I'm going to return my Harmony 1000 today and I'm thinking of getting a MX-950 to replace it! (I have to be able to program the remote myself, not going to go to someone everytime I need a little adjustment). The harmony just frustrates me as limited lighting control (not fully implemented, and this is a must not only for cool factor but just for the handiness) and the pre-programmed non customizable for some pages. Not to mention the random bugs like it freezing broadcasting RF signal to receiver and then won't accept new commands. Another thing I don't love is the lack of programmable hard buttons (hello Logitech fast forward, play, pause, rewind are a must for tivo'ing). Having to look at a remote to pause it or something is irritating, being able to operate without looking at all is the way it should be in my opinion. Needing 2 hands to decently operate a remote is not ideal either in my mind.

It's hard to let go of the Harmony 1000 as I love the look but for functionality it's just not up to par.

I did consider the MX-3000 but that looks like some of my complaint points above would be back again to haunt me (lack of hard buttons, double handed needed, don't want to look at remote to do things). Also looks-wise I think that it loses points, especially compared to the Harmony 1000.

It looks like the MX-950 (and the 3000) allow a HUGE amount of customization and since they are WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) programmed I don't forsee a huge learning curve if I put in some time.

Would love any feedback on the 950. Am I making a mistake getting rid of the Harmony 1000??? Let me know! Or if you think the 3000 is vastly superior to the 950 let me know also!

I found this site and it seems like a decent price (less than the Harmony 1000) for the MX-950, it is an authorized dealer which seems to be the safer way to go. Let me know if you know a better place to buy or any recommendations in that regard. ($$$ good price)

http://www.electronics-expo.com/make-a-store/item/UNVMX950/Universal/MX950/42.html

Oh - very important, whats the story with the software updates for the MX remotes? I read it could be a problem to get updates or something? That concerns me as I'd like to be up to date with firmware and all!

I'm going to return my Harmony 1000 today and I'm thinking of getting a MX-950 to replace it! (I have to be able to program the remote myself, not going to go to someone everytime I need a little adjustment). The harmony just frustrates me as limited lighting control (not fully implemented, and this is a must not only for cool factor but just for the handiness) and the pre-programmed non customizable for some pages. Not to mention the random bugs like it freezing broadcasting RF signal to receiver and then won't accept new commands. Another thing I don't love is the lack of programmable hard buttons (hello Logitech fast forward, play, pause, rewind are a must for tivo'ing). Having to look at a remote to pause it or something is irritating, being able to operate without looking at all is the way it should be in my opinion. Needing 2 hands to decently operate a remote is not ideal either in my mind.

It's hard to let go of the Harmony 1000 as I love the look but for functionality it's just not up to par.

I did consider the MX-3000 but that looks like some of my complaint points above would be back again to haunt me (lack of hard buttons, double handed needed, don't want to look at remote to do things). Also looks-wise I think that it loses points, especially compared to the Harmony 1000.

It looks like the MX-950 (and the 3000) allow a HUGE amount of customization and since they are WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) programmed I don't forsee a huge learning curve if I put in some time.

Would love any feedback on the 950. Am I making a mistake getting rid of the Harmony 1000??? Let me know! Or if you think the 3000 is vastly superior to the 950 let me know also!

I found this site and it seems like a decent price (less than the Harmony 1000) for the MX-950, it is an authorized dealer which seems to be the safer way to go. Let me know if you know a better place to buy or any recommendations in that regard. ($379)

http://www.electronics-expo.com/make-a-store/item/UNVMX950/Universal/MX950/42.html

Oh - very important, whats the story with the software updates for the MX remotes? I read it could be a problem to get updates or something? That concerns me as I'd like to be up to date with firmware and all!

It sounds like most of your complaints are based on a touch screen vs. hard buttons. You are smart to stay away from any touch screen with your complaints. I am not sure what you are talking about with the freezing up issues as I have not seen them at all on the H1000. Also my setup has play/pause, FF, Rewind on the main PVR screen, but is missing skip forward/skip backward. The H1000 was definitely released way too early as the programming is not up to speed yet. Not sure yet on the Z-wave implementation, but updated software is supposed to be on the way for the 1000. I had an MX-500 remote before and loved it, although you could not memorize the programming in the computer. It was also very poor for the data base updates, as I basically had to learn in every single command when new equipment came out after the remote was made. I am not sure if they have overcome these issues, but I update equipment frequently and found I was doing more programming than using. This is the main reason I switched to Harmony and have been very happy since.

I have Harmony 890 and MX-900. Not the same as yours but I thought I could give you some of my thoughts. MX-900 is WAY WAY WAY more customizable and powerful then the Harmony. Hands down. I was able to program my Marantz, cable, TV, DVD, and VCR w/o referring to the manual. The UI is no bad at all. It's not quite as simple as Harmony, but you can VERY EASILY assign things to the buttons. I would have gotten the 950 but the dealer had the 900 and I'm an impatient man! :) Anyway, I MX900's are very very powerful and easy to assign buttons. I only customized the macros to turn things on at once. It too is quite easy to do. Again, not as easy as Harmony, but by no means a rocket sciense.

Finally reached my wits end with Harmony... I started with the original 768 (released before logitech swallowed up harmony), and am now using the 670 (IMHO, the only current harmony with a decent button layout and ergonomics). But with the continued dumbing down of the programmability offered on the website, I was finding the harmony remote less and less useful. I really need to able to program some macros here and there!

So I contacted surfremote (.com) and found that the prices are quite good on the Universal brand and they are an authorized reseller so no issues with the editor software/ir database updates. Purchased a MX-950 from them (to the OP... give them a gander as opposed to electronics-expo).

Took a while but once I figured out Universals programming paradigm I was able to emulate what my Harmony does (and then some... gotta love those variables!)... I placed all the activities under the Watch button and all the devices under the Listen button. Added a help system very similar to what the Harmony offers for each activity as well. And, of course, now I can macro to my hearts content!

MX-950 is the best hard button remote I have used. Although that RTI T2-C looks sexy!

Wow thanks so much for all the replies guys. Agree with everything that was said...

The T2-C looks so nice I completely agree but for me I think the programming learning curve would be extremely time consuming. The MX-950 looks like more of a challenge than the Harmony obviously but it wont be too bad. Honestly have no clue on the software to program the T2-C so any information would be appreciated if its easier to program than I think. (for a newbie, I've done some macro programing type of things before but very limited)

Wow thanks so much for all the replies guys. Agree with everything that was said...

The T2-C looks so nice I completely agree but for me I think the programming learning curve would be extremely time consuming. The MX-950 looks like more of a challenge than the Harmony obviously but it wont be too bad. Honestly have no clue on the software to program the T2-C so any information would be appreciated if its easier to program than I think. (for a newbie, I've done some macro programing type of things before but very limited)

For basic programming, there's not much difference btn Harmony and the MX-900 (I'm sure 950 is similar). Basically, all the common functions (menu, guide, play, skip, pause, etc) are mapped out automatically from the IR database. Pretty extensive IR database I might add.

Macros can be created with simple click and drag operation from the IR database.

One other HUGE tipping point for MX series. If has a nice heft/feel. Harmony feels like a cheap toy compared to the MX 900. Like I said, I own both so I know. The activity buttons on the Harmony are ridiculously small!

FWIW, You might want to take a look at using Remote Control II on a pda. With this setup you get the best of both worlds, customizable touch screen controls as well as tactile buttons.

Ciner, I would also edit your first post as price quoting is not allowed on this forum.

Joe

FWIW, You might want to take a look at using Remote Control II on a pda. With this setup you get the best of both worlds, customizable touch screen controls as well as tactile buttons.

Ciner, I would also edit your first post as price quoting is not allowed on this forum.

Joe

thanks for the information i will look in to that now. and post edited, had no idea :)

FWIW, You might want to take a look at using Remote Control II on a pda. With this setup you get the best of both worlds, customizable touch screen controls as well as tactile buttons.

Ciner, I would also edit your first post as price quoting is not allowed on this forum.

Joe

Its a neat idea but i do not have a PDA. And I'm rather fond of the RF extender types as the remote does not need to be pointed, can reach from anywhere in the house, etc