Simple all-in-one remote for HT?


I searched the archives, nothing there that helps. I have a HT my kids (my kids are 8, 10, 12) use extensively; NAD receiver, Sony TV, Toshiba DVD, RCA Direct TV. Four remotes, what a pain. I figured the solution was obvious, buy a Marantz RC2000 MkII universal and we'd only have to use the one remote. What a mistake, it took hours and hours to program and my kids never got the hang of it. The damned remote was big and heavy too. Sold it off this week for $100. I feel like a real "dumb ass"

So I've been trying to figure out what remote would be EASY to set up, and easier to use? A remote that was truly intuitive and you can hold in your hand easily. A remote designed with dumb asses in mind. I saw a remote in the Sony store (looked a lot like a Palm Pilot), at first glance it looked okay but I didn't spend any time playing with it. I'm looking to spend $150 max on a used remote, any ideas?
jeffloistarca
The Sony RM-VL-900 is a realitively simple and inexpensive ALL-IN-ONE learning remote. It is much more simple than the remote which came with my Deonon AVR-3300 receiver and the Home Theater Master which came with my B&K AVR-202.

The Sony sells on-line for under $50 I believe and can be bought at Best Buy too. I find it very easy to use one programmed (also easy).

Enjoy,

TIC
Jeff, You offer to increase your 12 year old's allowance if he/she will get up and reconfigure the equipment on command.
I second the Sony RM-VL900. I, too, have the Marantz for
the music setup and STILL haven't mastered it. The Sony for the HT was a breeze!! Look on ecoustics.com. They had it for $36+change.
It is a shame that you sold your Marantz. Programming is a bit of a challenge and there is some learning curve but if your family had hung in, they'd probably love it by now. I know a couple of families that echoed your experience of feeling really disillusioned. But now that they've all puzzled it out, they wouldn't go back. Remotecentral.com is a good source of info as well as data files that make management of programmable remotes much faster and easier.
The Pronto can be found used for under $200. I love the one I have. Easiest thing to set up and use. Looks like a PDA.