I'm not a fan of Harmony remotes, but it is certainly worthwhile to try one out if it interests you. I found them to be generally acceptable, but didn't feel as snappy as I would like for DVR usage. My biggest gripe is the cost, given that I wasn't convinced it would last long in this household.
Otherwise, the URC R50 should be a great alternative if you're willing to deal with programming right on the remote. i.e. It's not PC Programmable. IMO, the biggest failing is that it cannot be updated to add missing codes, but that generally only becomes a problem in 4-5 years when new gear comes out using codes that didn't exist today. Even then, you could get a JP1 remote (google it if interested); program the new code into the JP1 remote, then teach it to the R50. It's simply cumbersome; far from the simplicity of simply updates a Harmony.
For your needs (1 activity), you may try a much non-LCD remote like the
Universal Remote Control URC-WR7. You only need the LCD if you have a need for soft keys; a place to put functions that don't have a dedicated "hard" button on the remote.
For a typical URC remote, the steps for the Power On macro (Power on button) for your setup would be:
- Select TV Device
- Press Power On to select discrete Power On for the TV
- Select A/V Receiver Device
- Press Power On to select discrete Power On to the A/V Receiver
- Select XBMC/PC device
- Press the button you use to wake / power on PC.
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Note 1: Insert delays here if the TV and/or receiver weren't ready to receive the following when you first try it. Some times a devices takes too long to start up and won't be ready when the macro sends these, which is why you send Power On to everything first.
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Note 2: If you *never* change inputs, you can omit the following altogether.
- Select TV Device
- Press the appropriate input button to send a discrete input selection (e.g. HDMI1) to TV
- Select A/V Receiver
- Press the appropriate input button to send a discrete input selection (e.g. HDMI1) to A/V receiver
- Select the XBMC/PC Device to the macro stops with the XBMC/PC device selected and ready to use XBMC.
For Power Off, the macro should be built with these steps:
- Select the TV Device
- Press Power Off to select discrete Power Off for the TV
- Select the A/V Receiver
- Press Power Off to select discrete Off for the A/V Receiver
- Select the XBMC/PC device
- Press the button you use to power off or sleep the PC
The trick will be the discrete codes, and the Power On and Power Off (vs. Power On/Off toggle) are usually there, even for new equipment. I'm afraid I don't know how you would do discrete inputs on something like the WR7, since there is only an Input toggle button on the remote. LCD remotes would have each individual input on a soft key somewhere on the LCD menu screen.
The other hurdle will be if you don't already have a remote set up. You'll obviously need an IR receiver for one. If you already have something setup, at worst, you may have to teach the codes to the new remote. I don't know if URC remotes generally come with an MCE device preset (I believe the R50 does, but not sure about other models.)