Features:
- Operate all your IR-controlled components from one device
- Simple UI with touchscreen
- Robust case, solidly built
- Supports most home-entertainment devices out-of-box
- Easy wizard-based setup
Description:
How many infrared (IR) remote-control units are kicking around your house? Harman Kardon's TC-1000 Take Control System Controller can replace them all with a single easy-to-use unit, allowing you to archive the rest of your remote-control units in the closet. The Take Control System Controller emulates the control signals used by IR remote-control devices. With its huge library of built-in control codes, this remote-control unit covers almost any home entertainment device you'll encounter. Take Control's simple user interface includes a touchscreen, a scroll wheel, and five simple buttons, making operation easy to understand; backlighting makes the unit easy to use in a darkened room. The setup Wizard groups controls around common activities, such as watching a movie, rather than around the devices that make the activity possible. This means that you can turn on and control your TV, VCR, DVD, AV receiver, or additional devices from a single interface rather than having to manage each one separately. Yet it is still easy to get to the controls of a particular device if you want to control it explicitly. We found this feature to be both intuitive and easy to learn. The TC worked flawlessly with all the IR-controlled devices we tried it with. We got an entire home entertainment center up and running perfectly within 15 minutes, and we also set up an unsupported device, an old Photodisc player, by using the TC's ability to "learn" the codes of an existing remote. If your home entertainment device is supported by the Setup Wizard (most will be), the TC emulates the controls on the unit's native remote, including any annoying eccentricities it may have. This is where the bundled Windows customization software can help. With the TC connected to your PC's serial port (cable supplied), you can customize the control screens or extend the unit's built-in repetoire of activities. Admittedly, this kind of tweaking is for gearheads, and most users probably won't bother. But if you enjoy this kind of fine-tuning, the TC's software is flexible and easy to use. Pros:
- A single control unit that groups controls by natural use patterns
- Simple, intuitive controls
- Quick setup, with most home entertainment devices supported out of the box
- Robust, well-constructed unit
Cons:
- Unit is heavier than most conventional remotes
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