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Lazy Bones
December 22, 2005
I DON'T WATCH A TON of television or listen to the stereo as often as I would like, but when I do, I want to enjoy it as much as possible. Lately that hasn't been the case.
My stereo receiver came with this enormous, complicated remote control that doesn't make me very happy. It's far too large, it isn't comfortable in the hand, the LCD screen is slowly losing its brightness, it is impossible to read, and the controls are not at all user friendly.
I began my quest to find a new remote control many months ago, but couldn't find anything that appealed to me. I also wanted something that appealed to my girlfriend (who is the quintessential technophobe). I hate needing to use multiple remote controls, so a universal remote control is a must. It needs to be functional and it needs to be easy to use. Up until recently my quest ended in failure.
The first television remote control was invented in 1950 by Zenith Electronics Corporation and it was called the "Lazy Bones." Lazy is right. I know it is probably smarter to get off my hind quarters and change the channels manually, but who does that any more? Besides, channel surfing, especially during commercials, is a must.
Lisa doesn't understand my need to channel surf. She always worries that I will forget to change the channel back in time. But I have this instinct; a sixth sense. I know when two minutes is up and when the commercial will be over. I tell her not to worry. And with atomic clock-like precision, I always manage to flip back to the previous program at the exact moment the commercial ends...unless she's watching the Lifetime Movie Channel and I am deliberately stalling.
I think I found the perfect remote control, though. Logitech has come out with a new product called the Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote. Until recently, I didn't even know Logitech made a remote control. Everything about this device has me mildly excited. If I buy it I'll let you know how well it works. Until then I'll manage to get by with my other one. Then again, maybe I'll get some exercise and change the channels myself. ■
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