Here are some thoughts and impressions after spending a few days with an MX-950. I like it a lot.
Positives:
-When an MX-3000 is asleep, the first button press wakes it up, and the second sends the command. The MX-950 wakes up and sends the command on the first press--much better.
-The physical "stick" format seems easier for users to accept as their remote control, and is less intimidating than an MX-3000. It looks sophisticated and sexy without being too complicated.
-The hard guide button is great, and the dimples in the sides are brilliant for feeling where your hand is on the remote.
-A one-handed remote is easier to live with in the long run.
-Obviously, no issues with fat fingers and touchpanels.
-Most importantly, the 950 responds much more quickly than the 3000. It seems almost as fast as an 850. A good way to see this is when navigating a cable box guide with an 850, 950, and a 3000.
Negatives:
-RF performance with an MRF-300 is no better than an MX-3000, unfortunately. It's annoying to me and unacceptable to clients.
-The editor software could use some improvement. It's better than the 850 editor because of the IR Navigator, but the ability that the MX-3000 editor has to import/export devices has revolutionized the way we do remotes, and it'll be pretty inconvenient not to have that on the 950. Sure would be nice to have one editor for all the URC remotes.
I feel comfortable recommending the MX-950 to our sales guys, with the caveat of IR repeater only, not RF. The MX-850 still seems to be the best of them all for use with an RF repeater if that's necessary. Comparing the 950 to the 3000, it will be hard to maintain standard device interfaces because there's no import/export, and it may take slightly longer to program. The responsiveness is something clients really notice, though. That, along with the basic usability of the stick format, is reason enough to start selling it.
Regards,
-metro
(edit: import/export exists, so scratch that gripe)
Last edited by metrognomicon
on January 2, 2006 02:57.
