I am looking to buy a 900 after ruling out the 850 because of the lack of intuitive DVR support in the hard buttons. One obvious question, where is the record button on the 900? In general, what are the thoughts on the 900?

There is no pre-labeled record button on the 900. You have 6 customizable buttons (per page) on the lcd screen you can edit to contain a record button.

Lack of DVR support on the hard buttons? The hard buttons on the 900 are the same as on the 850, save for the skip + and skip -, but how do you implement them for DVRs?

That's the point of the LCD screen; to add custom buttons to the remote to minimalize the number of hard buttons. I have my cable DVR setup to have LIVE, LIST, RPLAY, and RECRD on the LCD page. Same can work for TiVo units: TIVO, LIVE, RPLAY, LIST, SLOW, RECRD, ADVAN. There's all the DVR functions you need. In fact, I usually just remove the TIVO button, and link it to the Menu button, considering that's basically what it is.

I agree, you CAN do it...its just that some of us like to go by feel. With the LCD buttons its harder to immediately feel where you are at so you need to look.

But in the end....is the MX-900 the way to go now? I have read mixed reviews, but would like some further input since its not real cheap.

You would typically put the REC button on one of the LCD buttons, but with a PVR, you could use STOP for record, since STOP is not used otherwise. It's just that it defeats the purpose of having every button properly labled. To me, the chapter skip buttons are used so often with PVRs that having them as dedicated hard buttons is a big plus with the MX-900. I seldom use the Record button with any of my PVRs, as I either select programs to record from the on-screen guide or have them set up as a Season Pass.

Other advantages of the 900 is the ability to have two macros on the same button, nested macros and individual button assignment with the IR database. The downside is the single column display, but that's partly made up for by having more characters per LCD button. Depending on your programming needs, that makes it worth the extra $50 over the MX-850 IMO.

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

I agree with Surf Remote about the use of the record button on a DVR. I own a Sony RDR-HX900 DVD recorder with a 160 gig harddrive. Most of my recording with it is performed via the timer schedule. The record button is only used if you want to instantly record a program that you are now watching, which is not very often. Sony placed the three separate record buttons (record, record pause & record stop) behind a panel so that one does not hit any accidentally. Placing the record button on the LCD would have a similar safety effect.

I am not sure what Surf Remote is saying about not needing a stop button on a DVR. I need my stop button to stop playback. What else could one use?

Regarding having the ability to have two macros on the same button, nested macros and individual button assignments, could you (Surf Remote) give us more detail about this. What is a "nested" macro?

Yeah, the $50 cost difference is nothing. It is more of a question of to even upgrade from the MX-500 since its basically handling everything pretty well for my system. I was hoping to hear good reviews and about how great it is so my decision would be easy.

P.S. Thanks for the help Mike, I spoke to you a few days ago and if I decide on the 900, I will go with surfremote.

I am not sure what Surf Remote is saying about not needing a stop button on a DVR. I need my stop button to stop playback. What else could one use?

Pause, exit/clear, menu, left arrow, one or all may work depending on the DVR in question.

Tivo boxes don't even have a stop button. My Motorola 6412/iGuide has a stop button, but I can't remember ever using it. When I want to stop playback, I just pause or exit, or hit the "mydvr" and start playing another program. So it's perfectly possible to get by without a stop button, on these boxes. YMMV on other machines.

I agree with keeping the record button on the LCD, for safety reasons. Don't need it that often on DVRs, and it's good to keep it safe on stuff like VCRs.

For my cable box, I use the stop button regularly to stop the current recorded event. As far as the record button needing to be safe, maybe a good idea for the 900?...but its not on the 500 and I don think I have once accidently pressed it in the 5 yrs of regular use.

Stop is used on the SA 8300 boxes to bring up a menu with some options during playback of a recorded program or currently recording program.

Someone enlighten me as to why you need Skip + and Skip - for DVR capability?

Skip +/- are used for quicker fast forward (there are different ff speeds) to skip through commercials (at least that is what I would use it for).

To: 8ate8

On my DVR the skip + & skip- buttons are used to go forward or backwards respectively by chapters that may be present on the program file. Skipping a program by chapters is just a another fast way to locate a specific spot on a program. A typical chapter length is 5 minutes in length. However, one can usually adjust the chapter length on the DVR before the recording or on a PC if you are using DVD software.

To: Hozer

On my DVR the speed of the fast forward or fast reverse is controlled by how many times I press the fast forward or fast reverse buttons. One time for +/- FF1, two times for +/- FF2 and three times for +/- FF3.

Right...can't you just program a macro for the button to do automatically press it 3 times and assign it to that button rather than manually pressing it 3 times? Better yet, on the 900 I think there is an instant on and a press and hold macro so you could have further control over the number of automatic presses.

Just put the record button on the LCD as everyone said. You only use it maybe 2-3 times a day MAX, its not like channel, volume, pause, play, or even prev. ch buttons.

You could also use the "+10" button if it is not your ZOOM button.

The stop feature is used on some DVRs.

As for features of the 900.....

1) Press and Hold - example = On DVD you could use the FFwd button as FFWD for single press and Skip+ for hold presses. Obviously the opposite for Rewind.

2)Multiple Page jump feature - I would imagine this has this feature, if so it can be used for help/info screens or "macro sending" screens.

3) 7 text symbols per line (compared to 5)

4) Watch and Listen buttons are much more intuitive then a "MAIN" button

5) No wasted FAV button.... Instead create your own with page returns in the macro. (not possible) in 850.

6) TEXT BUTTONS not symbols that resemble boomerangs!

7) Ergonomically attractive .

All of this and I LOVE THE 850 too!