Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Home Theater Master MX-700

The Orion is an RF remote, so it is more likely a replacement for the MX-800. If fact, that is implied here. The 800's MSRP is $499, though it now can be found for as little as $290 (open box at bluedo.com) since it's being replaced by the Orion. So, I suspect the Orion will cost as much, if not more, making it considerably more expensive than the MX-700. It WILL have an improved select button, and white backlighting which I would like.

Cough, snore, eh - where are my teeth? Lemme see, thanks Jack .

bray, to answer your question, the MX-Editor software is not Mac-compatible and, based on my research and keeping up with the chase, Home Theater has no plans to port it to the Mac. A PC is required to use the software.

I've been a Mac user since they came out, but my wife is a teacher and monopolizes the Mac for 10 months of the year. Since we have a large den, I got a nice PC kit from Tiger Direct last year so I could also have a computer and waste lots of hours on the 'Net. These puppies co-exist nicely on a home LAN.

It's a simple thing to do the programming at work on a lunch hour if you have a PC there. Once you have the file set up, tweaking is something that only takes a couple of minutes. Also, keep in mind that the MX-700 is a learning remote, so getting the commands from several remotes into the 700 isn't quite aas elegant and takes a bit more time, but it works.

As far as the middle button goes, I would agree that it is not as crisp as some might like, but doing the programming on the computer eliminates some of the issues. I really haven't had any issues with the center and I certainly would not let it be a knockout for this remote.

I may be wrong, as I am relying on my memory, but Bluedo might double the normal warranty.

In reply to:

---

The Orion is an RF remote, so it is more likely a replacement for the MX-800.

---

The first post in this thread says that the Orion will be a replacement for both the 700 and the 800. I dunno, I'll just have to wait and see.

- Bill

In reply to:

---

As far as the middle button goes, I would agree that it is not as crisp as some might like, but doing the programming on the computer eliminates some of the issues.

---

I've programmed the key in the lower right hand corner of the 700 to be the same as the select key. This is a very acceptable substitution (in my situation) until something better comes along.

- Bill

I, too, have programmed the "ENT" button in the lower right hand corner to perform the same function as the center "select" button of the "joystick." I don't really have a problem with that "select" button. It's just more convenient, sometimes, to use the "ENT" button, rather than the "select" button, particularly when manually punching in the number of a TV channel.


Well, it appears as if Universal will no longer manufacture IR only remotes. They have introduced a new, less expensive line of Consumer Remotes, which, like the Orion and Omega, are both IR and RF. And, it looks likely that they will drop the entire line of MX models (500/600/700/800), replacing them with the Orion (700/800) and the Omega (500/600)

One drawback, in my opinion, to the Consumer line is that the top of the line model, which most resembles the MX-700, is partially touch screen instead of all hard button like the 700. I was happy to move away from my previous remote which was a touch screen. The middle of the line, and bottom of the line models are all hard button, but don't have all the features of an MX-700.

So, it would seem that to obtain the functions of the MX-700, in a hard button remote, the Orion is the only choice. If the Orion is available at prices similar to the MX-700 (MSRP $349. Open box $190 or less) it will be worth it. If it is priced similar to the MX-800 (MSRP $499/ OB $290), I'm not so sure it IS worth it, and would be all the more reason to get the MX-700 now while still available at low prices.

I hadn't thought about using the ENT button in that manner. Thanks guys!

De Nada!

In reply to:

---

I, too, have programmed the "ENT" button in the lower right hand corner to perform the same function as the center "select" button of the "joystick." I don't really have a problem with that "select" button. It's just more convenient, sometimes, to use the "ENT" button, rather than the "select" button, particularly when manually punching in the number of a TV channel.

---

Ditto! I don't know why but the only time I have trouble with the joystick is when I'm using it in the satellite receiver mode. Sometimes I have to press it several times before the receiver recognizes the signal, particulary when deleting a recorded program.
I wouldn't miss it if they did away with the "joystick" style button.

I didn't quite have the extra change needed for the MX-700, so I had to settle for the MX-500.

You'll like the MX-500, Kurt. It's a VERY good remote. I think Curtis, from the Ascend forum, has, or had, one and spoke highly of it. Enjoy it