I can hear the wives applauding now. 

Logitech just released information about two of their new Harmony Universal Remote Controllers.

As an A/V component madman, I can tell you that it is really difficult to get a truly universal, AND usable, remote control for under $200- let alone $100.  The new Harmony 600 and 650 are the newest additions to their award-winning line.

The entry-level 600 is has a monochrome backlit screen, controls up to 5 devices, and is expected to retail for $79.  The 650 is very similar to the 700, except that it only controls 5 devices (vs. 6), lacks backlit buttons, or a rechargeable battery.  The 650, however, can access the internet using 2.4Ghz Wireless, which is not available on the 700.  We are still waiting for more information about this feature, but sounds really exciting.

Personally, fumbling for unlit buttons in the dark can be frustrating, especially for remotes that have unremarkable differences between different buttons.  Fortunately, the 600 & 650 seem to have very clean, distinguishable, and natural button layouts.  So, if you don’t want to exceed your $100 price limit, you’ll have a high-quality remote, without the blind button hunt.

If you don’t already know about Logitech’s Harmony series, they are incredibly easy to setup (you can test drive part of the setup process here), has an online database of around 250,000 home entertainment devices spanning 5,000 brands, and can control virtually any device through their simple, well- laid out remote.

I’m looking forward to getting my hands on one of these bad boys, and seeing how they compare to the 510, 880, and 900 series.  Expect availability in April.

Harmony 700 vs. 650: