Hi, if someone out there is familiar w/ both the 1000 and the 500, and really likes both, could they PLEASE tell me why I might benefit by switching f/ the MX-1000 to the MX-500, if there are benefits?
THANKS!

The MX1000 is mainly an LCD driven remote while the MX500 has many hard buttons PLUS an LCD screen that is driven by side-by-side hard buttons. I do not like to have to look at my remote (especially in a darkened room) to execute commands. Once you get used to the MX500 as you have set it up, you can execute commands by feel and seldom even look at the remote. I personally would not buy a mainly LCD remote.

I own both an MX-1000 and an MX-700 (which is close to an MX-500). I agree with Jerry's comments about the hard buttons... they are nice. However, the flexibility of the touchscreen is much nicer for me. I like to use every single feature and button on my remotes, and 5 characters per button makes it very difficult to remember which button does what, especially for the buttons I don't use often. With my MX-1000 I am able to label everything as I would like and even annotate screens with instructions on how to use certain features. Unfortunately, the software for the MX-1000 requires using multiple versions to get everything just the way I want it (lines, etc), and the limitations of the macros, button bitmaps, etc. that are eliminated with the MX-700 (and I assume the MX-500) can be frustrating. I've heard rumors of an MX-1000 replacement. If you like the flexibility the touchscreen offers, and HTM is able to successfully deliver software for this rumored new remote, I'd wait if I were you. However, if you just want a good hard button remote, and don't mind having to purchase and "tinker" with IRClone (which I have no experience with, but I read good things about it... and it can't be any more difficult to use than the MX-1000 software), the MX-500 might not be a bad choice.

So... benefits:
1) overall operation is "faster"
2) hard buttons are easy to use without looking at remote
3) macros can end on any page

I'm sure there are more, but overall the benefits are not too compelling to me. There are more benefits for the MX-700, but I'm holding out hope that the rumors are true and I will be able to afford a potential future MX-1000 replacement?

-- robm

It is my understanding that there will be a replacement for the MX-1000, called the MX-1500. It will be a programmable remote modeled on the MX-1000 hardware template but using a version of the MX-700's software. This info comes straight from URC.

My hope is that it will have a MUCH faster processor for near-instantaneous LCD screen redraws (a major shortcoming with the MX-1000) and the new software package should correct many of the deficiencies with the MX-1000 that so many of us have complained about over the past several years. No info on release date or pricing at this time.

There are a few remotes ahead of it in line :) Namely the MX-600 and MX-3000 which should be out within the next few months.

David
www.BlueDo.com

This message was edited by www.BlueDo.com on 07/03/03 15:04.

What is the MX-2000 going to be?

Typo :)

The 600 should be out by the end of July, first of August. Don't look for the 3000 until October.

The 1500 is looking like next year.

Mike
www.SurfRemote.com

You had me excited there for a while, David, with your sudden mention of a brand new remote model. :-)