Has anyone ever opened up an MX-700 or 500?

How easy is it to open up an MX-700 to get at the (physical) buttons -- and how easy would it be to swap two of them?

I love the redesigned remote -- except I feel very strongly that the "Menu" and "Exit" buttons are in the completely wrong places, ergomically; They are on the opposite side of where they are on each and every one of my remotes ("Exit" to the left, "Menu" to the right). I also feel that "Exit" makes a lot more sense (ergonmically) on the left (i.e. akin to a "back" button). All of my other remotes "got it right" in their design (including the MX-500).

Also, since HTM reversed the power "Off" and "On" buttons -- they no longer match where "Power" is on most of my remotes (upper right) -- nor (even more importantly) where I'm used to it on the MX-500. I use "On" a lot more than "Off" too -- and when holding the remote in one hand (right hand), it's a LOT easier to get at it at the upper right -- where it used to be.

My question is simple: Can I open up the remote and PHYSICALLY swap two Gemstone buttons that are the same form factor? If I could swap "Menu" with "Exit" -- and "On" with "Off" -- the remote would be perfect. Not just perfect, but a LOT better than it currently is, ergonomically.

(Please, no lame responses saying "You can program any button to be whatever you want, so leave it in place and just reprogram it". This is about making the physical labels correct).

Thanks,

DC

I'm sure someone will be able to confirm this shortly, but in the mean time, my guess is "no, not really."

Normally buttons are all part of one large piece of flexible rubber that runs the length of the remote. (That's what holds the buttons in so securely.) With a small hobby knife, you could theoretically cut the rubber, but I'd be scared to do it with a $400 remote.

Consider it confirmed. The 700 has one membrane for the buttons on body of the remote. One for the left LCD buttons and one for the right LCD buttons. Three membranes in total.

"No swapping allowed!" ;-)

... Greg :-)



This message was edited by GregoriusM on 05/26/02 19:56.31.