Has anyone been lucky enough to get to grips with the 810 yet? I have an MX3000 but am going back to wanting hard buttons. I use my remote a lot in bed before I go to sleep and having to keep looking at the remote to find buttons on the touch panel is becoming annying. I am seriously considering the 810 so long as it is not as useless as the Harmony 885. I am looking for the same sort of flexibility in programming as the MX3000 but with the ease of use hard button affords.

Opinions people??

Is the 810 going to program like a 900 or 1000?

I don't think so based on the details about the online secured Wizard. At the end of the day, to me, most learning remotes with hard keys look bloody awful. The 810 is OK. I want good system control without the need to constantly watch what I'm doing, yet extended info and features an LCD offers.

Anyone who gets the software/wizard, screenshots would be nice!

The 810 is still in Beta testing. I'm sure plenty of info will be available once it is released.

Right now, there's nothing that can be said about it. We'll post info about the MX-810 as soon as we're able to. Hang on for little bit longer.

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

There's a Quick Reference Guide posted on URC's website now. Note the TOAD control variables. ;-)

[Link: universalremote.com]

Ooh, nice! Is that only limited variables though (ie Harmony), or full variables (MX-950/MX-3000)?

I have a MX810 now for beta testing but the software has not been released to us yet. The remote looks great, hopefully the software will be released to us soon. I will keep you posted.

How's the overall feel? Solid?

I think the buttons don't really feel like the same quality as the 900 or higher buttons. I really don't like the way the Channel and Volume buttons work. I also don't really like the DEVICE and FUNCTION buttons, as they tend to confuse the remote, in my opinion. On the other hand: The screen is excellent, very nice and colorful, and the inclusion of RECORD as a hard button function is pretty sweet. I like that the battery is a rechargable. Overall pretty decent design. I'm really looking forward to getting ahold of the software for this.

I kind of like the device/function idea...sure beats watch/listen IMO.

I don't like the idea of record as a hard button...I know, in the age of DVR's, you can't accidentially record over something, but my mind is still set in the VCR era where you had to be careful not to press record. I still always put a press and hold macro on the record button that forces you to hold it down to send the command.

Is it a "cheaper" feel (like Harmony), or just a different feel?

I still love the gemstones they used on the MX-700. Mine has gone through so much abuse and still looks brand new.

Just different IMO. Has a much higher quality feel than the Harmony (like every other URC remote does). I like the button layout a lot. The Volume and Channel buttons are a little strange at first, but ultimately they're just as easy to use as any of their other remotes. All the buttons are well placed and they're all good sized. Solid feel when you press a button as well. There's also good use of raised dots and lines that help you find buttons easily by touch.

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

I agree. The gemstone buttons have a nice crisp feel to them. The buttons on most of the newer remotes feel a little soft in comparison. I prefer the more precise tactile feedback of the gemstone buttons because there is never a doubt about whether or not the command has been sent.

Me too. I don't like the "Mushy" feel of the newer buttons. Plus over time I think the newer buttons with the laser etching will wear until they are unreadable over time. Where as the gem stone buttons will fall off the remote before they are ever unreadable.