I definitely agree Ron. I use my tv to plug in my video sources and send the audio output of the tv to my receiver as my reciever doesn't have component inputs (or s-video for that matter). I would need to turn on the tv, select a component from the tv, turn on the reciever, and select my tv input. This cannot be done with a 2 step macro.

Having macros on the main screen is the one feature that would make or break it. It would definitely determine if I bought it or not.

Response by mroll on 11/08/00 14:50.44 (from another thread)

"Each page of the LCD screen editable text labels for the buttons adjacent to them. The LCD is not a touchscreen. Whatever function you assign to a button, the LCD label can be you revised to say "Pause" or whatever fits.

I believe there currently is no plans for the remote to be PC configurable."

Thanks, mroll.

There would really be no need for the 500 to be PC configurable, because the only configuring you can do is to rename the LCD buttons and learn to them (as well as to most of the other buttons).

But, every one of the LCD buttons for each device can have their labels edited (5 letters) and any command learned to it.

Greg :-)

So are there any downsides? Of course nobody actually has played with the remote yet, but from the information currently known...

I know there's no touchscreen, and that the LCD is pretty limited, but compared to a 15-1994 it seems like you don't lose ANYthing!

I think we can all agree that there are more technologically advaned units out there, but this one will sell for around $150 and it kills the models with similar features.

All I've ever wanted was unlimited learning (within reason) backlighting, separate arrows and transport keys, a full compliment of buttons for all the other things you need (especially with Replay!) and easy to hold.

It looks like this fits the bill.

Randy: The LCD is limited????????? Please let me know how it is limited.

Don't forget, we are NOT talking TOUCHSCREEN here! We are talking a remote for the BUTTON PEOPLE!!! Heretofore known as BP's!!!

Greg :-)

IMPORTANT: Please post here how you would ACTUALLY use your macros...... especially if pushing a DEVICE button and having it emit a macro along with it is what you would like this remote to have.

Spell out what the actual macro would be!

The engineers are watching this thread, and any input would be totally helpful!

This could be THE REMOTE for the BP's in this world!!!

Greg :-)

Mike and Greg have already seen this, but for those of you that haven't, here's my spec for my idea of the perfect remote...

[Link: hifi-remote.com]

Rob.
http://www.hifi-remote.com

I don't know if this is still possible and maybe this is not what you're looking for in this thread, but I would prefer the "Volume Button" was on the left and the "Channel Button" was on the right.

Yes, Mike! That's what we are looking for! All your requests. Vol on left and channel on the right are somewhat the standard!

Engineers: Most URC's have the vol on left and channel on right.

Greg :-)

I would use the power button to turn on all components that have discrete on/off commands with the system off button turning off those components.

The primary screen for the LCD would provide a listing of all the components in my system. The corresponding button for each component when depressed would send a macro that would:

1)Send a command to the receiver for selecting which audio (and at times video) input to use;

2)Send a command to the video processor that selects the video input going to the TV (for other people who do not have this device this command would go to the TV for selecting which video input to use);

3)If the component has a toggle power on/off instead of discrete on/off commands, it would then send this toggle command to the component to power on the component. When finished with that component, pressing the same button a second time would power off the component. Although commands 1 & 2 above would also be sent it would not change the audio or video inputs. At that point pressing a different component button would change the audio/video inputs for that device.

A macro capable of sending three commands would be necessary to do the above. One having the ability to do four or more would be even better with a complex system.

I would assume that when pressing a component button, the other remote buttons would also then be sequenced to controll the component selected.

Since I have two Satelite receivers and three TIVOs I would hope that I would not be limited to having only one of each on the primary screen.

If the MX-500 can do this you will have a winner!!

Thanks for listening.

Ron

Having seperate cursor/select and transport controls is a must, and the design of the MX-500 looks workable. However, as a person who spends a bit of time navigating menus, I'd prefer a joystick instead of cursors. There's a big difference between holding down a thumb joystick and having to press the down arrow nine times. I've read on Remote Central that the MX-1000 joystick is a bit picky about the direction; improve this, stick it on the MX-500, and we're in business!

Since we're asking for the moon here, I'd suggest leaving the cursor keys AND including the joystick. The cursors could then be used as PageUp/PageDown/PreviousDay/NextDay controls for navigating programming on cable, satelite, etc.

Scott

The primary screen for the LCD would provide a listing of all the components in my system. The corresponding button for each component when depressed would send a macro that would

I would hope that there would be an easy way to select a component without sending the macro/command. There are times you want to send the macro, but sometimes you just want to control the component without actually switching everything. The Marantz RC2000 accomplishes by only sending a command if you double-click the device button, but I guess this doesn't quite work since presumably the LCD switches to the device page when you hit the button. Perhaps if you held down the button for some threshold the macro gets sent, while just tapping it just switches to the device without sending the macro.

Scott -- at this point it looks like the MX-500 will have a sort of rocker cursor control surrounding an "enter" button... kind of half-way between. But I suppose the idea is that the joystick is on their high-end product.

I would almost think that the rocker cursor control is quite neat! Right there where you want it, and I'm sure you can "hold it down" or up, left, center and have it repeat.

But, I'll check on that too!

Greg :-)

Any remote that requires "configuration" or "programming" needs to have a backup utility. We've all had a remote break, get chewed by the dog, lose its memory, or stop working for some unknown reason. Having to start from scratch, when you could have saved your work, is unacceptable.
my .02
jcmitch

Stephen

Couldn't you just program one of the 10 buttons on the primary screen to change the keypad to control that component without including a macro? I can see that this would make sense for the receiver (or other non video or audio source components) for selecting surround sound options, etc..

Ron