Had a prototype of the MX-1000 in my hand last Tuesday and I've had an RTI TheaterTouch for a few weeks. Still, a direct comparison is tough. I didn't get to learn any codes or even operate any other gear w/ the MX, just hold it and touch the screen. That being said, the products seem to be in different leagues. The Mx was hard to read, the lcd display smeared black from the pressure. The product most remids me of the new Denon Aktis, similar layout, look and feel, the Denon's just a bit shorter. Based on past remotes from Universal, it should be easy to program, they've got a decent code library and such. I'd think it would be a better choice for a novice. The RTI, well this seem to be the remote we've all been waiting for. It's fairly customizable, readable, and amomg the most usable products I've seen. The code library sucks, and it takes a bit of patience to learn new codes, but in the end you'll end up w/ a better remote.