WOW $79 for this remote from Dell, thats a smoking deal! I would have never thought to even check the Dell website for one of these?
My girlfriend didn't like it at first either and still insisted on using the cable box remote, which drove me nuts because adjusting the volume with that remote does so at the cable box, not the surround reciever. So everytime I'd go to watch TV after her I'd have to hunt down the other remote for the cable box and readjust the volume on it first.
This was easy to fix though and to get her using the new remote instead was also easily fixed. I just went into the software for the remote on the computer and set up all the controls she uses on the cable box remote she's use to directly into the customizeable LCD display. Its actualy very easy to do. Now when she grabs the new remote she finds it easier to use than the old one because the few buttons she actually uses are right there, custom named for her by me and well lit up.
This had a down side though because the buttons I more commonly use are different than hers. I solved this by adding a second page of controls that contain all the buttons I like to use. I leave her buttons on the first page, mine on the second page. So when she wants to use the remote all she does is pick it up and its ready to go for her. When I want to use it I just hit the right arrow under the display and it takes me to the second page of options where I have my prefered controls programed in.
I also sort of cheated to force her to use the new remote instead of the old one (it was annoying when she'd turn the cable box volume all the way down with the old remote and then when I went to watch TV no matter how loud I turned the surround reciever up it was still to quiet). I pulled the battery out of the cable box remote and put a small piece of clear tape over the metal contact on the remote and reinstalled the battery (after hiding the remote from her stopped working as an option). The next time she went to use the wrong remote it no longer worked for her, as expected she tried a new battery, it still didn't work so she tossed it aside and started using the new remote.
On the issue your having with the motion sensor, I'd bet there probably isn't anything wrong with the remote. If you go back into your programing software on your computer you'll find an option there to adjust the length of time the remote stays lit when motion is sensed, as well as an option there to turn that feature completely off. Try going in and changing that setting in your software, then plug your remote back into the USB cable and allow it to update the remote. Even if it says the feature is on in your software, try changing it in the software to a different time and update the remote by plugging it back into the USB cable. This will reboot the remote after it completes and likely solve your problem.
The thing you aren't likeing about turning a device thats already on to off is more a matter of getting use to using the remote than a problem with the remote itself. Once you let go and get use to just using this single remote to control everything you'll find these pre programed events to be great. You could still though always use the remote in the traditional method if thats what you prefer. Rather than using an event like "watch DVD" and just pushing the watch DVD button, you'll notice there is still a button built into the remote called "Device" just below the screen. If you hit the Device button you'll see like a traditional remote you can still control all your devices individualy instead. Once you get use to though, turning everything on and off with just the remote by hitting a single button, then this feature will win you over and you likely won't be able to stand using traditional remotes any longer.
I don't want to imply anything negative about your friends and family members capabilites, but how could they possibly not know how to use this remote? It couldn't be easier, you want to watch TV, you just hit the button that says "Watch TV" and boom, your watching TV. All the traditional controls on conventional remotes like volume up/down, channel up/down are still there and clearly labeled.
The charging cradle thing I'll agree with you on for sure. They should have just made this a small cheap plug that goes from the wall outlet directly into the USB port on the remote to charge the battery. I know this is possible because I have a cell phone that is like that, a simple power cord goes from the wall to the same USB port on the phone I use to plug it inot my computer.
The charging cradle is certainly sensitive though on how you lay the remote into it, that is a design oversite for sure. It still works ok, but you should be able to just drop the remote in, or possibly snap it into the charging cradle and it should work without the need of fine tuning the positioning. Another annoyance we have in regards to the charging cradle is that blue LED on the top of it that is always on and at night lights up the entire room with a bright blue glow.
I've since gotten use to the small buttons and manage to find my way around the remote by feel now after a week or so of using it. The raised waive shape of the buttons took a little to get use to in order to just hit them by feel without the need to look at the remote, but it is possible I'm happy to report.
Just like any computer controled device though, when things seem to stop working right or not responding like you'd like them to, a simple reboot usualy solves the problem. Updating the software by plugging the remote into your computer will do a reboot on the remote. I've found odd behaviors I initialy experienced when the remote was new like not turning everything on or off correctly went away after the remote had been rebooted a couple times and I haven't had any problems or issues since.
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