I'm sure I'd have no problem getting them to take back the remote. I just don't want to return it if I don't have to. Of course, without the software the 980 is just a pretty brick.

Update: Some at Magnolia is trying to email me the software....we'll see how that goes.

no cool buttons?? i just assumed we would have access to everything the URC rep posted here in his example (as shown above).

There's a standard template included with the MX-980 software that has "cool buttons."

I'm not sure if the dealers are allowed to provide that one to customers or not. I would have thought so, as it is the standard template for this remote, but I don't want to answer for URC.

Sean

The MX-980 Editor ships with two templates. We're doing our final testing on an additional download that will install ten new templates into the editor. The images I posted are mostly from those additional templates.

Best regards,
Dale

Unfortunately, I could not get Magnolia to provide me with the software for the MX-980, and so I ended up returning it. As someone else pointed out, without the software it was just a pretty brick. Although I understand and respect URC's decision not to provide software for the MX-980, as far as I was concerned this policy simply led to a lost customer (both for Magnolia and for URC).

For those of you how have contacted URC about this issue, here's the response I got from URC's technical support line when I asked them about obtaining the software:

> Thank you for contacting Universal Remote Control, Inc.

> Hello Kaustuv,

> The MX-980 software is not available to end users at this time. The software is only available to professional installers.

> You will not be able to download the MX-980 software. You will have to consult with Magnolia HIfi for the remote to be programmed.

> If there are any further questions or comments please feel free to contact the Universal Remote Control, Inc family at 1 (800) 901-0800, Monday thru Friday between 9 am to 6 pm EST or via our website select contact us.

Note there's nothing here suggesting that Magnolia would provide me with the software or that they are authorized to do so. In over a week I could not get an answer from Magnolia whether they would in fact be able to provide me with the software. What's probably most frustrating about this whole experience is that the manual that comes with the MX-980 says nothing about this policy of not providing software to the end user (nor does the URC website), instead stating only that URC recommends that the MX-980 be professionally programmed. A recommendation is, of course, a long way from a prohibition.

Good luck to the rest of you end-users with getting the editor for the MX-980. But I'm washing my hands off this product.

K.M.

Do you have any other local dealers other than Mangolia?

thats a shame... not to rub it in, but i dont even have the remote yet, and the dealer has already given me access to the software. i DL'ed it yesterday and was messing around with it a little.

bottom line - find a better dealer!

This is such BS!

Great remote(at least looks like it)...and then this software nonsense.

What purpose does limiting yourself in such a way accomplish?

By making it available to only pro installers(or some elite dealers)...is only limiting the people that will eventually get your product.

Unless the goal is to make the company and its products run like AMX and Creston--then that's a business strategy...but the transition from a mass market product to a niche product is certainly painful.

I might go for the Nevo instead.

I'm not sure where in the country you are, but here in the Pacific Northwest Magnolia is considered a very reliable and respected dealer. They are also an approved dealer per URC's website. Although I was willing to some extent to put up with the nonsense of not being able to download the Editor and having to get it from an approved dealer, when it comes down to finding "a better dealer," it's simply not worth it. As I've said before and will repeat again -- all this comes down to is a lost sale for URC and for Magnolia -- something I guess URC is very comfortable with.

K.M.

I don't understand the logic in Magnolia not providing the software when the remote is utterly useless without it? This makes absolutely no sense. If they insist on having their installers program it for you, then they shouldn't offer it for sale in any other way. Is there something I'm missing?

This has typically been Magnolia's policy regarding s/w for URC's Pro Remotes; there is some store-to-store variability however. At least in the past you could download the non-updatable s/w. I agree that they should not sell it without disclaiming that programming is required at a fee. However I doubt that many of the Magnolia employees even know this.

With the MX-980 it appears that URC has taken a different approach from the past; most likely there will not be a non-updatable version available. Additionally it is not available via an internet transaction. Initially you could purchase it on the internet through an AD but this quickly changed. My guess is that the smaller dealers and CI's complained about competing price-wise with the larger internet AD's. At least they are leaving it up to the dealer to decide whether they provide the s/w to the enduser; unlike some other companies.

I went through the same challenge but got my "local" Magnolia to provide the software to me. They tried to email it to me but it wouldn't load--no surprise considering its size. I had to physically load it onto a flash drive since the app is about 41mb. The only bad part is the store where I bought it is 45 miles away!

I'd be happy to email it to you but I know that won't work--it's just too damn big. If I had a download site to post it, I would.

Good luck!

Clearly Magnolia doesn't have a clue about the new remote. Somewhat forgivable given that it is brand new, but I suspect the situation will be the same six months from now.

Sean

For what it's worth, I don't think Magnolia has a clue about anything.

I agree. Ever since BB gobbled them up they have nothing but a bunch of scrappy looking kids running around like they no something but in fact no nothing.

It's pretty bad when you walk into one of the showrooms and have to show the employee how to operate their gear.