computer remote

[roid450]

I am looking for just a remote to control media player and media center. I do not have a tv tuner nor do I wanna buy one, we have normal tv service with 28 channels and there's nothing good to watch anyways.

I found these but was wondering if anyone on here had any experience with them or cold recommend another.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16880121002
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16880121001

 

[ther00kie16]

spend a little more and get a logitech harmony.
520 and 550 are good ($50 new sometimes and refurbs for less).
otherwise, i see new 628 on ebay for <$40.
most people opt for 550 or 880 ($100 range) but I'm guessing you'd like a cheaper one.

 

[roid450]

Thanks, will check those out.

I see quite a few shipping from Hong Kong, knowing how China and Hong Knong have a lot of pirate or FAKE stuff sorta makes me wonder about those <_< You think it's cool to get one from hong kong? Ive only bought cell phone accessories form Hong Kong or China.

 

[ther00kie16]

just found one seller selling the 628 for $30 new on ebay with free shipping from honk kong (of course)

well, the pictures look right and the seller (box-them) has >1000 feedback & >99% so I'd say it's fairly safe.
and with ebay, you are always protected.

 

[Modelworks]

If your pc has a serial port or you want to buy one of the usb adapters, I highly recommend lirc or winlirc.
You can use any remote you already have . The software is free.
http://winlirc.sourceforge.net/

 

[ther00kie16]

actually, 628 appears to be one that doesn't include an ir receiver for the pc. i had thought that all harmony remotes were primarily a pc remote but looks like i'm wrong.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: roid450
I am looking for just a remote to control media player and media center.

If you are using Media Center and just want the remote to work, then I'd suggest a Media Center remote (one that states it is for Media Center). The reason is that you plug it in, and it just plain works. There are also a few rare RF models that do not need line-of-sight, so you can be in another room and skip a song (for instance).

For fancier remotes, besides the Harmony, Gyration makes an expensive unit called the Air Music Remote. Besides being an RF Media Center remote, it has a gyroscope mouse built-in that is really easy to control (I've also used the Logitech MX Air, which is not as easy) and it has an LCD screen that can display your music library from Media Center so you don't have to be looking at the monitor to know exactly what you are playing next. That feature can also work with just Media Player (not only Media Center) and can run Media Player with no console so it does all the playing in the background. Heck, you can even run a headless (no keyboard/mouse/monitor) computer as a jukebox and just use this remote to browse and play your music library.

 

[roid450]

Thanks for the input, and thanks Zap, ill have to think about the remote again and make sure it works on Media Player/Center :roll: