daryl.k - a long time ago I used to have the Kameleon... it's slick and beautiful but has severely limited program memory (about 25 keystrokes). Then I bought a Sony RM-VL600 (now upgraded to RM-VL610 around US$20 street) - it is super programmable and has memory to reprogram every key for every device, plus macros.

I have two Sony remotes, one from ebay another from Amazon via vPost. Currently I'm using a Harmony 525 for the main system, though

This post has been edited by SiriuslyCold: Oct 25 2009, 11:23 PM

let meknow if anyone can find the Sony VL600 or VL610 here

the Harmony 525 feels a bit fragile, but it's dropped a couple of times w/o any apparent harm (touches wood)

reviews have a lot to do with expectation - the VL600/610 is a basic remote but it is highly programmable. But it also doesn't have a capacity like other (more expensive) remotes to connect to the internet and upgrade. After all it's only US$20+ (find me an upgradeable US$20 remote...)

you also have to look @ other places for reviews - remoteCentral, for example, I would consider the specialists, and they had good words to say about the VL610 (read the review)

Also read the reviews from Amazon users - 4.5 stars from 21 reviews.

Look at the single two star review on Amazon:

"I recently bought a Logitech 550 and are very happy with it. Then I thought I can get a Sony 610 to do the same but with a cheap price. " well, WTF do you expect? he didn't review the remote - he compared it to the Logitech 550 and found it to be wanting. The Logitech 550 is US$150 - more than 7 times the price of the Sony. For me it makes the reviewer look stupid.

So the guy on Sony.com - didn't do any research on the remote (not having backlight and not upgradeable isn't something secret) You can download the manual (look here) and read other reviews... then buy. So all his issues have something to do with his failure to research the product. Another fool.

Calvin & Hobbes said "happiness is a matter of the outcome meeting your expectations" - so set your expectations properly based on what you want/need to do - there is no LCD for flashy outlook, there is no hookup to internet for adding devices, but for US$20 it does what it's supposed to do, and exceptionally well.

In a nutshell, don't just read one review and make conclusions... do your research properly, even if the product is only $20. Make a checklist of the features you want, prioritize them and find a level you can compromise base don your budget.

This post has been edited by SiriuslyCold: Oct 29 2009, 09:53 AM

this is the 610N on Amazon US$21 new. I guess the ebay price is good (I take it RM122 includes shipping)

Also, you might want to think about one of the Philips remotes available locally around the same pricing, although I'm not sure about the programmability.

I've not had any problems with any of my Sony remotes, but if it breaks... you may want to be able to yell at someone and a local Philips remote will be locally supported.

This post has been edited by SiriuslyCold: Nov 9 2009, 12:29 AM

Logitech Harmony 525 does, it's listed in the equipment list in the online config

This post has been edited by SiriuslyCold: Nov 9 2009, 10:19 AM

the Sony should be able to learn all the codes required for the WDTV. I haven't tested this though

why not take the WDTV to Harvey Norma (or Best Denki) where there's a Philips remote stand and see if it can learn the WDTV remote

This post has been edited by SiriuslyCold: Nov 9 2009, 12:54 PM

the problem is the WD unit doesn't have hard buttons on it unlike some other players

at least 360 more

yes it can