Remember those days of programming your "universal" remote to control five or six components right on the dimly-lit, likely monochrome display? For better or worse,
Universal Remote is taking you back to a familiar time with its
Complete Control MX-450, which absolutely doesn't allow PC programming whatsoever. Thankfully, the included display was found to be plenty big for even the amateur AV enthusiast to handle, and the built-in UI / MacroEdit features were sensibly laid out and very user-friendly. Surprisingly, reviewers found the on-remote setup process not only adequate, but actually enjoyable to use. Overall, critics didn't have too much to gripe about (aside from the steep price for an entry-level device), but we'd still recommend hitting the read link and thinking this one over before biting off more than you can chew.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Marrvia @ Sep 8th 2008 6:34PM
Maybe it's just me, but I hate these remotes with lcd screens and other crazy features. The best remote I have found, and have had for years is my $20 One for All URC10820 Learning Remote. It has a ton of buttons for programming, buttons are easy to feel in the dark, long battery life, etc. It only thing I wish it has was more learning memory, so I could teach it every button for every remote I have. But it is plenty good for my needs.
GhostDoggy @ Sep 9th 2008 5:14AM
It is just you. You are a perfect illustration of the customer they are not targeting. :)
jberger @ Sep 9th 2008 6:06PM
The MX-450 is a great, non-PC programmable remote. The macro building process is much much much better than the old style press and hope style of programming.
This isn't a replacement remote like the $20 one 4 all, it's an RF/IR macro based remote that communicates with base stations via RF and devices via IR. It's mainly used for rooms that want to control remote equipment but don't need a high degree of functionality. Like a bedroom or kitchen system where the components are hidden away in a rack in the closet.
Beats the hell out of the old MX-350 and has a great LCD screen.
Marrvia @ Sep 9th 2008 6:49PM
Well my $20 remote control controls my projector, cable box, receiver, dvd player, hdmi selector, component selector, IR dimmer switch, a remote-control fan and any other IR device I want to teach it. I also have an RF Remote Battery Converter so that I don't have to point my remote at anything to control it, which costed $50, but it is well worth it. So I would say that I am a target customer for this, but there really is no need for a $250 remote. Yes, maybe a LCD screen is pretty and looks fancy, but it eats up battery life, and it is pointless because I usually look at the screen I am watching, not the remote, because I can feel the buttons with my fingers to know what I am pressing.
Maybe my $20 remote is not as fast and easy to program(took about 20 minutes to program everything) and not as pretty(though I think my is pretty sleek looking), I'd say it is much better value for 1/13th the price.