Spott - I just talked with etronixs.com and they said that they are going to see the MX-500 in Las Vegas this weekend and should know about a release date then. They are taking pre-orders and will call to confirm that you still want the unit when they are shipping.

Randy wrote:

Bryan,

There are separate transport and menu buttons.

and Greg wrote:

The problem we don't like is that 4 of the TRANSPORT buttons are used for MENU, GUIDE, EXIT and INFO on certain devices, instead of separate buttons.

Randy - that is what I was referring to. I can see that the remote has seperate arrow and select keys from the transport keys, but aren't menu, guide, etc. considered navigation keys?

Bryan

Bryan: I think Randy meant separate transport and cursor keys. The MX-500 has separate ones, unlike the 9000. I wouldn't consider Menu, Guide, etc. navigation keys........ they are simply mode change keys, just like the Display key, or similar key on any remote! Just my 2-cents.......

Greg :-)

Looks like a great remote! Kinda like a Marantz RC2000 MKII updated. Maybe that is why the volume and channel keys are the way they are. I would like to see X-10 RF capability and maybe a way to backup the programming to computer...say removable compact flash memory?? With a stronger IR beam, narrower body and longer battery life (which the lighting should solve) it looks like it would be the new king of remotes replacing the RC2000!

David: The features are pretty well set now. For sure the physical ones. No remotes allow for X-10 RF capability. You need an X-10 converter for the IR codes.

The memory stays for a number of months, even with dead batteries.

The IR beam should be fantastic. Just like the MX-1000. I can point my MX-1000 backwards and still control my components.

The body of the MX-500 is obviously way better designed than the brick shape of the RC2000MKII.

And the overall ergonomics are much better.

5 letters for your labels make a big difference over 4.

And the learning memory allows for 530 codes. Fantastic!

The almost perfect (since a remote can't be perfect for everyone) button remote!!!

Greg :-)

I'm confused by the debate over the adequacy of the navigation and transport buttons. Since there are both, is it or is it not sufficient to control a DVD player adequately?

Thanks

Noah

Noah: Yes, the MX-500 is more than capable of controlling a DVD player. Especially since 20 more functions can be programmed to the LCD screen.

Some people just like separate buttons for Menu and Guide, etc.

Greg :-)

Greg,

Thanks, I hoped that was the case.

If the DVD player has a hard menu button, won't it be programmed to one of the buttons in any case (since so many devices do, I agree it would have been better to have a dedicated one as part of the design)?

Thanks

Noah

Yep, it'll be programmed to one of the buttons.

I wish they would implement the "press-and-hold" functionality for the secondary labels Menu, Guide, Info and Exit. That way you can have these buttons operate both functions without compromise. Seems to me this could be implemented in the firmware without a hardware change.

Arjen: Maybe they have! But, I'll send this along to Home Theater Master!

Greg :-)

I don't like that idea; it's confusing, unintuitive, and won't work. Try to hold down the chapter skip to skip a bunch of chapters and then suddenly the DVD menu comes up?

Separate menu/info/exit buttons on the "MX-501" :)!!

That press and hold idea really sounds like an excellent solution. And it should be easy enough to implement. Good idea arjen! Lets hope they do implement it.

Hmmmmmmm........ I could swear I replied to Stephen yesterday!!! Maybe my 'puter blew up half way through!

While initially I thought Arjen's idea was cool, thinking it over, the remote would no doubt send out 3 or 4 chapter changes before it realized you were holding the button down for the 2 seconds and then take you to menu. Not good in my mind.

My 2-bits!

Greg :-)

OK. I'm looking for a new HT remote. The MX-500 looks like it has a lot of potential to become my next one (despite the pretty high price tag, at least for me). I've been following this thread since December, but I still have a few questions though:

1. If I don't have 10 components, can I "blank out" the text next to the device buttons, I'm not using? It seems like I could, just want to make sure customizable text includes nothing ;-)

2. It sounds like when you select a device from the top, the LCD screen automatically go to a 2-page "device-specific-menu" for that device. If each device has its own set of of LCD screens, how do I select another device? Press the "Main" button to bring the list of components back up? Can you make the component list "default" so that it always stays up?

3. What's the button with green text under the LCD screen and to the right of the "Main" button? I can't make out the text.

4. And the ever-asked, when can I get one of these? I see January on their site, and probably Febuary down in another thread. Does that likely mean March or April?

Thanks!