Works as promised
Written: May 15 '00 (Updated May 15 '00)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Works exactly as promised.
Cons: Totally unnecessary.
|
|
|
| Thoughtful's Full Review: Keyspan Digital Media Remote |
The real question is: Are you so lazy that you need a remote for your computer? (For me, since I bought the thing, the answer was yes but read on).
FUNDAMENTALS: As the other review states (see yanokwa's review), the remote is simple to set up (only hitch -- the enclosed CD-ROM did not have the latest drivers and so I had to download them. FYI: I tried the remote out before updating the drivers and it seemed to work fine so I'm not sure what's in the driver update), the remote works smoothly and, relatively, intuitively and the enclosed USB cable is way too short. The balance of this review discusses why you would ever want a remote for your computer.
WHY BUY ONE?: I discovered that a remote is not all that necessary if there isn't a broad range of source material. How often do you use the scene/chapter selector in a DVD? Not so often. Change the station you're listening to on Quicktime or RealAudio? Not so often. In fact, the only thing I find I use the remote for is changing the volume -- and I don't do that very much either (basically only when the phone rings -- which is never if I'm listening to streaming audio since my phone line is then dedicated to the computer). I now realize a remote is most valuable for (i) turning the machine on and off (a function not available on this remote), (ii) changing television channels (I don't have a TV tuner on my computer -- yet) and (iii) changing disks (I only have a single CD player attached to the computer). If my computer were loaded with MP3s the remote might be more useful but otherwise, it's simply a really cool, smoothly functioning and ultimately useless gadget (which is reason enough for me). Basically, think about what buttons on a universal remote you use -- on/off and channel -- that's about it.
POWERPOINT EXCEPTION: Obviously, all of the foregoing ignores the value of the remote for Powerpoint presentations. There are a lot of buttons on the very compact remote and they can each be reprogrammed as desired. If you want to walk around while doing a Powerpoint presentation, the remote is great. I don't do presentations at home so I don't get to experience these benefits.
IN SUM: If you love cool gadgets, go for it -- it works as promised. However, if you care about value, I would get something else -- you'll almost never use it (again, excluding people who have a lot of MP3s and Powerpoint folks) except to show it off to others.
Recommended:
No
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Thoughtful
|
|
Location: New York City
Reviews written: 16
Trusted by: 0 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.