Of labels and ergonomics.
Out of 53 total keys, up to 41 are usable for device functions. Despite the outwardly tight spacing and small nature of some of the keys, the vast majority had plenty of space around them for comfortable use, especially the all-important volume and channel toggles. For the most part the basic clusters of keys have been placed in logical positions, although heavy DVR users may find the transport controls a bit too small, placed too close to the bottom of the remote, and a little too tight on the keys directly above them. With the increasing importance of DVRs in the modern household, I would have enlarged the transport controls and moved them to above the numeric keypad.
The eight “generic” [A] though [H] buttons do feel as though they could have been so much more intuitive had they been given actual function names – it’s not as if the remote’s designers ran out of potentially useful button labels. In particular the ZR800D is missing several commonplace or at least highly desirable functions, including [Previous Channel], [Guide], [Replay], [Advance], [Chapter Up/Down], plus HDTV [dot] (or dash).
The keypad is made of a translucent white rubber that is also mildly glow-in-the-dark. Two of the keys have been given touches of color: [Power] in bright red, and [Mute] in florescent yellow. Except for the red [Record] circle all other key labels are printed in black. A number of silver labels are also silkscreened onto the front of the housing, including two that clarify that “SCR” means “screen” and “PROJ” means “projector”. The silkscreen quality on the remote is a bit erratic, with a few of the silver labels having a somewhat thick and blurry quality to them, while the large “Screen Up” and “Screen Down” key labels are strangely distorted, even in publicity photos.
The keypad has an especially soft and rubbery feel, but does offer good tactile response with a definite “click” sensation and a decent amount of key travel. Keys depress flush to the surface, but not beyond as can sometimes be the case. Quality-wise the only keys I had an issue with were the wide and thin [Cursor Up] and [Cursor Down] buttons, which tended to depress fully in the middle without being sensed until a greater amount of pressure was applied.
On-screen setup menu.
Programming the ZR800D is easier than the average hard buttoned remote, thanks primarily to its LCD screen that provides instructions and feedback. Hold the [Set] button for three seconds to enter the main setup menu. Four options will be available: “Code Setup”, “Configure”, “Learning” and “Macro”. All menu navigation is done logically with the remote’s cursor pad: [Up] and [Down] to select, confirm with [OK], move back a level with [Exit], and adjust options with [Left] and [Right] or the numeric keypad.
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