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Message: <blockquote data-quote="CyberSimian" data-source="post: 1274308" data-attributes="member: 141969">I use a Logitech 650 (virtually identical to the 665), and I don't find it "less functional". What problems are you having with it?The Logitech is not perfect. In particular I would cite the following:(1) The buttons are too "squidgy" for my tastes (personal preference).(2) The processor in the 650 is too slow. It is easy to (say) repeatedly press the UP or DOWN button to move through a list, and have some of the button-presses ignored. Pressing the button at a slower rate works OK.(3) The 650 powers down after a user-defined interval. If you press a button before the remote powers down, or after the remote has powered down, the button works OK. But if you press the button as the remote is powering down, the button press is ignored. Quite annoying.On the other hand, the "activities" concept is wonderful. The problem with most remotes is that they do not remember device power status (i.e. whether the device is on or off). So remotes such as those made by One-for-All claim support for activities, but it is a simple-minded implementation (because those remotes do not remember device power status). In contrast, the Logitech remotes do remember device power status. This is important when switching between activities, if you have some devices that support only a power-toggle command and don't support separate power-on and power-off commands.One-for-All remotes are the obvious alternative, and there is an open-source tool called <a href="http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/index.php" target="_blank">RMIR</a> for programming the remote via software. These are known as "JP1" remotes. A handful have standard USB connections for programming, but most require you to purchase an appropriate serial cable to connect to a socket that is usually found in the battery compartment of the remote. I have half a dozen different One-for-All remotes, with various characteristics, but none supports true activities.Finally, for users in the USA there is "Universal Remote Control". They produce various models, but the highly-capable ones that can be programmed via software cannot be programmed by users, as URC do not make the software available to end users; the software is restricted to professional installers who charge high prices to program the remote for you. I have one of their older 850 remotes, which I purchased from Ebay with the assurance that the seller would provide the software (which he did). I don't use it any more, as several of the buttons are worn out.There are other remote solutions, such as apps that run on mobile phones, but I don't have any experience of those. There are also simple WMC-compatible remote controls, that will control your HTPC (WMC or MP), but they don't control anything else (i.e. they are not universal remote controls).-- from CyberSimian in the UK</blockquote>

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