Does not retain memory

This review is for Philips Magnavox PM435S 4-Device Universal Remote Control. The picture shown here at epinions.com does not seem right. The picture certainly does not look like Philips Magnavox PM435S 4-Device Universal Remote Control I bought and reviewed here.

Poor engineering lacking even the basic consideration for the user. Contrary to its claims, this remote does not retain settings when you change batteries. Not even for 5 seconds! That means that you'll will need to reprogram the whole thing every time when you change batteries. (For your information, technologically it isn't difficult to retain memory settings in a remote control. Either nonvolatile memory or a low-consumption long-life internal battery could be used to achieve that. In fact, most universal remote controls do have this feature. Those that don't shouldn't exist.)

This is a ridiculous flaw. I would absolutely not have bought it if I had known this. The remote is simple and works, but a flaw like that makes it crippled. I don't know how long the batteries are going to last, but I am afraid that you might end up re-programming the remote at least once every year and very likely more frequent. I'd be very upset about it if that is the case.

Because you will need the instructions every time when you program it, you'd better be careful keep the instructions handy all the time. What a hassle and a burden in one's life this creates! You would have to be taking care of that thing as if it were one of the most important matters in your life. But come on, it's only a TV remote, not a car. At this moment, I am not even entirely sure where my new car's instructions are (hopefully in the car). I know this remote will end up being a piece of junk as I will lose the instructions sooner or later. Just the idea that I will be trying to find the instructions every once a while, and trying to figure out how I did it the last time to program the remote, makes me sick.

Don't buy it unless your life quality is worth no more than a few bucks.