Recommended Programmable Remote Controls?

Slashdot Junky asks: "I am fed up with having several different remote controls for my living room A/V gear and have decided to buy a high-end programmable remote to replace them. I have a TWC SciAtl Explorer 8000 DVR box, DVD player, Onkyo HT receiver, TV, and a home brew PC media server connected. I am looking for one that is comfortable to hold and more importantly, capable of DOING EVERYTHING that each of my existing remotes do. So, what remotes are you all using? Why did you select the one you have? What should I look for in my search? What don't you like about it? What do you like? What else should I be asking?" "Once the new remote is programmed, I want to be able to leave the factory remotes in the cabinet for good. I want the new remote to be able to handle even the non-day-to-day tasks like using the TV OSD menu. It should also be easy enough for my non-techie wife to use, too. Although the Logictech Harmony line seems nice, I don't really know much about it. Of course, there are others as well."

Comments

Philips Pronto

[rmcphx]

I recommend the Philips Pronto http://www.pronto.philips.com/

Lots of information on programmable remotes is available at Remote Central http://www.remotecentral.com/

MX-500

[Slarty]

I really like the MX-500. Fully programmable, hard-key, you can hook it up and program it with your PC (w/ some extra hardware, I think, but not too expensive), and everyone I've heard of who has one just loves the thing. It's a slightly older remote, so you can get one for 70 bucks now:
http://www.bluedo.com/bluedocgi/product.cgi? model= MX-500

Also, tip for your HTPC... pick up one of these:
http://www.notestation.com/ack571_2.htm

It's a USB infrared keyboard w/ mouse built in, both of which work perfectly w/ just about any OS, since the computer sees it as a regular USB keyboard and mouse. But the really nice thing is, since the keyboard is IR, you can use it to train your remote to "press keys", and then not have to deal with lirc (assuming your HTPC is running Linux, although you'd have similar issues with Windows). Then you can stick the keyboard in the closet w/ your older remotes and still have a full keyboard available when you need one. It's a nifty solution.

Exercise

[pipingguy]

Get off your butt and change the settings by twirling that clicky, rotating knob on the front of the moving picture device.

Sheesh. You kids today don't even remember when TVs didn't have remote controls - no wonder you're all so fat.

Home Theater Master is where its at

[Kevin Stevens]

Im really surprised that Home Theater Master has not been mentioned... I bought the MX-500 for my father for christmas last year and its just awesome, and can be found for under $100 also. It mixes both programmable "soft" keys with hard keys and if the codes dont provide all the functions of your device, as long as you have the original remote you can teach it new functions. It can control every function of every device I have (including my complex yamaha reciever and digital cable remotes). It also has "punch through" keys that allow you to control the volume on your reciever while still flipping channels on your tv or cable box (sounds intuititive, but most cheaper remotes require you to change mode from tv to reciever for this). The light up function also makes it easy to see at night, though the softkeys are not backlit. Unlike what I hear about alot of other high end remotes, the battery life is long and on par with a typical remote.

I sound like a fanboy, but I really cant say enough about it. Its easy enough for my family to use, and very versatile. http://www.remotecentral.com is an excellent site for remote reviews, and you can see that it is rated very highly.

links:
MX-500: http://www.remotecentral.com/mx500/index.html
Mx- 700 (updated 500?)
http://www.remotecentral.com/mx700/index.ht ml