I think it's the most useless design, almost like the BMW 5 series headlights and tailights., which is being changed in future.
Toggle Back and Ahead.
I showed that to some users and they were like what the heck is that?
Now looking at the R70 and 810, guess what, they have ff, rewind, skip + , skip -
and woohooo, the Record button. The layout on these new remotes is got everything, and i couldn't ask for more.

Just my opinion. No flames please.

Yeah, we get it. You don't like it.

No flames here. I'll even walk the plank and admit that the rocker design was originally my own suggestion. But upon hearing feedback from installers placing the device into real world settings, I've conceded that the design doesn't have the appeal I originally envisioned. We tried the design on that one model and haven't carried it forward to any of the remotes that followed, including the MX-900.

The original concept is probably not what you're thinking, though: the MX-850 had no skip buttons at all, yet many installers were reluctant to have us clutter our new models with additional buttons. The rocker design wasn't meant to squeeze two important functions into one button: it was meant to allow the one button that already existed to offer an additional feature, without cluttering the remote for clients who didn't want that feature. It lets installers have it both ways, if you will.

As a heavy DVR user, believe me, I'm bewildered by the fact that many users never touch their skip buttons... but nevertheless, it's a fact.

Yellow,
I see a Harmony remote in your future. . .

I've finally come around on the 950 design. Now that I've learned to program the rocker switches correctly, I really like the idea. But the execution could have been better. A simple rocker style switch would have made all the difference in tactile feel.

It's just not very easy to explain to clients that there are two positions for a single button, so I tend to use the 900 when I think they will be easily overwhelmed.

The rocker would have be okay if it was larger and labeled on both sides. The other problem is that the round buttons surrounding the thumbpad are so small, the text is almost unreadable. That's why I've often said that the MX-900 has the best button layout of all the remotes to date.

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

Mmm... must... hold... tongue!

It's not good to hold things in, Daniel. ;-)

LOL. speak up sir. I want to hear the truth.

...hey, I can take my lumps when they're due. In this case, they're due. The rocker design is a power-user feature. It didn't translate as nicely to mass-market as well as the design I originally suggested might have.

Darnitol,
I was not slamming the idea, I think it could be easily fixed with a restyled button. Just a double humped button would make a WORLD of difference.

Nothing will be designed 100% perfect for every installation and customer; you need to know how to adapt to each situation. I for one don't mind programming the 950. Sources such as DVD and CD get skip +/- down on the rocker button on both sides and FF/RW up on the LCD unless I have a power user (most are not BTW). Sources such as DVR and TIVO get FF/RW on the rocker.

How often do you really watch a DVD or listen to a CD and use the FF or RW?

And for the record I believe all these complaints are bogus. Aren't you the guy who I offered to buy your MX off of...aka take it off your hands so you can move on to better things :-)

I figure that feedback is feedback. I try to take in what I can and sort it all with the other comments I've heard. I'm very, very far from being "the" designer of any of these products. From time to time I throw a suggestion into the ring and people who are much more experienced take my suggestions into consideration. It's cool to see something I've suggested come to fruition, and honestly, it's also cool to learn the reasons why the "less than stellar" ideas shouldn't be sent to market.

I much prefer the two in one function you get with the rocker switch design. I also don't consider the record button all that important that it needs it's own dedicated hard button. Using one of the LCD buttons for record gets the job done. That's my two cents anyway. One cent after taxes. :-P

The OP should be a remote design engineer...........









for some brand of remote that I will never use program or sell. ;-)

OK just my 2 cents.

I understand what was attempted with the rockers on the 950 (and I like it) but the buttons on the 900 are simpler to explain.

On the other hand I like the layout around the LCD of the 950 better then the 900.

So combine the top of the 950 with the bottom of the 900.