11 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
X10 IconRemote (A.k.a.: Philips Prestigo SRU8010)
Date of Review: Apr 7, 2008
The Bottom Line: Despite its faults, it works. It controls all I need it to and was only $50.
This remote seems to have been kicked around a bit and has landed with the video surveillance/home automation/overblown marketing company, X10. Despite the cheesy website and seemingly overblown claims, I ordered one of these puppies for the following reasons: First, it was only $49.99, less than 1/3 the price of the competing remote I'd been looking at. Second, the remote does not require a computer in order to program it. Third, it has His and Hers favorite channel screens, all identified by icon.
To start, I know when I'm researching a product, I've usually got my heart set on buying it, but look to the reviews for reasons why I shouldn't. With that in mind, I'll start with the bad points, then cover the good.
First thing: The screen is NOT a touch screen. When I first looked at the X10 site, it gave the impression that it was. However, through further research, I found out that it's not, but there are 5 buttons aligned vertically on either side of the screen that control what appears next to them on screen. It's a positive for me, because I can feel where I am on the remote due to the large buttons, but one might mistake this for a touch screen remote if not careful to read up on it.
Second: No back light. There is no back light for the buttons. So if you're not intimately familiar with the remote, using it in the dark will be a pain. The buttons don't even glow. Got a lighter?
Third: the remote is a two-handed remote. Unless you have enormous hands with double-jointed fingers, you'll need to use both for most operations.
Fourth: The first code accepted is not always the best code. By this I mean, the remote's setup wizard cycles through "x" number of codes until the power of the component you're setting up shuts off or turns on. In the case of my Sony receiver, the first code accepted, that simply turns it on or off, wouldn't change it from Tuner to DVD, and so on... You'll need to play around with it depending on your components. I ended up having to have the remote Learn a bunch of commands for it to properly work the receiver. So set up, to where your satisfied with it, is much longer than what is advertised. Yes, you can get it to turn everything on and off in a matter of 3 minutes, but that's all.
Fifth: Some buttons are very awkwardly placed. Particularly the video control buttons. They are far too low on the remote. Also, if you're a righty (most of us are), the most commonly used command, volume control, is on the left side of the remote. Again, unless you have large hands, you have stretch your thumb to reach it. Most times, I leave it lying flat and use my index finger.
Sixth: Macros can only be set up in Learning mode and have to be built of learned commands from another remote. In other words, if your receiver's code is accepted by the remote and say, doesn't sync up correctly to a specific button, that command cannot be reprogrammed to the button you want to have implement it.
Now the good, and there's plenty of it, but it's tempered by the above. You'll decide if it's right for you.
First: While it took me longer than the 2 minutes 19 seconds touted on the X10 website, overall, set up was very easy and intuitive. The wizard walks you through step-by-step. Keep in mind the above issue with set up though.
Second: Icons for channels. I can never remember the channel number for Versus or MSG2 or even the Discovery Channel, so the icons are great. If the remote doesn't have an icon, you can enter in a label for it. But it seems to have the majority of the channels I watch. I think I had to enter 2 labels.
Third: His/Hers favorites. My wife and I have our respective favorite channels set up, very convenient. What I found out after receiving the remote, is that you can set up many more lists than just those two. So the kids have a set up, too. However, there is no dedicated button to the other favorite lists, as with the His/Hers. Accessing them is just 2 additional button presses away though.
Fourth: The layout of the remote is remarkable similar to the remotes you'll receive from Cablevision or Verizon. Not that their remotes are laid out all that ergonomically, but at least, if you had one of these before, the X10's layout will be familiar. It controls all of my HD/DVR set top box's (STB) commands using similar buttons to the actual unit's remote. I had to learn only a few commands, but mostly in order to build a macro to turn on/shut off both the STB and the TV with one click of the power button.
Fifth: Quick Power. OK, so remotes aren't all that smart and they don't know that your kids walks up and manually turned on the TV play the Wii. They leave, shut off the Wii, but leave the TV on. Since it's in video mode, you probably don't realize it's even on (I can't tell you how often this happens in my house). So, your TV is on, but your STB is off. Having assigned a macro to the power button when in cable mode, if you were to press the power button now, your STB would turn on and your TV would then turn off. This remote has a built in solution to that little juxtaposition issue called Quick Power. You can choose the QP screen, then power up or down the individual device of your choice, thus putting everything back in harmonious balance, without getting up.
Sixth: No computer. I don't want to leave the programming of my remote subject to the function of my computer and some company's website. Also, I already have more USB devices than I have ports to connect them (2 printers, mouse, keyboard, flash drive, backup harddrive, and my Creative Zen), the last thing I needed was another device to plug into my computer.
So far, despite the limitations of this remote, I'm very satisfied with it. It does what I need it to. It runs my STB, TV, DVD, DVR, Surround receiver, and VCR. About the most difficult thing about the remote is remembering to switch between Modes. If you're used to just picking up a given remote and hitting a certain button to get the device to do something, you'll see what I mean. You have to (and this is true of any multi-device remote) remember to change the Mode to command the given device.
In a nut shell, it's a solid remote that with some better engineering and attention to detail had the potential to be a great remote.
IMPORTANT NOTE: X10 seems a little on the slimy side. Be careful on their site, as there are links to this product that range from $129 to the $49 I paid. My initial order was from a link that had it "on sale" for $79. After placing the order, I noticed another link (on X10's site, mind you) that had it selling for $49. To their credit, the customer service reps canceled the initial order and credited me back the money, then put through another at the lower price. I just now clicked through their site and see it for $59. The remote is solid even if the company's marketing department is a bit on the shady side. The CSRs were helpful in resolving the issue. Partly out of curiousity, I tested the tech support for this product and well, it wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great either. I wound up resolving the issue on my own before a response came. Oh, and you will get bombarded by email from them after your purchase. I UNSUBCRIBED yesterday, I'll post back if they continue.
