Rating: 
Summary: Flexible, adaptable, superb
Review: After buying and returning about 6 devices, from Phillips, One For All, AND from Sony, I tried the VL900. It is excellent. You can teach almost any key any command, plus you can program macros.For example, some have complained that the volume "up", "down", and "mute" buttons are located too low on the remote. So what! Most of the time, we use the satellite, so there is no use for the >> or the << or the > or the "pause" or "stop" buttons in that mode. So guess what? Program them, as I did. Make 'em volume up, volume down, mute and previous channel, and to boot, make the << button "3-6-2" which is the Weather Channel, tune to it with one button. Easy to do. Surprisingly, the Sony Remote didn't recognize a Sony Receiver (DE-685). Again, so what! It doesn't matter with this remote. Just teach it the command you need to control the Receiver, and you're good to go. I've used One For All remotes for years, tediously (but effectively) programming obscure codes for various functions. This is much easier, much faster, to customize. Good Job, Sony.
Rating:
Summary: Great product!
Review: After reading numerous reviews about universal remotes, I decided on the Sony RM-VL900 and couldn't be happier. Even though I do not own all Sony components, the remote controls all the functions of my TV (Mitsubishi), DVD (Sony), Cable Box (GI) and Receiver (Yamaha). If there was a function I wanted transferred, the remote "learned" it easilly. The macro function is really great and the main reason I bought this remote. With the touch of 1 button I can turn everything on and start watching instead of fumbling with remotes. When I had trouble programming my cable box, a call to the Sony 800 number solved the problem in a few minutes. (By the way, it was user error on my part). For the price, this remote is a bargain.
Rating:
Summary: Bought the Right One
Review: After reading reviews for many other programmable remotes, I decided the Sony RMVL900 was the best choice on paper. The RMVL900 is not the smallest, wiz bangy or prettiest remote out there, but it is a fully functional learning remote control in the $50 price range. My system consists of a Sony TV w/ 4 inputs, Harman/Kardon A/V receiver, Toshiba 5 disk DVD, Phillips VCR ... and an echostar satellite receiver. Of all these components I was able to program the RMVL900 for all of them except the satellite receiver, only because it has an RF remote control - I'm never making that mistake again - always buy A/V components with an IR remote control. TV: its a Sony, so the remote control worked as expected - just tweaked programming on a couple of Picture-in-Picture buttons. Receiver: The remote that comes with the receiver is bazaar, lots of buttons, non-intuitive, separate on and off buttons. I programmed the most used functions on the RMVL900 with no problem - even on screen menu and cursor buttons. I use the RMVL900 pwr button for "ON", and the "9" button for "OFF" - I blame this silly oddity on Harman/Kardon, and applaud the RMVL900 for having the flexibility to deal with it. DVD: no problems - just had to program the number buttons to switch between disks. VCR: no problems. Once you figure out how to program it, the macro function is great, it even has programmable delay (per macro) between commands! Hold the DVD button for 2 seconds, and the TV turns on and selects DVD input, AV reciever turns on and selects the DVD input, DVD turns on. Hold the VCR or SAT button for 2 seconds with similar results (on IR components). I use the "1" macro button to turn all components off, effectively hiding the receivers awkward "9" off button. I hope this review helped and wish you good luck making the right decision for your situation.
Rating: 
Summary: Why you should not buy it...
Review: At first glance, this remote control was great. After few month of utilisation, what is write on key begun desapear... After one year, button begun to be harder to push. After 2 year now, some key are dead and I'm surfing the net right now to buy another remote control. Dont buy this crap.
Rating:
Summary: Why you should not buy it...
Review: At first glance, this remote control was great. After few month of utilisation, what is write on key begun desapear... After one year, button begun to be harder to push. After 2 year now, some key are dead and I'm surfing the net right now to buy another remote control. Dont buy this crap.
Rating: 
Summary: Functions Great but with one glaring problem
Review: I agree with all the reviews I have read about this remote. It does control everything flawlessly and if you have a command or two that does not work then it learns the command with ease. I even bought two of these remotes because they have a feature where you can teach one remote all the commands of another. I use this so that when one remote dies I can change the batteries and then have it retrain itself from it's twin. The one glaring problem is this. I have had these two remotes for about a year and the writing on the buttons has already wore down to being almost unreadable. It sucks when you can't tell what a button says anymore. I only wish I could somehow replace the rubber key pad without replacing the remote. Other than that this remote is a real winner.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent learning/universal remote, best one under [$]
Review: I agree with the positive reviews here. As far as the negative review, well... some people have trouble just getting the box open. So ignore that one, it's not relevant. The RM-VL900 was able to control my Sony, Panasonic and Toshiba equipment with its preprogrammed codes. There wasn't a code for my Apex DVD but the learning function solved that in short order. I did add a few more learned functions for each device to ease use even more. To appreciate how great this remote is, you have to try out another one. I also have the Radio Shack 15-2104 and it's a bear to get working right. It finally does the job once you "learn how to make it learn". (Not an easy task since critical information about how to clear preprogrammed keys is left out of the manual.) In comparison to the 15-2104 (which to be fair is ok and costs [$] less), the RM-VL900 has a much better keypad layout, better keys, is sturdier, has much more memory which allows you to program many, many more keys (something like 180 vs about 30) and much easier programming. A couple more nice things about the Sony - it uses four AA batteries which should last a year even though Sony says about 5 months. Some large remotes use AAA batteries even though there's room for the larger AAs. And it has a very strong, wide IR beam, it can operate devices from 33 feet and is good at working from an angle or even bouncing off a wall or ceiling. The only negative I can come up with is it could use a few more buttons like Eject, I<< and >>I but it's easy to program other keys to do those functions. Some people don't like the silver color but I really don't mind. It's a lot better than my six black remotes that now are in a drawer! Highly recommended. Do pay the extra [$], it's worth it. If you must go a little cheaper, the smaller [$] RM-VL700 has much of the power of its big brother except it controls only five devices instead of eight and it doesn't have the 11 macros. I almost went that route but am glad I invested the extra money. Really, for a device that solves so many problems for many years, it's worth paying a little more.
Rating:
Summary: Great remote, reasonably priced
Review: I am using this for a Pioneer receiver and TV, an RCA DirectTV receiver, Sharp DVD, Toshiba VCR, Sony CD and cassette. Just using the preprogrammed codes I was able to happily toss all the other remotes in the cabinet. Later, when I found a few functions were not where they should be or missing (mostly with the RCA), I dug out the old remotes and went into learning mode to customize some of the buttons. Not only is this remote a great convenience, it works far better than most of my other remotes, give the dual IR transmitters. If it holds out for a few years, it will help pay for itself in batteries alone (replaces 7 remotes, 2 batteries each)
My only complaint so far is I don't like the bottom location of volume and channel buttons. It works OK pressing them with your thumb, but I am prefer using the index finger.
Rating:
Summary: Worked Well...For a While
Review: I bought this Sony remote in July 2003. It worked just fine with my 27" Panasonic TV. Recently it started losing channel up/down function, and today this went completely (replaced batteries, tried reprogramming-unsuccessful)! PIP functions and everything else still work. I am very disappointed in this product-for $50+, and being Sony, you expect reliability. The only replacement Universal Remote I can recommend is the Home Theater Master MX-500, which I've had for 2 years now. It has worked flawlessly...of course, it costs $100 or more. Just what is the problem with remote reliability?
Rating:
Summary: Worked Well...For a While
Review: I bought this Sony remote in July 2003. It worked just fine with my 27" Panasonic TV. Recently it started losing channel up/down function, and today this went completely (replaced batteries, tried reprogramming-unsuccessful)! PIP functions and everything else still work. I am very disappointed in this product-for $50+, and being Sony, you expect reliability. The only replacement Universal Remote I can recommend is the Home Theater Master MX-500, which I've had for 2 years now. It has worked flawlessly...of course, it costs $100 or more. Just what is the problem with remote reliability?
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