I'd say main drawback here is price. Once it's setup, you probably wdn't need to go online w/ it again for months (until you bought a new component to control) so hassle is limited.

Finally, setting up any universal remote is going to involve some learning and this one is probably worth it as much or more than others if you're willing to spend money.

Basic: Sony RM-VL1000

This is remote I have and I love it. It's learning so it's really universal. It's right size, weight and shape for either hand. It's got all normal buttons w/o being too crowded, but also 4 buttons beside LCD. You can program these buttons to be whatever you want and lable them what you want too. You can scroll thru 3 "screens" for these buttons so each component can actually have 12 buttons programmed in LCD buttons.

It's preprogrammed w/ most common components and those settings use LCD buttons when necessary, but you can change any buttons programming as you wish.

It can control up to 12 components which is plenty for most people, but you can have volume set to always control same device. I have my volume buttons always control stereo even if rest of buttons are working TiVo. Similarly, I have my power button set for my TV even when I'm working TiVo.

It has a built in 'power off' macro that turns all Sony components off. You can define rest of macros yourself and even run them on a timer (I have it set my TiVo to standby every night).

It's a bit of a pain to setup, but once it's done you're set and it's so worth it.

And it's so cheap!

Summary

Take all things into consideration when shopping for a universal remote: is it learning, macros, timer, size, shape, weight, cost, buttons, setup, etc. What's important to you?

Recommendation

If you're willing to spend money, I wd get Harmony. Otherwise, I wd get Sony VL1000 - it's (probably) harder to setup, but so much cheaper and a great remote.

A lot of us came here to escape citified life, to lose ourselves in a less populated territory. We strive to balance old traditions with our perceived understanding of world beyond Redwoods. That world is focused on technological age. That world is focused on rapid changes. Along with our desire to remain removed from metropolitan mania, fact is that economics factor into equation and we now know that Humboldt County, in order to survive, must jump on board technology train so that people here will be able to participate in education, economic pursuits . . . . American way of life, without having to leave home.

Technology development is absolutely crucial to include in any economic planning. Just as it was unthinkable a century ago to plan for new enterprises without considering electricity, 21st century economies, whether national or village level, must include networked information technology. It is difficult to imagine how a town, county, company, state, region, can compete against, or work effectively with counterparts unless they are networked and much of populace is conversant with technologies.

It’s been proven that technology changes people's lives. It lessens a person's isolation, businesses large and small can be run from home using a web server and low cost tools and services developed for just such a market, and electronic tools can help bind groups together in order to get a project completed much faster than using only phone and postal mail for communication.

Doesn’t it also stand to reason that advanced technology brings new business to Humboldt County, that e-commerce can revitalize “main street” by increasing small business revenue resulting in lower failure rates, that it will make it possible for more young people to return home after college, and that it will transform way we citizens relate to and form our government?

Jill St Claire, Founder JSC Marketing, LLC www.DIGITAL-RETURNS.com jill@jscmarketing.com 1.888.435.5156