I finished programming my new MX-700 yesterday and thought I would throw my impressions of it into the existing brew of user reviews.

BOTTOM LINE:

Great product. Not perfect, but great. Allowed me to put all my original remotes in a drawer and made controlling my equipment much more convenient. Programming the remote was a blast (But some people may think it is just a chore). Infact, I'm kinda sorry it's done. If I was made of money I'ld buy a receiver just to play with the remote more.

Of course the real test will be whether the wife/babysitters/guests find it easy to use. Part of that burden is mine since I set it up.

MY SYSTEM:

Pretty dang simple: A Samsung DLP RPTV (HLN467), a Samsung DVD player (HD-931), and a Scientific Atlanta HD cable box. Thats it. I found out this was not a big challenge for the MX-700.

LIKES:

Lots:

1. Great hard buttons. There's a lot of them. All the ones I wanted most were there. I like the glossy feel and the tactile feedback when pushed.

2. Flexibility. I chose to use my MAIN page 1 as an "activity" menu, with choises like "WATCH CABL>" (as suggested by MikeSRC, I think). My activity macros don't turn on components since two of them don't have discrete power codes. Instead, the ON button turns everything on, then jumps to the activity menu. The OFF button macro shuts everything off then jumps to a device with no name (spaces). It's page 1 looks like this:

^
PRESS ON

That way when grandma picks up the remote she's not presented with an activity menu that's not working because all the components are off.

3. Enough devices and soft button pages to easily handle more than what I threw at it. All my original remote functions are in this thing.

4. MXEditor software worked without a hitch and the documentation was great. I felt "in control" of how the remote would be programmed.

5. Strong IR transmitters. Even works when aimed at my ceiling. A welcome change from my original DVD player remote that required marksmanship skills.

6. Feels sturdy and well built.

7. I love the FAV "device" (although below I describe something I wish I could change about it). I have all my HD channels and other favorites listed. Also have a page of macros for TV picture adjustments that save me alot of tedious keystrokes.

8. I like the backlighting. As a purely subjective matter, I think it just looks cool. Some have complained that the LCD doesn't show up well in dim (but not dark) lighting. I haven't run into any trouble yet.

DISLIKES:

A few.

1. It's kinda big. I've got good size hands and it is still a little unwieldy for one handed operation. My thumb is not long enough to always reach the buttons I want without juggling the remote around some. Will be even tougher for my wife to get used to. I also wish it had some kind of a finger groove on the under side.

2. I don't like the way the MAIN and PAGE hard buttons act differently when on the FAV screens than they do at all other times. I expect this inconsistency to confuse occasional users. There are probably a lot of people who are used to it and may even like it. But in my opinion MAIN should always take you to the MAIN device. PAGE should always page forward. The FAV button should be a toggle: press FAV to get to the FAV screen, press FAV again to return to the previous device. Toggling in and out of a menu like that is a pretty common method. I realize this is a minor quibble. Am I alone on this?

3. I wish it could remember what devices were already ON so that toggle-power codes could be worked around easier (ala the Harmony remotes).

4. USB would be nice. The serial link worked fine for me after an initial problem was solved (thanks to this forum).

NOTES:

1. I only had to learn a couple codes. Not much of a test, but no problems found.

2. This was an "open box special" from bluedo.com. The remote arrived in like-new condition, with all the original packaging. So far I think this was a great deal.

FWIW,

Sooke

Sooke,

Just curious, does your bottom right LCD button have a different feel than the others? My bottom right LCD button is a little off-center and doesn't push in as far or have the same feel.

I too wish the MX-700 were a little smaller. My SO thinks the MX-700 is way too big. The MX-700's LCD and capabilities in a URC-200 profile (0.5" less wide, 0.5" less long, 0.3" less thick), with a dedicated select button and a few extra DVR buttons, would be the perfect remote. Something like this, but with an eight button LCD.

I also agree on the USB interface. Many new PCs and notebooks are now shipping without serial connections, and some people have had trouble with USB->Serial adapters. URC should use the same tiny USB connector found on many digital cameras.

I'm not sure I agree with you on the FAV button. Having FAV as a toggle would just be an extra step to access multiple pages of favorites. The FAV button is right by your thumb, and its easy to page through to find the favorites page with the channel you want. That wouldn't be so easy if you had to use a separate page button.

This message was edited by RonL on 06/06/04 01:15.

Hi Ron,

No, sorry, my bottom right LCD button looks and feels like the others.

I also wish there was an option for a smooth silver finish like the MX-800 (and URC-200).

Remember to post your thoughts in the User Reviews section!

Oh. I didn't know there was a user review section.

Thanks, I'll copy and paste there. :)

Sooke