Energy Sistem URC 3100
Packaging
As is customary, the packaging is veritable himitsu-bako of frustration and discreetly lethal sharp edges. Plastic thick enough to stop you being able to simply tear the thing open, yet thin enough to offer up jagged hazards if you dare venture near it with a pair of scissors. Ancient artisans responsible for the Chinese finger trap have clearly kept their dream alive in the design of gadget packaging. Once you’re past that, however, things are fairly straightforward: remote control, instructions and quick reference leaflet. Unfortunately, the contents didn’t include the three AAA batteries required to actually get started. Which would’ve been a little less galling if it had mentioned this anywhere on the exterior packaging.
Energy Sistem URC3100
The Universal 3100 isn’t ergonomically chiselled out of soft fluffy marshmallow, but it’s design aesthetic does have a certain elegance to it. Sheer, straight lines, matt black backing and a polished reflective fascia off-set the simple, silver stun buttons. It feels good and solid, too, and without being chunky or awkward. Good to know that should you be called upon to subdue the local rapscallions messing with your satellite dish, you’re well equipped with a make-shift truncheon from the moment your ass hits the groove.
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It has to be said that while the deep blue back-light does look gorgeous against the satin black sheen in the right circumstances, it’s not quite as bright as it should be. It’s fine in total darkness, but in daylight it takes a lot of ambient light to make the dark blue visible against the even darker black of its surroundings. The back-light really doesn’t do enough to punch through and make the function icons visible. It’s a shame because several buttons have more than one use under different pre-sets and without sufficient lighting you could miss them and end up watching three more seconds of Takeshi’s Castle than is strictly healthy.
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