I'm in the middle of my search for a new remote for a dedicated HT room I'm building. The leading candidate right now is the MX-900. I was wondering if some owners can tell me your thoughts.

I would like to know what you like about it, PLUS what you don't like about (c'mon nothing's perfect). Usually, I learn more from the "dislikes" than the "likes" because I can see how often the same issue is brought up, and if that issue is important to me.

Thanks.

My only "dislike" (and it's a minor one) is only having six LCD buttons displayed at a time (rather than 10 with the MX-850). Other than that, I like the button layout, backlighting, additional programming features and USB connectivity better than the MX-850.

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

I was just looking thru some of the older posts, and one poster mentioned a lag/delay on the commands?

Does this still hold true or has that been fixed?

oh, just noticed that the Fav button is gone.
How do you guys add a Favorites page? Treat it like a device?

The bummer with favs on the 850 is that you cant use page jumps, so in my opinion they are wasted. If you create a device called "favs" and page one is for cable and page two is for sat radio ect then just link to that page inside each device (850 or 900).


In response to Mikes comment about 6 devices compared to 10 on 850.... I look at it as 12 main devices on the 900 (watch and listen) and 10 on the 850 (MAIN). Personally I use WATCH commands that contain the macro anyways on an 850 so I am limited to 5 devices. Also, the 900 has press and hold capabilities which could increase your use of devices.

Thanks for the replies guys!! I'm getting more and more certain that this will be the remote I get. I'm going to try and find the time in the next few days to look at the software.

I'm also going to try and find a dealer so I can actually see one first hand. I'm not too worried though because the remote I'm currently using (the one that came w/ my Marantz SR7400) has a similar button layout.

John

I actually like the MX-900 better than the MX-950. Reason being that the skip + & skip - buttons are separate, rather than the the "dual button" like on the MX-950. The first few people I programmed that for on the 950 just didn't get it, so now I never use them anymore.

It would be great if the MX-900 had 10 LCD buttons, but it's not so bad with 6.



Thank you,
Damon DG
= = = = =
http://www.ProRemotes.com - Authorized Dealer & Remote Programming Services

But it's not just about the devices. What he was talking about, and I feel the same way, is only having 6 buttons visible at a time when you are controlling a device. Having 10 was great because I could squeeze the TiVo commands plus a tv aspect button on the LCD page. now you have to hit page just to get to the other half of the dvr functions.

complete agreement...

I need list, replay, live, record, a,b,c atleast

OK, stupid question alert:

Let's say I'm tweaking my system, and I need to adjust some settings on my receiver. I would most likely be in the "DVD" activity. I assume it's no trouble to go into the receiver device mode, make changes, and go back to the "DVD" activity, right?

John

I've been lurking here a while, will probably break down and get myself a 900 sometime soon. I saw one at a Tweeter here in Dallas last weekend. You can read about features all day, but the size and button layout are really good. I think I could use it without looking easier than and 850.

Quick question for SOUND, what do the A, B, and C buttons do? My cable remote has them too.

Dave

It's definitely nice having more buttons visible per device, but the fact of the matter is that six is generally sufficient for most devices. You put the six most important things on the first page, and it's not that hard to hit the page button if you really need to access some more advanced commands. As far as the "tv aspect" button, I agree that it is preferable to have a dedicated LCD button on Page 1, but I usually place it on the +10 button as well since this button is hardly ever used by a device and it's very easy to access by feel.

I recently purchased the 900, and it's a fantastic remote! In my opinion, it's pretty hard to argue that the 850 is better, and this is coming from a guy who was convinced, until recently, that the 850 was by far the best hard button remote on the market. I love my 850, but the 900 is simply a more advanced, better executed product. Here is a quick rundown of some of the reasons why I prefer the 900:

1) More stylish, compact form factor
2) Much better backlighting
3) 7 character button labels instead of 5
4) Software is more user friendly
5) More advanced macro capabilities
6) "Watch" and "Listen" buttons
7) "SKIP-" and "SKIP+" buttons
8) USB interface
9) Audible feedback

I realize that some of the "improvements" I listed are purely subjective, but I think almost everyone would agree that URC hit a home run with the 900. To me, the addition of the "Watch" and "Listen" buttons is one of the 900's best features because it makes the remote so much more accessible to the average user.

I have to admit, though, that the 850 is probably a little easier to operate by feel than the 900. This can be attributed to the larger, less condensed buttons. I'm still getting used to the 900, however, and I'm sure I'll have it mastered in no time.

Not if your using discrete codes.... you may notice a flicker of your TV or some jumoing around, but it should return to the same source.

This is why I use WATCH or LISTN macros.

ex:

WATCH DVD
WATCH CABLE
WATCH HDDVD
LISTN XM
LISTN ROOMS

The left side contains the macro so if you leave the device ...say cable... page to make adjustments or turn on zone2 you can return to your source by pressing the device side (right) since no codes are stored in it. All macros contain page jumps to the corresponding source and the device buttons naturaly link to that source.

This is common for many installers.

Do you have a DVR?

When recording your DVR will ask you to confirm selections.... such as:

Are you sure you want to delete this press A

or C for cancel.

Also on mine it is used to change the way my guide sorts. If I press A its by time and Station... B is by theme... and C is by date. or something like that.

Really depends on which particular DVR & software you are using whether the commands fit nicely on the first LCD page. It's the SA DVRs that make a lot of use of the A/B/C buttons. Tivo doesn't use as many buttons & actually fits quite nicely. I think the only buttons needing an LCD key would be LiveTV, thumb+/-, record, as there are reasonable hard buttons for everything else. So still room for aspect & close captioning which is what I'd fill the first 6 slots with. It's enough unless you want to put labeled macros for the Tivo+number key shortcuts to the ToDo list, season pass manager, etc. For that I guess the 850 would be better. (but 900 >>> 850 imo for DVR just by having the hard skip+/- keys).

Motorola/iGuide DVRs are less efficient, having separate page+/-, day+/-, so some of the less used commands would have to go to another page. The other DVR makers really should have taken cues from Tivo in software design so they could use simpler, less cluttered remotes.