Logitech Harmony 1100

Just like its predecessor, the 1000, Logitech's Harmony 1100 universal remote control is sure to turn heads with its slick looks. It also continues the Harmony tradition of relatively simple PC-based programming and controlling multiple devices with single activity buttons. But the 1100's biggest selling point—its gorgeous 3.5-inch touch screen—is also its biggest downfall. Using it can be a real drag, since you need to look down from the TV to navigate the remote's on-screen buttons—and you need both hands to effectively stab them. With this remote, zipping past commercials at 4X speed in a recorded episode of Lost is no easy feat. The other big problem is its sky-high $499.99 (direct) price: The 1100 doesn't match Logitech's own, more ergonomic baton-style Harmony One, which costs half as much.

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There's no denying this remote's visual appeal. Simply put: It looks luxurious, especially when it's sitting in its sleek black cradle, which props the remote up at a 45-degree angle while it charges the lithium ion battery. At 4 by 5.5 by 0.6 inch (HWD) the device is pretty large; it's rectangular, not long and narrow like a typical remote control. In fact, it's a bit wider than two iPhones sitting side by side. But at 6.9 ounces, it's lightweight, with a wide notch on its back that makes it comfortable to grip with both hands.

The star of the show is the sharp, bright 3.5-inch QVGA 320-by-240-pixel touch-screen LCD, which lights up when you pick up the remote. To the right of the display are white-backlit hardware volume and channel and controls, along with Mute, Back, Up, and Down buttons. There's also a four-way directional pad, which can be customized to do pretty much anything you want it to, including navigate on-screen lists and menus. But the majority of functions, including selecting activities, punching in channels, fast-forwarding, rewinding, pausing, and playing, are accessed via the touch screen, which, thankfully, is very responsive.

Logitech includes raised finger guides along the sides of the screen to help you find some of the virtual buttons by touch, and you hear a click each time your finger connects with one. Still, you really need to look down at the remote and grip it with both hands to use the touch screen, especially when you're navigating through layers of screens to find the button you want. Another, admittedly less critical, complaint about the design: Both the remote's matte-black body and its touch screen are highly susceptible to fingerprints. During the test period, I was wiping it down a lot.

To program the 1100, you need to install the included software on your Mac or PC, and step through Logitech's wizard to enter your devices and set up your activities. The database contains more than 5,000 brands and 225,000 products—ranging from basic home theater and PC components to appliances like Roombas and air conditioners. You then connect the remote via the included USB cable and upload the info. The USB 2.0 transfer was quick on a PC, but I ran into some trouble using a MacBook. Despite being connected, the software wouldn't consistently recognize the remote. After an hour-plus troubleshooting session with a Logitech support rep, I was up and running.

Generally speaking, Logitech's computer-based method beats the old look-up-and-punch-in-the-code method of programming cheaper universal remote controls. The tabbed-interface software is very intuitive, but since the 1100 can control up to 15 devices, setting it up just how you want isn't always a snap. It requires plenty of trial and error, especially if you're dealing with more than a handful of devices and activities. You can also customize the remote's screen layouts and buttons, add channel logo icons, and even use your own images for screen backgrounds or a screensaver, which requires another level of tweaking. It's satisfying to get everything working—and looking—exactly how you want it, but be prepared to spend some time to get there. And if you already have a Harmony remote, as I do, you can't mirror the existing device setup; you have to start from scratch to program the 1100, which is a major bummer.

Like all Harmony remotes, the 1100 communicates via IR signal out of the box, so you need a direct line of sight to your devices to control them. You can add RF wireless, so you can, say, hide your components in a closet, but Logitech's extender will cost you an extra $100—ouch! Given the 1100's price, Logitech should bundle it. There's also no Bluetooth support, so if you, like me, have a Sony PlayStation 3, you can set up the 1100 to select the correct inputs for switching over to the game console, but you can't turn it on or control it.

With a big, power-sucking touch screen, you're not going to get stellar battery life. I was able to eke out a couple of days of moderate use before recharging. This isn't a huge problem, though, if you stick the remote on its cradle when you're not using it—as you should. My test unit easily withstood a few careless drops from the sofa or the coffee table, but I can't imagine its delicate screen surviving the crush of a foot.

If money is no object and you're set on a touch-screen, table-style remote, the Logitech Harmony 1100 isn't a bad choice. It works and it's sure to impress with its luxurious looks—this is a good thing, since you'll be looking down at it often to find the buttons you need. If you'd rather focus on what's on the TV screen, go for Logitech's less striking but ultimately superior Harmony One. You get the same excellent software, along with smooth, single-handed operation—and you'll save $250.

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