My trusty MX-700 has worked flawless for years. Now I'm finally caving and getting something for the bedroom. The only complaint I have about the MX-700 is 1) the center button is sometimes hard to isolate and you end up pressing one of the directions buttons, and 2) I have to use my old notebook because I've been to cheap to get a USB based serial connector.

2 I can easily solve. If the MX-700 is all I need and I'm not looking for any bells an whistles more than my MX-700, what was the model that is the closest where they improved the center button so it isn't so easy to accidentally push the directional button instead of the center? Is it MX-800 and just not use the RF capability?

I read a couple other threads and going to reply to my own message. :) My gut I think is right. MX-850? I can use the same profile from my MX-700 and save me some programming time. Rock Solid remotes.

If you're happy with the MX-700 (and people that used them a lot get VERY stuck on them), the MX-850 is a good choice.

It would be nice if URC would throw stick-in-the-muds a bone and release an MX-850 with a new screen, more memory/capabilities and USB, while keeping the design essentially unchanged.

Update the hard buttons a little.

These transports....

replay
live tv
record

.... and the 4 color buttons.

Whatever they do.. don't switch to rechargeable batteries and power cords or charging stations. Allowing the client to change the batteries themselves cuts down on service calls and end user frustration.

I would use the MX-855 :) on every project. The MX-850 is probably the only drama free remote i have ever installed.

So without adding new buttons (which would change their tooling), what buttons could be changed? I agree on the USB as that may be a slight modification, but adding new buttons could be a deal breaker.

I am not suggesting they change any existing buttons. I am suggesting they add those listed above to the current set of buttons. A retooling is neccesary and why i dont sell the MX-850 anymore even though IMO its at least #2 and probably #1 all time best remotes... ever.

The 7 buttons i listed above are pretty universal. Just about everything has 4 color buttons on it now and the replay/liveTV can be track up track down. IMO record should also be included in a standard set of 8 transports but if they want to leave that one off its not a deal breaker.

I don't care that its not 2way and i like that it has no docking station or power cord because the clients can maintain the batteries themselves and no one is stuck without their remote while i ship them a $100+ battery when it fails in a few months.

For some reason URC really wants to get away from the MX-700 design. However when I speak to them, I point out all of the nice things about it ergonomically (and then they point out how you can't hit the LCD buttons while it's on a table without it tipping over.)

About a year ago a friend needed a remote. He had an MX-500 and loved it. He wanted something newer. Talked him into buying the MX-880. You know what? He still prefers the MX-500 design and wishes he'd bought an MX-850. Sigh...

For the same price as the MX-850 you have the MX-900. I really like the design and simplity of the 900. I like the fact that you have more room for text, albeit less buttons. The little extras like the variables make for more powerful programming and USB vs. serial for synching. For the same price, I like the 900.

I hope the OP has picked out his remote by now.

I just love the MX-850 design. I used that design for years and got very use to it. Could operate it in complete darkness. I eventually ended up with an MX-880. It is a love/hate relationship. There are good things about it and bad.