I'm thinking about getting the mx-500. Let's assume I've got 2 macros set up. Macro 1: tv on, dvr on, everything else off. Macro 2: tv on, dvd player on, everything else off. If I have activated macro 1 and then go straight to macro 2, does the mx-500 know that the tv is already on?
In other words, will it leave the tv on, power on the dvd player, and power off the dvr? I'm trying to decide between the mx-500 and the harmony 676.

No, the MX-500 does not "remember" what it's already turned on. This is where having discrete On/Off commands comes in handy. If you moved up to one of the PC-programmable remotes (like an MX-700), it's likely that you would find discretes for your TV. If you need to keep costs down, you're probably better off with the 676.

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

No, what you need is discrete commands, that if your equipment accepts them, and there are no discrete commands in the mx-500. so you would need to get them from another source, like a OFA universal remote.

No, the MX-500 doesn't have state memory like the Harmonies, so would turn off the TV if your macro was using a power toggle command. You should get around that by using discrete power codes ("power on", which leaves set on if already on, rather than "power toggle"); you'd probably need a cheap OneForAll remote to get these programmed into the MX500. If you don't want to put in the effort to find the discrete power codes, or if your equipment doesn't have them, you'd have to use a different macro strategy. Like having a power on macro toggling everything on, power off toggling everything off, and the device macros being used for input switching only without using power commands.

In my view the 676 is better featurewise, but the MX-500 is better ergonomically, with better button size, feel, spacing, and placement. I've been using an MX500 for almost 5 years, I have discretes for almost everything so it works great, Harmony wouldn't be any easier for my system.