I've had the VX5R for about two months, and I really like it.  I would not
keep it if I did not have a computer though.
Yes, you can program frequencies from the keypad.  I have not yet learned to
program tone frequencies manually, but you can program all aspects of it
with the computer.  Even things like time-outs, power levels, etc.
It's very small, and it picks up a lot of intermod and other interference if
you happen to be near such stuff, but in spite of that, I am happy with it.