Isnt that the idea?

I tend to hold the remote a lot also (TiVo). I dealt with the back light issue by reducing the on time to 10 seconds, which I think is the shortest time, and then adjusting the color of the usual screens to dark shades of blue and green and yellow. If you set the screen color sliders to the bottom half of the range for each, it takes the brightness down so that it is less annoying but the screen is still readable.

With my 850 I did not need the light so much after I got everything set up, since eventually you can remember the location of your buttons and find them by feel. When I get to that point, maybe I will disable the motion sensor. (Once I do that, how do you turn on the light when you want it -- or does it come on with a press of any button? -- I'll have to look that up.)

It comes on with the press of any button. Useful tip: the page forward/back buttons will turn on the back light without actually affecting the remote. Any other button press will execute the corresponding command while also turning on the backlight.

I fooled around with this last night during the football game, and found that if I can set the light duration to 10 seconds, so it goes off pretty quickly, and I think I prefer this to having to press a button to get the light on. That may change as I learn where the (soft) buttons are, but as long as the battery lasts all night, I don't mind the light being on when not needed. I find it preferable to the light being off when it is needed.

Since the thing charges up to full battery overnight, this is fine with me, and I like that better than adding new AAAs every few weeks as with the 850. With my new 10 second setting, I would expect the batter to last a full day at least, although I seldom use it during the daytime. Time will tell. At least, thanks to this forum, we know how to get inexpensive replacement batteries, although I will look for a high quality replacement battery when the time comes.

Try a lower brightness for the light and a darker color -- that might help also with the distraction factor.

Maybe URC should have added a control for us to adjust the sensitivity of the motion sensor. Or that would be just over the top??

Received my MX950 yesterday.
So far, I'd say this remote is a winner.
I like the feel and functionality. It transmits IR codes much better than my previous remote, the Harmony 880.

The only negative I'd say so far is that the bitmap images that are included with the programming software look like crap once you download them to the remote.
Otherwise, I'd say I've found a keeper.

I found it hard to read the labels on some of the small buttons, like menu. My eyes just can't focus on that blue light.

I went back to my 850

AHR,

I agree about the 950 handling the IR signal better than the H880. An example is my SA 8300HD dvr stb, when holding down the page up/down button on the 880, I could never get the delay so that when I let go of the button it would stop asap, instead with the 880 I would have to time when to let it go so I don't pass the page/channel I wanted to be on. I think it helps that URC also makes the remotes for this stb but a small annoyance with the 880.

Also, the strength of the IR transmitter is much better than the 880. I don't have to be quite as precise when pointing the remote at the devices. I'll be getting the MRF300 so it really won't be an issue anyway.

And yes, the icons suck but I don't use them anyway, doesn't look right with the 950's display

From a 'control' aspect, the 950 'rocks'.

There is nothing that can't be acomplished with this remote.

I love it from the programers aspect!

My only dislike is the 'bluring' blue light on the hard buttons.

I can't read them either! They look like a glowing blue light, and thats it!

Fortunetly, the lay out is great and I can find my buttons by feel!

I turned my hard button lights 'off'.

It's possible to adjust the 'screen' to different colors that don't blow out your focus but not the hard buttons!

It's still a great 'power' remote!

I'm not sure I could live without it!

Try adding a 1/4 of the green slider and leave the blue at full up to increase the contrast (ability to focus). The screen will now match the blue colored hard buttons better and makes the text stand out.

The "back" and "ahead" buttons are rocker buttons (one button can have 2 commands either by rocking to the left or rocking to the right). So, these 2 buttons contain 4 commands. I programmed the outer sides of these 2 buttons to FF (DVR) and REW (DVR). I also programmed the inner sides of the 2 buttons for page up and page down. Very reachable by thumb without repositioning remote in the hand.

So, page up and page down can be programmed on a hard button without sacraficing something else. If you want, I will send you my program config file. Just let me know.

Carl the Cat