Looking at the photo enlargement of the 885, it looks very much like a pic of the 880!  I couldn't see the extra coloured buttons.

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The extra colored buttons are there just under the screen. Very good because most of my remotes such as the Hitachi plasma, LG STB and Foxtel, all have those colored buttons. Just look carefully. Oh...you have to click on the 'Zoom In' to get a bigger picture to see them.

Cheers.

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I wonder if the Harmony website setup will program the coloured buttons on the 885 for all devices which use coloured buttons. This would mean that the 885 setup would need to be quite different from the 880 where presumably the coloured buttons on say the Toppy would need to be programmed to a regular device button. Otherwise, with the 885, I suppose you would need to learn all the coloured buttons separately. Might be worth checking with Logitech.

Also, I notice on the Pixmania website that has the picture of the 885 that it says “Availability 31/5/2005.” I wonder if that’s realistic.

Looking at the photo enlargement of the 885, it looks very much like a pic of the 880!  I couldn't see the extra coloured buttons.

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The extra colored buttons are there just under the screen. Very good because most of my remotes such as the Hitachi plasma, LG STB and Foxtel, all have those colored buttons. Just look carefully. Oh...you have to click on the 'Zoom In' to get a bigger picture to see them.

Cheers.

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I wonder if the Harmony website setup will program the coloured buttons on the 885 for all devices which use coloured buttons. This would mean that the 885 setup would need to be quite different from the 880 where presumably the coloured buttons on say the Toppy would need to be programmed to a regular device button. Otherwise, with the 885, I suppose you would need to learn all the coloured buttons separately. Might be worth checking with Logitech.

Also, I notice on the Pixmania website that has the picture of the 885 that it says “Availability 31/5/2005.” I wonder if that’s realistic.

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It's easy to assign whatever function you want to whatever button you want, so it shouldn't really matter either way.

What do the coloured buttons on Toppy and other devices do exactly? Is it mainly the Toppy that has them, or are they on all PVRs? Just wondering if I need them to future proof myself...I'll probably end up getting a Toppy or similar one day.

I don't think that date is realistic. The current expected date for general release of the 880 is June 10, so I assume the 885 would be some time after that.

Yes I am interested in the 880 - so far we have three possibles from the above post??

I will leave it for a few days to see how many others would be interested in a group buy for the 880 then email bluedo to see what they could do....

What do the coloured buttons on Toppy and other devices do exactly? Is it mainly the Toppy that has them, or are they on all PVRs? Just wondering if I need them to future proof myself...I'll probably end up getting a Toppy or similar one day.

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On the Topfield, the coloured buttons are used for actions like setting and jumping to bookmarks, skipping forward and backward on playback, (e.g. 30 second skip forward to avoid commercials).

On Austar (and Foxtel, as far as I know), the red button is used for initiating Sky News active, for example.

My LG DLP TV also uses coloured buttons, chiefly for controlling PIP.

The colored buttons are also used when in Teletext mode.

I honestly think this 885 is more suitable than the 880 in terms of absolute simplicity with these colored buttons. And these colored buttons are also standardised in terms of their order, ie red green yellow blue. I know you probably can create those buttons on the 880 but..... This time round, I will wait patiently for this 885 as it probably fits my requirement right down to the t.

Cheers.

The colored buttons are also used when in Teletext mode.

I honestly think this 885 is more suitable than the 880 in terms of absolute simplicity with these colored buttons. And these colored buttons are also standardised in terms of their order, ie red green yellow blue. I know you probably can create those buttons on the 880 but..... This time round, I will wait patiently for this 885 as it probably fits my requirement right down to the t.

Cheers.

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I agree. It seems that more and more devices are using coloured buttons and to have a remote that also has them would make it well worth waiting an extra month or two.

Fair enough. Would I be correct in saying that you don't actually "need" the buttons to be actually coloured? ie the main function is skipping the commercial, or whatever. This could be done with either an LCD button, or page up/page down on the 880? Basically, the 885 has 4 coloured buttons in place of the 880's 2 up arrow/down arrow buttons.

I'm not questioning your reasoning, just trying to decide for myself wether it's worth an extra $100 or so for essentially 2 extra hard buttons??

I have had my Harmony 659 (bought through eBay for under $100) for about a week or so now. I have 'taught' it to use the colored buttons (for the Austar remote) and assigned the names Red, Blue etc so these labels appear on the 'Watch Austar' lcd screen. Works perfectly! I have also put the Austar button on the lcd as well. The harmony members website makes doing this very easy indeed.

Fair enough. Would I be correct in saying that you don't actually "need" the buttons to be actually coloured? ie the main function is skipping the commercial, or whatever. This could be done with either an LCD button, or page up/page down on the 880? Basically, the 885 has 4 coloured buttons in place of the 880's 2 up arrow/down arrow buttons.

I'm not questioning your reasoning, just trying to decide for myself wether it's worth an extra $100 or so for essentially 2 extra hard buttons??

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You're right. I don't actually need the buttons to be coloured. It would just be convenient.

Incidentally is the $100 extra firm? When I checked with Bluedo a week or so ago, they did not have their pricing for the 885.

I guess the pricing won't be "firm" until they are actually released. However, Bluedo has it on their website at $175, and is taking orders a this price. The cheapest price I have found an 885 is 148 pounds, also pre-ordered, although some people have reported finding it for 125 pounds. I don't know if that 148 pound price will even ship to Australia. This makes the price difference A$130 (using XE.com, $175US against 148 pounds)

I guess the pricing won't be "firm" until they are actually released. However, Bluedo has it on their website at $175, and is taking orders a this price. The cheapest price I have found an 885 is 148 pounds, also pre-ordered, although some people have reported finding it for 125 pounds. I don't know if that 148 pound price will even ship to Australia. This makes the price difference A$130 (using XE.com, $175US against 148 pounds)

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When you say "Bluedo has it for $175" I take it you mean the 880. Do we have any reason to believe that Bluedo's price for the 885 (when they release it) will be any higher?

I've found quite a lot of US-sourced electronic items to be priced quite a bit higher in the UK.

The $175 is for the 880

I doubt very much that Bluedo, or any other US vendor for that matter, will even get the 885, as it is a European only model. They don't have the 655, which is the Euro version of the 659.

I guess the pricing won't be "firm" until they are actually released. However, Bluedo has it on their website at $175, and is taking orders a this price. The cheapest price I have found an 885 is 148 pounds, also pre-ordered, although some people have reported finding it for 125 pounds. I don't know if that 148 pound price will even ship to Australia. This makes the price difference A$130 (using XE.com, $175US against 148 pounds)

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czzer: Would be good if you could help track down where those people are able to get it for 125 pounds...

As for the colored hard buttons, they become easily accessible as with the hard buttons on original remotes. The last thing the wife needs is having to page through the lcd screen if you know what I mean. What's more, those colored buttons are very frequently used in my family as we do access Foxtel Skynews active frequently and teletext as well. In other words, for myself, with those color buttons, that just about make all my frequently used buttons directly available...

Cheers.

You can get them for 106 pounds VAT excluded, 125 pounds including VAT from here:

http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?...nufacturer_id=0

I don't know if we have to pay VAT or not???

I also couldn't find anything on their site about international orders...

btw, they say they're getting them in on 3rd June

czzer: Gee, thanks very much for the info. We don't have to pay VAT being international buyer. For 106 pound, that is marvelous!!! Could not wait for it to arrive...

By the way, I understand from this link that the 880 will be available through Harvey Norman computer store soon for $399 as posted by 'Marty'.

Cheers.

czzer: Gee, thanks very much for the info. We don't have to pay VAT being international buyer. For 106 pound, that is marvelous!!! Could not wait for it to arrive...

By the way, I understand from this link that the 880 will be available through Harvey Norman computer store soon for $399 as posted by 'Marty'.

Cheers.

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106 pounds is a very cheap price compared to anywhere else in the UK. I found the info on AVForums, and some members were doubtful of it's validity, but it is still up!

I think I'll pass on the HN "deal" though...not even in the same ballpark!

Well I couldn't decide on the (too many) options:

a) Buy the 880 from the US (USD$175) + adapter, wait probably 3 wks, no buttons

Buy the 885 from the UK (UKP110), coloured buttons, wait prob. 8 wks

c) Wait for local company to stock it ie. Harvey Norman (AUD$400), unknown wait

d) Try to hide the 9 remote controls from wife, kids, confounded kitten, and bemused onlookers whilst showing off new big new wall of TV ("never mind the remotes, just look at the picture!")

So I got an independent POV and was instructed to go with a) above.

I've placed the order online with BlueDo as of 3:30pm 24/5. Total including adapter USD$226.90 (AUD$298.35).

Now we wait.

In the meantime I've printed out a colour picture of the 880 and will glue it to cardboard so that I can point to it with a wave of my hand whilst I distract people with the nice big screen.

Dir

Was gonna try and sell you my MX500 but your just too quick (lol), can't wait for my 680 to arrive. The only problem will be my wife will be able use it!.

You can get them for 106 pounds VAT excluded, 125 pounds including VAT from here:

http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?...nufacturer_id=0

I don't know if we have to pay VAT or not???

I also couldn't find anything on their site about international orders...

btw, they say they're getting them in on 3rd June

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I checked with CCL computers in the UK and they are unable to ship overseas. I have an enquiry in to Bluedo, just in case they are able to get a supply of 885s for their overseas customers like us.

I checked with CCL computers in the UK and they are unable to ship overseas.  I have an enquiry in to Bluedo, just in case they are able to get a supply of 885s for their overseas customers like us.

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Thanks for the info. I was going to write to them regarding the same when they have some in stock. Saves me the trouble of asking. I think I will also send an enquiry to Bluedo to help 'pressure' them into supplying the 885...

Cheers.

I checked with CCL computers in the UK and they are unable to ship overseas.  I have an enquiry in to Bluedo, just in case they are able to get a supply of 885s for their overseas customers like us.

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Thanks for the info. I was going to write to them regarding the same when they have some in stock. Saves me the trouble of asking. I think I will also send an enquiry to Bluedo to help 'pressure' them into supplying the 885...

Cheers.

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add me to the list, just showed Mrs holo a piccy of the 885 and she said " I want that one". no question on cost, function, size , availability, just total WAF

Who am i to argue, best try to buy one...............

Count me in on a 885 to

Count me in on a 885 to

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I have done like what gadgarra did and wrote to Bluedo requesting that they get some of the 885 for us Aussie customers. It would be good if all of you interested do likewise and hopefully with enough number of emails, Bluedo might acquiesce to our requests. I am certainly waiting quite impatiently for this one...

Cheers.

It's be nice if they could get them in, but I'm not hopeful they'll be able to. As an authorised Harmony dealer, they would only be able to get what Harmony will give them, and I don't think Harmony USA would be too keen to give them a European model when a US model of the same thing is already available. Kind of like asking Pioneer Australia to get the DV 575 in for us...they'd just tell us to buy the DV676 as it's the model applicable to our country.

Hopefully they can make it happen, but I'm not holding my breath

are there any australian resellers of them?

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Propellerhead

31 Lincoln Street RICHMOND 3121

(03) 9421-2477

They won't be cheap compared to importing them, but if they have stock you won't wait, and you have somewhere to return it to in case of problems.