Veris Multimedia Station E-Z remote control

Cool Yule Rating: 2.5 stars

Price: $20.56

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Cool Yule Rating: 2.5 stars

Price: $20.56

Product Web site

Description: I'll bet you won't get a home theater PC for the holidays this year. That whole concept kind of came and went, but there's little doubt that a PC can be a key element in any home theater configuration, just as it is in mine. The key is adding a remote control to your PC, and this gadget is just that - a remote control and USB receiver for Windows.

Installation is pretty simple, although it's clear English was not the native language of the developers of the iMON software that comes with the product. Sadly, the product's not very intuitive to use (and exiting the player shuts down your PC!), and the documentation needs work - lots of experimentation may be required before you get the remote working with your apps. A media player is included, but it's possible to connect to other players as well.

A final note – the mounting bracket for the receiver is not well designed, although, in many cases, you can just plug it into a front-panel USB port on your PC. In short – this is a great idea, but the software needs lots of work.

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