I never had a universal remote,I always had remotes laying around.
I have a Sammy HLS5087,Motorolla cable box(from Comcast),Xbox360(with HDDVD add on),PS3,and a Monoprice HDMI switcher.I also have a DVD player on my other TV I would like to set the remote to.I want to get a Harmony remote,but am not sure which one to get.Would it matter which Harmony remote I get for my set up?I'm on a tight budget.:confused:

It won't matter which Harmony that you get other than the fact that the PS3 won't work with any of them without some sort of IR to USB or IR to Bluetooth dongle.

You'll need something similar to this http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=946674 or a Nyko BluWave.

Harmony's all work the same. Whether you get an 890, or a 520, their basic operation is complete and exactly the same. The only difference is going to be button layout. That is all. Except for the 890 and 1000 which add an RF Extender so you can have your system without line of site for the remote. Other then that, they all are programmed the same, and operate the same. So just go for a button layout that you like and a remote you like the feel of.

For some of you that has had some of the Harmony's, what are some of your favs with some good button layouts? I was looking at the 550, 880, 659, 520. I have never had a do it all remote but to me a touch screen looks like it would be pretty but also give me probs accidently touching the touch screen when i didn't mean to. I like the looks of the one but i am not sure i would like it.

I currently have the Harmony One, had the 880 for a week and the 670 for two weeks. The 670 in my opinion was actually better than the 880 mostly for the convenient button layout. The Harmony One has the touch screen and is also rechargeable. I would not recommend the 880.

If you are looking for something simple under $100 that will do a good job, go for the 670, thoguh your cost will increase with battery changes.

If you want something fancier go for the One. The touch screen on the One needs to be cleaned often, no matter how clean your hands are, it will leave prints.

I do like the Devices options on the touch screen of the One.

For some of you that has had some of the Harmony's, what are some of your favs with some good button layouts? I was looking at the 550, 880, 659, 520. I have never had a do it all remote but to me a touch screen looks like it would be pretty but also give me probs accidently touching the touch screen when i didn't mean to. I like the looks of the one but i am not sure i would like it.

For some of you that has had some of the Harmony's, what are some of your favs with some good button layouts? I was looking at the 550, 880, 659, 520. I have never had a do it all remote but to me a touch screen looks like it would be pretty but also give me probs accidently touching the touch screen when i didn't mean to. I like the looks of the one but i am not sure i would like it.

I like the 670 best for button layout. The transport controls for DVR and DVD are more logically arranged in my opinion.

Thanks naftalim, i was looking at the 670 and 659 and both seemd nice. Does Harmony make a cheaper remote with a docking station for recharging or is that when we have to step up to the 880 or one?

I had the 880 for a week and a half until I couldn't stand it any more. I was fooled by it's shape, which reminded me fondly of my old TiVo remote, which I loved. But the shape is where the similarities end, unfortunately. It was like trying to control my devices with the fossilized jawbone of a small alligator. I sent it back to Amazon, bought a new Harmony One, and the difference is like night and day. I have no experience with any other Harmony product--or any other Universal remote, for that matter, but I love this device.

I just picked up the new Harmony "One" Advanced.

From a button layout and comfort standpoint, this is THE one. Everything makes sense (finally) on a Harmony remote.

The LCD is very nice too. Much crisper than the older 8xx series.

I'm just getting into the programming now. When I mean just picked it up, I mean JUST picked it up 3 hours ago :)

I know one challange will be input switching on my Samsung HLP-5085W (the Captn' Kirk model). It always is and I've yet to get a harmony to work right. Hopefully this will be the first.

-Larry

I am going to have to get one of some kind. I have been comparring the one, 670, 676, 659, and 720. Maybe i'll break down and get the one but that is alot of money for a remote for me.

I have a Pioneer 92 receiver and this remote is ok, so i decided to program my fhd1 Pioneer plasma remote into the 92, one remote down, i have a Omnimount 52 motorized mount and i programmed this remote into the 92(wasn't much to program here, 4 ways to turn and back to the wall), so two remotes down, now i start with the charter cable box remote and i started running out of places to put things. I did not totally finish this. So i will have to get another and thanks for the help and i'll pick one out and order it. Who knows, i might surprise myself and get an one.

One thing I would recommend is actually getting to a store where you can try the remotes for yourself. I know if I'd had done that initially, I would have saved myself some time. Button layout turned out to be a much bigger issue for me than I thought it would be, and the H-One only ended up costing me 50 bucks more than the 880. It was more than I planned to spend on a remote, but given the amount of use, it was completely worth it. Good hunting!

what I want to know is how many activities each remote supports.
i.e. I select watch dvd. The remote powers on my tv/av receiver/dvd player
selects the right input for the tv and the receiver.

I looking for these as activities:

watch dvd
play wii ( i understand this won't power on the wii due to bluetooth)
watch digital cable
Watch video from laptop via video 2
play gamecube
play cd..

plus a couple empties for expansion.

This isn't my main remote but I have it set up to every activity I can think of.

Watch Computer Room TV
Play PS2
Watch Family Room Cable
Watch HD-DVD
Watch DVD
Watch Family Room TV
Watch Family Room TV ONLY
PC
Watch Bedroom TV
Patio

I was just adding different activities to see how flexible the software is with the different inputs, etc.

what I want to know is how many activities each remote supports.
i.e. I select watch dvd. The remote powers on my tv/av receiver/dvd player
selects the right input for the tv and the receiver.

I looking for these as activities:

watch dvd
play wii ( i understand this won't power on the wii due to bluetooth)
watch digital cable
Watch video from laptop via video 2
play gamecube
play cd..

plus a couple empties for expansion.