The E5 comes with an IR-200 if I recall. As such it has 4 IR programmable buttons. But in order to program those buttons, you need the original remote, in order to point the IR from the original remote to the buzz remote while the buzz remote is in learning mode.
But, having said that, if they have someone they know who has a sony TV, usually the basic functions are all the same. Maybe they can borrow it. Sony has been pretty consistent with their remote codes.