Reviews for B4O-00001 Remote Control

Xbox 360, TV, Media Center PC - MPN: B4O00001

  • 4
  By member: ragtop70 - May 3, 2007

Official Microsoft Remote Works Great Officially

Strengths: Sturdily made. A fraction of the cost of the best competition.

Weakness: Buttons are too small and close together. Packed in instruction sheet is lacking.

Let me begin by saying the instruction sheet you get with this remote is about as uninformative as possible. It tells you how to program the remote to work with your TV and that's about it.
Another problem with the remote is button size and spacing. This remote makes it difficult to push buttons with the thumb of the hand that's holding it.
However, the remote is officially licensed, so it should be quality. This fact alone puts this remote ahead of any of the cheapos you'll see on the Internet as well as the seventy to one hundred twenty dollar remote of the closest competitor.

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  • 4
  By member: Rig85 - Apr 8, 2007

Great features at a low price!

Strengths: Controls my Xbox 360, TV, and Media Center PC.

Weakness: Cannot control my external DVD player.

This remote looks nice, and has all the major features you could want in a remote control. Setup was a snap, and it controls my Xbox 360, TV, and Media Center PC just fine. The only minor issue I had with the remote is that it could not/would not work with my external DVD player. Still, this was only a minor annoyance, as I mainly use my 360 for a DVD player anyway!

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  • 3
  By member: jasonaztw - Apr 5, 2007

Good shape, slim profile

Strengths: easy layout, good physical design, works well with XBOX360 and many TVs

Weakness: cannot control DVD players or setup boxes

This remote control from Microsoft is excellent for use with XBOX 360 and most TVs. It's very easy to use and hold. However, this so-called "universal remote" only controls TVs and XBOX360. It will NOT work with DVD players, VCRs,...etc.

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  • 4
  By member: asmethur - Mar 17, 2007

Convenience on the Cheap

Strengths: control the playback of media without a controller; never powers down unlike 360 wireless controllers; handy for non-gamers; cheaper than next advanced version

Weakness: doesnt control amp/stereo system; no cable box control; limited controls for non-xbox components;

This is a good alternative to using your controller for your media playback needs. I got this for my wife, who isn't a gamer, but still wants to watch DVDs and use the media system on the xbox. It is a good alternative for her and looks cooler when we have friends over to control the dvd we watch than a controller does! It's a cheaper solution than getting the bigger universal remote, although I would like some more functionality. All in all, worth the low price.

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  • 3
  By member: Bullettime - Feb 24, 2007

Many Buttons, Few Enhancements

Strengths: Does all the basics; good for those using the 360 for more than games; decent range; comes with convenient on/off and open/close buttons

Weakness: Some awkward button placements; unnecessary for the average 360 owner; button presses don't always register; disabled in most games

If you're using your Xbox 360 as a gateway to access content on your PC or Media Center device, then the Universal Media Remote might be a good value for you. However, for those just interested in the system's core features (games, movies, and music), this remote really isn't necessary. There are cheaper options available, and the basic controller works well enough. The major problem with this remote, besides being a bit unwieldy and unresponsive at times, is it doesn't offer improved control over DVD or music playback. For instance, there is a volume control button, but it doesn't work with the Xbox 360's internal music player. In other words, the remote doesn't really enhance the core Xbox 360 experience. Those who are running a more complex setup may appreciate the programmability and extra features of the remote, but everyone else would do well to invest in another accessory.

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