I'm looking at the picture of the new model. While I really like it and placed a pre-order a while ago, I'm questioning the following decision: did it make sense to place "VCR" buttons on top of the remote. In my personal setup/view those are the most used buttons. They will function in either "VCR" mode or "directional" mode. Holding a remote in the middle with big finger placed on the wheel, it seems hard to reach those buttons without moving the remote in hand. Does it make sense to anybody else? If not, just ignore it. My wife always said I'm a "b**ch" in the family.

Of course, I can't really try it untill I get the shipment.

looking at the picture, the wheel looks like it should be near the top of the remote. So it is not exactly half way. I would also have to assume that people have played around with the remote, and they must have a good reason to have set it up that way. But from the picture, I would have to agree with you, but definitely keeping my judgment until I have one in my hands

I think that VCR's are dead and all transport controls should be geared towards DVD's and PVR's.

So Anthony, you did decide to get one?

yes 99%. It really looks nice. But I will wait until it is available to take the plunge

All those buttons, and nowhere is there an obvious place for the 5-button menu-navigation group (up, down, left, right, select)!

I guess you're supposed to steal the buttons (Mute, Recall, Zap, Skip) that lie around what looks like an Enter button -- if that really is a button! But I often find myself needing to press Mute while navigating my TV's menus or my DVD's setup menu.

Further confusion arises (for users of some Samsung TVs) because Samsung remotes often use Ch+, Ch-, Vol+, and Vol- for menu navigation as well! I think I could get around this, but it would've been nicer if those four buttons had been arranged in a diamond pattern around a key that could be assigned the Select function. This would reduce the cognitive dissonance that arises when switching from the Samsung remote (and some other remotes) to the 768. As a side benefit for users in general, those buttons could then be stolen for use as navigation keys without having to lose (or use a wrongly-named button for) the Mute button.

Oh, wait! Now I see the faintly raised arrows next to those buttons at the top, that are too far away from the thumb, too close together, and too hard to differentiate in the dark! Well, at least, none of those buttons is labeled Mute. ;-)

Don't get me wrong, I still like the 768 -- but I'll have to build my new computer (with a USB port) before I can use one.

it is the power button, it is green (at least on the silver remote)

there are two sets of arrows one is centered around the play and the other the 8 that can be used. They are black on the actual remote, but are barely noticeable on the pic.

also the play, help and 8 have a dimple to make it easier to find in the dark

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just noticed, play and pause have been changed places.

The jog wheel is not in a very useful location. It is too bad they didn't spend time with some human dynamics folks. The jog wheel is first off on the right side so it is biased to right handed folks. Secondly. it is difficult to use the wheel while pointing the remote at the TV. They forgot this is an IR device so it is quite a angle on the wrist to use the jog wheel and point the controller towards the screen. The wheel should have been on the top or botton. Then it would have been hand nuetral. Also the choise of using the select on the wheel by pressing the wheel is poor as well.

Again it is back to human dynmaics. You are supposed to be pointing the device towards the screen. Then you are supposed to press the wheel to make a select. Too often, in our testing, we found that the user shifted the menu up or down and ended up selecting the wrong menu choice. The back button on the side is below the wheel. It would have been great if they would have put a button above the wheel and make that user selectable defaulting to a button for select. Then you would have three buttons you could use on the side. The 768 is a very cool device but there are some problems that keep this from being a great product.

Steve, the IR emitters are angled, you are not meant to point the remote to the equipment (like most remotes) since that will send the IR towards the floor

Here is what is written in the manual

"Make sure that you keep your Harmony Remote pointing at your entertainment devices while the green status light is on."

Jog wheels are most effective on the side of a phone or PDA when the top of the device is facing you. Give it a try. Try using the scroll wheel with the IR emmiters pointing up to the ceiling at a 60 degree angle and you are looking directly at the screen.

Most people find that this angle is more comfortable for reading menus and using the scroll wheel. Though that angle is very comfortable, it too extreme to allow commands to be sent to devices.

Can't get your point. I agree with the lefty problem, but as to pointing to the ceiling, my remote is always pointing upwards and sometimes it is almost pointing to the ceiling.