Comments on: Hands On With Harmony 550

By: Bp

Bp — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:05:11 +0000

I just ordered the 550 cant wait for it to come. I have the h-659 but the off button just stopped a few days ago and I cant live without a remote that does everything. With all the good reviews I had decided that the 550 is for me.

By: MK

MK — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 12:47:26 +0000

I just started using the 880 this past weekend and I have to say that I’m going to send it back and try the 550 or the Xbox 360 remotes instead. The fast forward and rewind buttons, arguably the most important for TiVo users, are in a BAD place on the remote. It feels like my hand is breaking is every time I try to use it; it basically takes two hands. I love this remote except for that.

By: Dave Zatz

Dave Zatz — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 13:19:31 +0000

The 880 has a color screen, rechargeable battery with dock, larger buttons, and more activities visible on the screen at the same time. They both basically function the same. The 880 feels more like the peanut, though the transport buttons are lower on the remote than the 550. Tough call!

By: Blonde

Blonde — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 08:49:16 +0000

I’ve been considering getting a Harmony remote for my setup (HDTV, S3 Tivo, DVD Player, and Xbox360). Still not sure I can give up using an actual Tivo remote, but if I do, is the 880 worth getting over the 550?

By: Dave Zatz

Dave Zatz — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 18:31:16 +0000

Funny you should mention that… My menu looked so bare with just Watch Tivo and Watch ITVN. So, I added our den HDTV, Series3, and Xbox 360 to create two more activities: Watch Series3 and Play Xbox. My 880 already controls those devices, but I’m kinda geeky like that.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 18:23:12 +0000

Dave,

You forgot to mention that it works with your Xbox 360 as well. Now that is cool, especially with the Xbox being a Vista extender. I think I am going to buy one myself to replace my Cox cable DVR remote.

Go Terps.

By: Dave Zatz

Dave Zatz — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 21:17:16 +0000

If you have multiple devices, the trade off is worthwhile. In our bedroom it’s probably overkill, but that ITVN remote is just so bad plus some of the buttons on our JVC TV remote don’t work anymore. Having said that, Melissa didn’t seem too interested in giving up the peanut. So she gets her remote and I get my mine.

By: Joe F

Joe F — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:22:45 +0000

I have a question. The key advantage to a TiVo remote is the big pause button in the middle, one that you can find without looking at the remote at all. How does that feature work with a replacement remote like this? Isn’t it an odd change to have to find the play and pause buttons.