Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

OK, let's sort through some misinformation that was posted by other reviewers and get the facts out about how this clock actually works. I've used it for some time now and I have first hand experience with all of its features. The clock is 100% battery operated. The display is back-lit with a green light. There is a sensor on the Snooze bar that senses the ambient lighting level in the room. If there is light in the room, the green back light is OFF. This makes sense because why use up battery power when there is enough ambient light to see the clock display? As the room light changes from light to dark, the green back light changes from OFF in a lighted room to a dim very low level in a dark room. If the Snooze bar is pressed, the dim low level green back light changes to a bright high level as long as the Snooze bar is held down. I read somewhere that "waving your hand" over the Snooze bar/sensor causes the green light to brighten. Not really true. If the room light is at a very low level and the back light starts to change from OFF to some degree of ON, waving your hand over the sensor only blocks the room light so the sensor thinks the room is dark and this causes the back light to go to its maximum dim very low level. It does NOT cause the back light to go to the bright mode as it does when you press the Snooze bar. The only way to make the green back light very bright is to press the Snooze bar. Not even sure why you would want to make it brighter, as the low level light is OK to read the clock. The low level green back light in a pitch black room is what the manufacturer calls "unobtrusive". I am a bit anal about LED's in the bedroom. I even have a piece of tape on the LED in my smoke alarm. The low level green back light does not bother me at all. It is a very soft light that offers more than enough back light to read the clock display in a dark room as well as having enough light that I can see to get out of bed and return without any issues. It really is easy to set both the time and alarm. Turning the alarm ON or OFF is done with a slide switch next to the Snooze bar. Some clocks have a three position slide switch and sometimes you may not be sure exactly where it's set. This one is simple, ON or OFF. The "chirp" of the alarm is pleasant. I really don't like an abrasive alarm tone. This one will wake you up, but not annoy you. Not sure about battery life yet. That would be the only reason to rank at 4 stars or less. The overall functionality is 5 stars. 12.FEB.2013 Update - If you need a good dependable alarm clock, this is it. I have used it for over 1 year and it has performed perfectly. One benefit I have come to appreciate is the size. I do not like hotel room alarm clocks. They are not to be trusted. This one is small enough that I put it in my luggage an take it with me. Then, I have something I know works and it is easy to set and use.