Why You Can Trust CNET Get a Logitech Harmony 700 universal remote for $59.99
It's a refurb, but still a great solution for controlling up to six home-theater components.
This is an update of a deal I posted last summer.
Juggling is meant for circus folk, not home-theater owners. Yet that's exactly what you're doing if you have more than one device and, ergo, more than one remote.
Regular Cheapskate readers know I'm a fan of Logitech's Harmony series of universal remotes. One of the better models, the 700, has a list price of $119.99 (or used to -- it's been discontinued). Ouch.
For a limited time, and while supplies last, TigerDirect via eBay has the refurbished Harmony 700 universal remote for $59.99 shipped.
Update: Alas, looks like the auction supply ran out. TigerDirect proper continues to sell them for $69.99 shipped, still a pretty good price.
What's so great about the Harmony series? Thanks to Logitech's wizard-driven software, they're significantly easier to program than most universal remotes. Just choose your gear from a mammoth database and presto: you're good to go. They're also blissfully user-friendly, with guided onscreen help in case one component didn't turn on or switch modes or something.
The Harmony 700 features a color LCD, a rechargeable battery (though not a charging dock), and support for up to six devices.
The user reviews on this model average four stars out of five at , both at Amazon's product page.
And CNET editor John P. Falcone gave it four stars out of five in his full review of the remote. You can see his First Look video below.
Because this is a refurb, the warranty expires after 90 days. (That's a guess: Although the duration isn't specified in the eBay listing, TigerDirect lists a 90-day warranty on its own product page for the same remote.) For what it's worth, I've had the same Harmony One for over four years, and it's humming along just fine. If you're still juggling multiple remotes, I think you'll find this is $60 very well-spent.
Bonus deal: Another good rerun: Staples has the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" Wi-Fi tablet for $269 shipped (plus sales tax where applicable). That's $30 off the regular price, making it a match for the similarly sized Barnes & Noble Nook HD+. I like the latter a teensy bit better, but for $269 for an 8.9-inch tablet, you win either way.
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