Accessories

you want more options and aren't as concerned whether other people can control your remote as easily as you can, you might want to step up to the $299 SST-768.

This model cuts its hard-button quotient almost in half, to 32. Gone are the menu, info, and other buttons for your cable or satellite box, as well as the dedicated directional keypad and hard buttons for those coveted activity functions. On this remote, Intrigue has moved the activity buttons to the small LCD screen at the bottom of the remote, which you control via a scroll wheel on the right side panel.

This scroll wheel is the SST-768's prized feature, as it allows you to maneuver quickly through the TV listings (which are free with this remote, as opposed to the SST-659's subscription fee). If you have a multidisc DVD/CD changer or you access computer content like MP3s and JPEGs via your home theater system, you can program title, artist, and other info into the remote and quickly access any title you want via the scroll wheel. The SST-768 also has advanced programming features that the SST-659 lacks, so you have more options in the customization department.

The setup process is identical to that of the SST-659, and it's very easy to upgrade from one model to another. Just connect the remote to your computer via the USB cable and do a connectivity check. The Website automatically recognizes which model you're using and adjusts its settings appropriately.

Since I don't have a CD megachanger or access multimedia content, the scroll wheel didn't make a huge difference for me. I missed the extra hard buttons, particularly the dedicated activity buttons, and found the SST-768 to be harder to navigate and control. Perhaps this is because I'm left-handed and the scroll wheel is on the right.

The SST-768 is definitely geared toward the more-advanced gearhead, who will appreciate its enhanced functionality. The SST-768 is an IR remote, but an RF version (SST-769RF) will be available this summer for under $350.