I ordered a $7 remote for my PS3 from Ebay. It's just a simple remote, and a USB IR receiver you plug in to your PS3. I plugged it in and navigated around with the remote just fine. Next I "learned" the functionality on my Sony RM-VL600 and now I can control my PS3 with a real remote. 

The official PS3 remote is blue tooth, which makes it useless for "learning" on another more advanced remote. The solution is a $7 Chinese knock off. Good one Sony.