The explanation is simple; the Terratec remote has programmed keys, and it requires that you install a hardware application to capture the incoming signal, and then process them as actions in whatever application you happen to be using, making it one of the most versatile remotes available. It’s just unfortunate that the user experience and general design are so crap, just look at it, what were they thinking?
Until recently there haven’t been many other options just a lot of promises (and more promises) that there will be a new remote available for Vista MCE although nothing ever appeared on the Microsoft Hardware site. :(
Well here they are... turns out that Microsoft has left it to hardware manufactures to take up the fight and conform to the new IR RC6 and Windows Logo Program.
Now all that is left is deciding which one to buy :)