If you're like me, you'd rather not watch television, movies or listen to music if you can't find the remote. And everything comes with a remote these days - even the air conditioner. The Lab raved about the Harmony universal remote since we saw the first one two years ago. Today, it's far more robust and maintains the online programming that we liked so much. The latest models, the 688 and 659, look more traditional and one even claims to take on the Tivo remote, perhaps the best stock remote ever created. Is that possible? I'm not convinced.

Easy Programming, Simple to Use

You need a computer to program the thing, but don't get scared away. It's a hell of a lot easier to program than other universal remotes. There aren't any codes to find and no macro programming involved. Just answer the questions on the Web, plug in the Harmony through USB and everything gets transferred to the remote. Got a no-name DVD player from Wal-Mart? The remote learns with only three buttons from the original remote. The online database contains thousands of devices, so you'll likely never need to dig up the original remote unless you've got some obscure piece of technology from the bargain basement.

Once everything is programmed, watching television is as easy as hitting a dedicated "Watch TV" button. The same holds true for DVD's, music, or watching antiquated VHS tapes. Other, less popular devices appear in the LCD as does information like a television guide.

Two Models, Different Targets

The 688


Pros: Easy Programming
Cons: Lags with Tivo; Number Keys Not Uniform Sized Cluttered Buttons

The flagship 688 goes as far as claiming to replace your Tivo remote. Remote usage with Tivo is a whole different animal. Accessing recorded shows is one thing, but time shifting is the most frequently used buttons (Pause, Rewind, Forward etc.). The 688 locates key buttons in the middle of the remote, a nice, comfortable position. The navigation pad is Tivo-esque too.

Unfortunately, that's pretty much where the similarities end. With our Tivo Series 2 and the Pioneer DVR-810H, there's a noticeable delay with each button press. Scrolling through recorded shows or anything else for that matter becomes a frustrating experience, as what feels like seconds pass before anything happens on the screen.

Then there are the clutter of buttons in the middle of the remote that surround the volume and channel. Worse are the tapered keypad and the minuscule 9 compared to the 3. And they're crammed right at the bottom of the remote, requiring a balancing act and contortionist-like dexterity of the thumb to go to any channel with a 7, 8, 9, or 0 in it.

The 659


Pros: Easy Programming; Clean and Comfortable to Use
Cons: Lags with Tivo

The 659 is more generic and not specifically designed for Tivo friendliness. There's nothing stopping you from using it with Tivo, but the time shifting buttons are located at the bottom of the remote and not as comfortable to access. The 659 suffers from Tivo-lag too.

The 659 isn't as button cluttered as the 688, so channels surfers glued to the up/down buttons will appreciate that the buttons aren't buried in the mass of other functions like the higher end 688. But most notably, the keypad buttons are actually the same size and located for comfortable use.

The Bottom Line

Neither Logitech Harmony Remote competes with the Tivo remote you get in the box. But that's probably not the only device in your entertainment system. For other devices, the remotes have lots to offer. It's simple to program, a good size, and controls everything from stereos to the ceiling fan. I'd skip the 688 for my home entertainment system and take a step back to the 659 with its less cluttered button layout, it's far more comfortable to use. For the Tivo addict, keep the stock remote handy. It's still better than any universal remote. At least you'll get rid of all the other remotes including the one for the fireplace.

Logitech
Price: 688 ($250); 659 ($200)
Available: Now