can get them on ebay & various websites for DIRT cheap. You should use www.remotecontrolcentral.com as a blueprint for modifying, programing and tweeking this remote. I have the Radio Shack LED modification and also the Tadiran 3.6 volt lithium batteries. I use my remote to control my entire system which you can read about under review for the HK Signature 2.0 I was a little skeptical at first after reading these reviews but once I went Remote Central I found the light. I can do anything with this remote from controlling my remote fan to theater lights to controling the fireplace. After thr modifications my screen is bright & range is ridiculously broad. Althoug the Pronto's my be a little better (because they still make firmware) they too are a pain to work with, read the reviews. You should buy one and use that website and I gurantee you'll love it, besides you get a $400.00 remote for around $50.00 so you can't be but so angry, come on people lighten up, nothing is fullproof!!!

Strengths:
Very flexable, ease of use, current price and durability. Microsoft program used and is PC programable. All the info you need is current on remote central and that web site is a good thing for A/V gear heads!!!

Weaknesses:
It's sad they never kept up the software aon this remote. Remote is sub-par without the fantastic modifications. Takes some getting use to, but after some break-in time....yip-pee!!!

Similar Products Used:
Sony, Pronto, Sima and RCA.

Price Paid:  $78.00 from eCost.com

Summary:
I wanted a remote to replace the 4 I use on a regular basis and, after programming, this remote was able to replace them all. The built in codes were adequate for all except my Dish Network Echostar PVR box and I couldn't get it to learn some more advanced functions of my Sony remote or my off the shelf Radio Shack remote for my lights (may not be IR). The product can be more cumbersome than the remotes it replaces but with some forethought, tweaking, and riding the learning curve, this can be a powerful tool in the home A/V arsenal. With the macros, I am able to power up or down the entire system with a single button. I also use the macros to switch the A/V and TV inputs so that I can play my XBox. A macro switches them back for me when finished. Although significantly heavier than any other remote I have used, it is not too unwieldy. It will take a bit longer to get to some remote functions than with the remotes with dedicated buttons that it replaces, but some planning can minimize this. The PC interface is extremely easy to use and offers an incredible amount of customization.

I spent quite a bit of time tweaking the control. For example, you may not think having the same button in the same place on a touch screen makes that much of a difference but there is a reason the File menu is always the first on the left... I spent a good amount of time figuring out just what was the most useful grouping of buttons on what screen and added shortcuts to other screens. I kept the function of the roller pretty consistent and was able to change the mute button to pause the DVD or pause live TV. The more I have used it, the more I have been able to refine the set-up and increase its usability.

To get around the limitations of the number of buttons on the screen, I programmed general navigation for my cable box into one screen (or activity as they are called), controls for the live TV recorder into another, and put the number pad on a third. Each screen has shortcuts to the other. Requires a few extra key presses but it is not too "painful". I was quite used to finding the keys on my old remotes by touch and it is a little discontering to have to look at the screen instead of the device I am controlling. This is mostly a learning curve on my part.

Although completely irrelevant to functionality, it also looks cool. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with it.

Strengths:
The built in codes worked well for most of my components. The learning capability allowed me to program most of the advanced functions for my components. The macros are easy to create and extremely useful. The PC interface is easy to use and provides quite a bit of customization. This actually did replace my other remotes.

Weaknesses:
There are only 6 buttons. These can be programmed but careful planning should be used when assigning functions. Although it is universal, it is not as "convient" as the remotes that shipped with your components. Ths is because your component remotes probably have a button dedicated to every function but you will need to split the buttons accross several screens when you program the Take Control remote.

The display could have been stronger but after adjusting the contrast, I don't have too much of a problem. The touch screen has a limited number of buttons. They recommend not using a stylus (like the Palm) and the lack of a pointer could be frustrating if you have larger fingers. I sometimes use a stylus anyway...

The response is noticably slower than my Dish PVR box and for some macros, I had to set certain buttons to be sent twice so that the box would receive it properly. When pressing the number buttons, it is necessary to hold a little longer than on the remote that shipped with the Dish PVR.

It could not learn the commands to change the sound fields on my Sony receiver. Not a big drawback, I don't change them that often.

Pretty big and heavy.

Similar Products Used:
Several all purpose remotes over the years ranging from non-learning $50 remotes to semi-learning $100 remotes.

Price Paid:  $89.00 from Ubid

Summary:
When Ubid started selling these for $89, I had to buy one (though Harman Kardon now sells them for less on Ebbay). My previous experinece is with the Universal Home Theater Master.

So what can I say. Does it program multi- functions-yes. Combine remotes-yes. But the real question is, as eveyone else has noted, it is convenient?

Unfortunately I have to say no. The basic ergonomics that I rely on in a remote control, just aren't there. The touch pad isn't that sensitive and apparently my fingers are too big to hit the right channel numbers (yes my Palm is no more sensitive, but I'm using that in bright office light and it comes with a pointer). Next- the functions happen just way too slow- my tv's standard remote changes channels and adjusts volume faster. And lastly, the screen is just too dark, even with the backlight, to see while watching tv/ videos. During the day I struggle to see the touch pad. At night I hold the remote near a lamp to find the right buttons.

And.... last but not least, its heavier than any other remote I've ever used.

Thus, I cannot recommend this remote simple because even though it may be smart, it's just plain impractical.

My take is that it was best of class when it came out several years ago, but life has passed it by, and that's why Harman Kardon/ JBL/ Madrigal is blowing them out of here.

Strengths:
programming, combining of remotes, upgradable software, cool looks, hard to loose because it's so bulky

Weaknesses:
heavy, can't see touch pad, slow to implement functions, and my wife laughs at me for spending so much every time I use it (she uses the old one)

Similar Products Used:
Home Theater Master Universal