Here you can see the transmitter & USB connector, 3 contacts which are the charging connection to the Base Station, and the molded grips for the fingers. You can also see just how nice the finish is on the remote. Very smooth and easy on the eyes.

The 3 Contacts

I would like to expand on the 3 contacts, design, and their placement. This might be considered nit-picking to an innocuous degree, however, I should mention what some of you may already be thinking.

Dust, food crumbs, lint, and just about every other "icky" will soon find haven in those little contact recesses. The contacts are actually set back inside, so they don't actually touch anything if you were to put the remote down on a flat surface. However, my concern is what will eventually accumulate inside the areas over time.

Some sort of accessory like a rubber cover for the entire 3 contacts would be nice as it would also serve as the contact point when lying the remote on a hard surface. However, we soon discover recharging the remote requires the rubber ring to be removed. Another design could be making a sliding cover. These are merely suggestions, and may not even apply to your situation. Therefore, I recommend cleaning the remote on a regular basis (as described below).

The Battery Cover

The battery cover does not just slide off. If you try to slide the cover off, you will not succeed. Gently but firmly, press down with your thumb on the indented area of the battery cover (you may hear a slight "snap" which is releasing the battery cover from the remote itself), then slide the battery cover out from its position. The reason I mention this, is because if you own previous Harmony remotes, you might damage the 880's cover. Previously reviewing the Harmony 676, the battery cover just slid out. No effort at all. This has changed, but once you get used to the new method, you won't have any problems.

Preventative Maintenance

Be sure to clean the remote's contacts about twice a month with a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol. It's simple, and these items should already be in your bathroom. As for the remote entirely, you should be wiping it with a damp (not wet) cloth or just a dry cloth about every two weeks as well. Believe me, your remote will stay in great condition for a very long time.

The 880's Transmitter & USB Connection

Taking a closer look at the 880's transmitter, we can see it is the very reliable type which is found in the Harmony 676 and other models. Two transmitters make for a stronger and more accurate signal. On the 676, the range was more than 25ft, and on the 880, it's the same.

The 880's IR Port

The 880 has a much different IR port than the other Logitech models. The IR port is wider and larger. This is an improvement over previous Logitech remotes and you have wider IR coverage of your other remote communicating with the 880.