Control Freaks-Wireless Input Device Buyer's Guide

by Charles Mohnike
Spring 2001

At our place, it started small. Just a tiny remote provided by the cable company for a control box, and another to work the TV. Then, as time went on, things started to get out of control. We added a VCR and an A/V receiver, and each of these added a new control to the pile. When we purchased a Net-top box with its own remote and keyboard, it was clear that something had to give.
We experimented with tying several of the units together with rubber bands into, what we called our, "control orb" which quickly became a conversation piece unto itself. We tried a ten-dollar "universal" remote from the local warehouse store, but it would control only two of our components and was soon "banded" onto the rapidly growing orb. We began to long for those simpler times when men were men, a dollar was a dollar, and children, not machines, changed the channels and adjusted the volume.
Luckily, the tech world sensed our confusion, and soon we learned about the world of coffee-table controllers: truly universal remotes, wireless mice, trackballs and keyboards - all designed with our personal sanity in mind.

Remotes That Think

Just a few years ago, A/V manufacturers began to get a sense of the growing remote problem and launched campaigns to clear off the hassocks and endtables of gearheads everywhere. The solution was a crop of "coffee table" programmable remotes; units that differ from inexpensive department-store universals by boasting control over every element in a multi-component entertainment system. These gadgets control TVs, VCRs, DVD players, DBS boxes, CD players - whatever you can throw at them.
These units are typically larger than your standard remote. For example, Gemini's REM series measures almost a foot, but the tradeoff is that they pack a big punch in features. The most useful addition is macros, which allow you to create one-button functions that will, for example, turn on three components, set the audio volume, change your TV's audio input to auxiliary and launch a DVD movie. Units like Sony's RM series go a step further by allowing you to dim your lights and turn up the heating system (where equipped).
As you might imagine, the programming process can get pretty complex, so newer remotes like the Harman Kardon/Microsoft One For All have added a PC serial port adapter that allows you to do the tough stuff from your computer using the accompanying software. Software makers like OmniRemote are even offering downloadable programs that allow you to program PalmPilots and other Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) as remote controls, providing that you've equipped them with a suitable infrared (IR) adapter.
Most of the new universals have moved away from the physical buttons of older remotes and instead use PDA-like touchscreens. On the Philips Pronto, the screen changes as you select different devices, giving you access to all the controls associated with the selected component. As part of the programming feature, higher-end universals like the Marantz RC5000i allow you to customize screens so that you can place the most frequently used buttons from several devices on a single screen.
At the forefront of the Universal remote category is the Panja 1000, which combines many of the above features and has a touchscreen Web browser with the ability to stream multimedia files from the Net into your system.

Pointing, Rolling,and Gyrating

Coffee-table remotes address the problems of DVD-watchers and hi-fi fanatics, but for the most part they've failed to include the new breed of Net-top and PC/TV users who need to point-and-click their way through Web pages and on-screen interfaces. Enter wireless pointers, units that bring PC-style navigation to the couch.
Wireless pointers emulate controllers used with desktop PCs, but they do so in a device that you can either rest on a coffee table, like Qtronix' Scorpius-990P, or hold in your hand, like Wireless Computing's Surfmouse. While some simply eliminate the wire from controller to computer, others are designed specifically with couch ergonomics in mind, such as the Logitech Trackman FX; a handheld trackball housed in a palm-size unit. Some units, like Interlink Electronics' RemotePoint series, are programmable; allowing you to define up to six buttons that will execute commonly performed tasks.
It's clear that gear manufacturers are still testing the waters to see which wireless pointing methods customers prefer. Depending on your surfing preference, you can opt for a touchscreen device like the Surfmouse, a traditional mouse-style pointer like Microsoft's Cordless Wheel Mouse, or one of Logitech's wireless trackballs.
But even more innovative are the new gyro pointers like Gyration's GyroMouse. Gyro units typically use a receiving box that sits near your PC/TV. You wave the pointer around; the receiver unit tracks your hand movements and causes the mouse pointer to follow on screen.
When purchasing a wireless pointer, keep in mind that most require companion software. Therefore, these pointers are only suited to the Net-top units and PC/TVs that allow users to install their own programs. Also, if you're viewing on a smaller screen, consider trackball, or touchscreen-based devices, since the newer gyro pointers can be difficult to aim properly without plenty of screen real-estate.

Surfboards with Smarts

As veteran Net-top users will attest, even the best pointing devices are lacking when it comes to tasks like e-mail and power Web surfing. No matter how adept your pointer, it just isn't practical to type in a URL or compose mail one letter at a time. Wireless keyboards are still a must for couch navigators, and several manufacturers are now experimenting with advanced features that greatly improve on those shipped with early Net-tops.
Most exciting for users with stacks of A/V goods are all-inclusive keyboards like the Sejin Beamer Plus, which functions as a universal remote with controls for TV, VCR, cable box, CD player and more. Like the Beamer Plus, many units include on-board pointing devices as well, so owners of even the most sophisticated audiovisual/Internet systems can conceivably get away with a single controller to run the lot.
Other wireless boards offering on-board pointers include the Qtronix Scorpius series with a small trackball, and the Interlink Electronics Versapoint with a touchpad reminiscent of those found on laptop PCs. The TECHcessories Surfboard handles mouse chores with a Varipoint Joystick, a small disc that you can manipulate in any direction to control an onscreen pointer. Most expensive among the newer boards is Wireless Computing's Surfboard/Surfmouse package, which bundles an RF (Radio Frequency) keyboard with a touchscreen mouse that you can either hold in your hand or use attached to the keyboard.
As with pointing devices, some wireless keyboards may not be compatible with your particular Net-top device, so be sure to check your manual. A few of the boards require that you install software, although the majority emulate standard keyboards found on most PC-driven devices.

Know Thyself

The market for wireless controllers is huge, so it's important to take your own viewing and/or surfing habits into account before you start comparing spec sheets. Are you shopping just to replace a pile of electronica on your coffee table? Do you surf the Net on the tube, and if so, how do you like to point? Large TV screen or small? Take these factors into account, compare them with the product guides that accompany this article, and chances are, you'll find a device or two that will help you remain comfortably seated on your couch while you navigate your entire entertainment system.