I'm personally very familiar with this remote, being one of the very few reviewers to have actually tested it out...and without giving away too much of PC World's upcoming review, I can say that the wait was worth it.
The 890 is intended for folks with home theatre equipment and distributed sound systems who may not have direct line-of-site to their gear. That's me: my wife cannot stand the site of A/V boxes in living spaces so I've hidden them away in a small office.
But thanks to RF, the 890 can control these devices through walls and floors...usually. Depending on distance, building materials, and the amount of RF in your home (got a cordless phone?), it can have problems. But it is a beautifully designed product and will do the job that most people need done.
Logitech is by no means the first company to produce an RF-enabled remote. Universal Remote Controls, Inc., has been doing so for many years, and frankly, has products at the higher end of its line that do a better job than the 890 at piercing walls and floors.
But the Harmony line is very well known to consumers for its ease-of- use and simple Internet-based programming capability, and these remain strong suits in the 890.
The product is about to ship for $399.00, but that price shouldn't daunt folks who keep their A/V gear out of the public eye.
