If you get a quiet one, just leave it on. Mine came with I think it's called an airboard, an IR keyboard with a joystick mouse built in. A little awkward to use but it works. Just pop a movie in and the software starts playing. I'm not sure how the keyboard needs to be integrated with the playback/control software, if it does at all, but the controls work on mine. There's a lot more info on remotes over on AVS forum.
cheers,
Dick