The media remote is one of those products that catches your interest at the store, you pick it up to learn what it can do, and put it back down realizing that you can't justify spending $79 on a maybe "unnecessary" luxury item...

I went through this exact same motion several times at the store, since the very first time it was introduced. Now many many months later I decided to take the chance. (well, I actually received it as a gift.. ^_^ But after using it, I can honestly say that I wouldn't hesitate to buy one or recommend it to someone else)

Before I begin, the Keyspan Media Remote works on both PC and MAC platforms... I've only used and tested it on the MAC, this opinion doesn't cover any PC specific topics


Contents and Installation
The package consists of:
- a 15 button remote control
- an Infrared receiver remote base station
- a usb cable
- software drivers on CD

The installation is very easy. You just hook up the base station to your computer via the USB cable provided. Install the drivers and restart the computer. You are ready to use the remote control. The software comes with all necessary settings to use the remote right out of the box with some popular programs such as Quicktime, iTunes, Soundjam, Realplayer, etc... but you aren't limited to using the remote with just those programs. The functionality of this remote control is quite amazing, and fully customizable... There is a setup control panel where you can fully customize your remote control buttons. (more on this later)


The Remote Control
The construction quality on the media remote is quite good. It's about the size of a credit card with the thickness of 1/2". The buttons are not your typical, cheap, flat, plastic caps that are usually found in small remote controls, but nice rubber ones that you expect to find in full sized remotes. There are 15 buttons on the remote. The only aspect of the remote that I didn't like is the fact that it uses 2 flat Lithium Cells, like the kind you use in calculators. They should have gone with more standard batteries like "AAA" or even "AA", but I guess that would have made the remote larger. Due to the small nature of the remote, I wouldn't say that holding the remote control is comfortable, but it's good enough for the small size. I used the remote constantly now for about 3 months, and haven't had to change the batteries. I think I read somewhere the batteries will last about 6-8 months, maybe longer.

A great feature of the media remote system is that if you don't like the small remote control supplied, or want more than 15 buttons, you can use any universal remote control that sends out JVC VCR remote signals. I haven't tested this feature since I don't have any remotes that support JVC signals, and I'm quite happy with the supplied remote.


The Base Station is Amazing!
The Base Station is kind of ugly (in my opinion) but it works SOOO well. There is a deep grove on the top, to act as a holster for the remote, but I always just keep my remote close to my keyboard, where it's easily accessible. The range on the base station is just simply amazing! Expect to get around 25-30ft of distance. With most remote controls, you really do have to point the remote control right at the unit to register a signal, but with the media remote (thanks to the great base station) you can point the remote in virtually any direction. to the left, to the right, up to the ceiling, at yourself... The red LED on the face of the base station will flash to tell you that it received the signal.


The Possibilities of the Media Remote
Each of the 15 buttons can be set to do a certain function.
- a keystroke
- a text string
- launch a program
- run an applescript

The buttons can have unique functions for each separate program. If you've ever customized your mouse buttons using device specific control panels or USB overdrive, you'll be familiar with the process.

You can also assign a button to be "Global" in that it can be set up to do that one function no matter what program you are running. This is extremely useful for changing the volume on your speakers. Well, depending on your speaker setup, since most speakers have volume controls on the front speakers, but certain speakers like the Harmon/K Soundsticks don't have a volume control dial and require you to change volumes using the control strip bar. If you've ever had to do this, it isn't a fun task. with the media remote, you can change the volume easily at any time (even during programs that won't let you access the control strip bar.. ex. games) this is extremely useful.

For the most part, the extent of accessing features on a program with the media remote depends on the keyboard shortcuts available to it. Most programs today can allow you to control almost every aspect of it using the keyboard, but certain programs still lack this. One program which I highly anticipated using the media remote with was the Apple DVD player. But sadly this program lacks many keyboard equivalents to their features. It allows you to do the basic features like stop/play/chapterskip/FF/RW, but when it comes down to the more specific features like switching audio commentaries or camera angles, subtitles, slow motion... there are no keyboard equivalents, so you can't assign them as functions to the buttons on your remote.


Me + My Media Remote
My computer has become very essential for my home entertainment needs. I've ripped my entire CD collection as MP3 on iTunes, and use the computer as a jukebox to access any song easily at any time. I could have bought one of those 200CD Jukebox players, but why bother when your computer can do it better. and who needs another big black ugly box to take up space in your living environment. The media remote allows me to be anywhere in my apartment (it's an open studio) to access my tunes.

I don't like the design of home AV equipment. I find the industrial design of most home equipment such as TVs and stereo equipment just simply ugly, boring, and just takes up too much space. I prefer to do it all through my Apple G3 (blue + white). With the media remote, I can watch TV/play my DVDs/listen to music, with the ease of any home AV device.

Conclusion
Many people may ask why we need a remote control for a computer... one that you sit in a chair at an arms length away from...

Computers these days are becoming more of a central entertainment hub, where it isn't uncommon to be watching TV, playing DVDs, and listening to music/radio. It would be unheard of to buy a Stereo or TV that doesn't have a remote control!? why would the same not apply to a computer?

The Keyspan Media Remote is very useful, and with its great range and build quality, it's worth the $79.

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UPDATE Nov 20,2001
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Some time has passed, and a new operating system is available for us Macintosh Users. Mac OS X is great, but has made the Keyspan Media Remote less desirable.

They have released Beta drivers and are available here: http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/remote/downloads/

These pre-release drivers are somewhat buggy, and performance seems to vary from computer to computer. For me, it's quite unusable. I can no longer control my computer volume. As well, when I try to run Classic mode in OS X, the driver says that there's an error and shuts down the program.

But, Keysan does seem committed to their product and is trying hard to made it work for OS X. (unlike many companies out there) There has been many updates to their OSX Media Remote Beta Driver. The driver isn't perfect yet, but may get there in the future.

If you have no plans to run OS X right now, the Media Remote is still a good buy. If you have already converted over to OSX, the remote may not work perfectly, so make sure the store (you bought it from) has a good return policy.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 69