URC MX-6000: The $1,500 touch-screen universal remote
(Credit: Universal Remote Control)Don't expect to see Universal Remote Control's MX-6000 on the shelf at Circuit City or Best Buy--it's strictly intended as part of a custom solution that a professional installer would set up. Thankfully, the $1,500 touch-screen unit does offer quite a few bells and whistles that take it beyond mainstream consumer remotes such as the $200 Logitech Harmony One.
An update to URC's previous touch-screen model, the MX-3000, the MX-6000 is the company's first wide-screen (480x272) remote. Beyond standard device control (infrared and RF control), the MX-6000 adds Wi-Fi to the mix for access to networked PC home entertainment--according to the company, cover art, artist name, and other metadata will be aggregated from your combined media libraries and displayed on the remote's wide-screen display. It also includes built-in modules that when connected to the Internet can display personalized weather reports, stocks, and news, which can be customized within the remote's interface. Also of interest to digital media fans is the companion PSX-1, a networked iPod dock that the MX-6000 can control--dial up iPod-based music and videos on the remote, and have the content play back on your receiver or HDTV (the PSX-1 has component video output for optimal video quality).
So what do you think: If you had unlimited funds, would you be interested in a $1,500 touch-screen remote? Or is this sort of product overkill, even for the Rolls Royce crowd?
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I do have some real world points of comparison. I happen to have recently finished assembling a system worth on the order of about $8000. I spent nothing on the remote, because I was given a Logitech Harmony 880 about three years earlier, and I just had it reprogrammed. But, I did spend $200 to have it reprogrammed for me, a substantial splurge considering that I know how to do it myself. I just did not want to have to put up with hours and hours of troubleshooting, when I work 80 hours a week.
I'm learning from experience that the economics of the well-paid but overworked professional often hinges as much on time as it does money, and that I've found myself willing to spend more on things that work right the first time. I've become a stickler for reliability.
So, I don't consider $1600 unrealistic for a high end universal remote. I just wouldn't expect a lot of people lining up for it like the next iPod, nor would most owners of the thing use it to control the mini TV and boom-box in their bathroom.
I will say that at $1600, it had better be darned good.
So, I can see how a $1,500 remote isn't unreasonable (though well out of my own budget), I think more work needs to be done.
this remote looks like one of those remotes that u would use for a 75k+ home theater. like the ones u see on tv that people build or get a contractor to build for them for obscene amounts of money (over 100 grand if u know what i mean). As far as using it for the living room to channel surf i don't care for tablets i like the wand remotes. u can use it in 1 hand instead of 2, u point n click just like a normal remote.
really, it is overkill. but like i said if i'm spending upwards of 100 grand on a home theater i'll be buying a 10-20 grand projector and a ridiculous amount on the receiver/pre-amp and amplifier as well as speakers. and after that's all said and done there will definitely be 2% of the budget left for a nice remote.
Like Scott said above... The damned thing MUST work. If I find myself with time to sit and relax and do whatever I do that may necessitate the use of my remote, I don't want to have to reload the settings or spend hours looking for the button or function that I want.
Come to think of it... I should sell it. The only thing that I think is cool about it is that it supports every device that I have, except the xbox360.
The Wi-Fi functionality is intriguing though, especially since it allows the remote to display weather and news. Call me a technophile, but considering the amount of news I consume online, particularly from blogs, the ability to wake up each morning and browse my remote for the latest news while drinking my coffee sounds quite appealing.
Looking at the description though, I don?t see anything about a built in browser, or compatibility with Google reader so perhaps the kindle is still the best option on that front.
Ideally good technology should simplify your life. If this remote and its accessories takes the place of a kindle, harmony one, and ipod video home theater dock, which I estimate totaling up to around $700 bucks then this price seems to be less daunting.
However I?m no expert on the high end home theater remote market and I?m sure there are other options with similar feature sets. My guess is though that people considering this device are less concerned with money than they are about technological wow factor.
Ben Bowers
Contributing Editor for Gear Patrol
www.gearpatrol.com
Seriously, if I won the lottery there would still be lots of other things I would spend my money on. I did buy one of the early harmony remotes. For the first 2 months I thought it was great and loved the idea of being able to write my own macros even though at the time $300 seemed obscene for a.....remote controller.
After a few months I starred at the thing and thought "wow what a colossal waste of money that was". Things like weight and battery life made me wondered why I didn't just use the universal remote that came with my tv because after a while I really didn't do much with my tv/stereo beyond changing channels and volume.
There are other toys I rather get first.
My son has an "xbox!" button. This turns on tv, avr507, and xbox360. Puts tv on vid6, 507 to a preset that puts vol at -35db, 360 as source, proper surround mode, etc. Mutes the tv, then goes to a hybrid profile that controls the tv's video options, all 360 options, and gives full audio control to the 507.
I have macros and hybrid profiles setup for all situations(in my home). This allows my family to use my system without my assistance. I could never go back to "remote hell". Which is 12 remotes on my table(2 of which were universal). 1 TRULY programmable remote takes the place of ALL, with no loss of function. In fact, I have found commands that did not exist on my factory remotes. Such as on and off commands for all devices. Discreet video inputs(vid1, 2, etc), as opposed to a tv/video button, and many others. ALL of my factory remotes have the batteries removed, and are stashed away in a closet. I have not used any of them for years now.
That all being said, I am not a computer programmer, or some crazy tech genius. I am a construction worker from Buffalo, NY.
I believe a remote can be worth $1500. It is a small price to pay for tranquility at home, and sleeping in on Sunday.