But it turned out the joke was one me. I've wrestled with my fair share of universal remotes over the years, but have yet to knock down my total below 3 controls. (There's always that one device--for me it's my DVD recorder--that won't work right or loses a bunch of functionality when I program it into a universal.) The Jumbo 8-Function Remote ($14.99 from Bed Bath & Beyond) has them all beat. Dad successfully programmed the cable box, TV, DVD player, and VCR (yes, still a VCR) in just a few minutes.

As for me, once I got over having to hold the 11" x 5" box and had scrutinized its functionality for several minutes, I had to admit that it actually worked---and pretty damn well at that. I was able to browse the digital cable menus, set up a timed recording on the VCR, and even switch the TV inputs from the palm of my lap (after a couple minutes, I got tired of holding the remote with two hands and left it to rest on my knees while I typed at it like a keyboard).

The biggest drawback, of course, is the size. After years of one-handed navigation and never having to look at the keys to see what I'm doing, I'm not so sure this one is really for me. The large keypad and button labels do, however, go beyond novelty for people who may be visually impaired. And, if that's the case, this is surely a more-than-decent universal.

Post by Corinne Iozzio