Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I almost didn't buy this after reading the customer reviews about how difficult it is to operate. But I'm willing to do almost anything to combat cold dark depressing mid-west mornings. Two nights ago I opened the box and prepared myself to spend an hour or more reading instructions and learning how to operate this thing. Contrary to many reviews, I didn't find it difficult at all. Admittedly it's not obvious how to work it without the instructions, but I got the hang of it within 20 minutes (which includes doing demos of different light/sound levels). If you have operated electronic devices any time in the past decade and have an ounce of instinct for them, this alarm clock shouldn't cause you tons of trouble. I felt 99% confident I had it right but set a backup alarm in case. I'm a deep sleeper who doesn't wake up easily. To my absolute amazement I woke up partway through the light brightening cycle before the bird alarm. I let me self doze off until the birdies started chirping in my ear. The next night setting the alarm was as easy as pushing one button. The next morning I again started waking up during the light cycle, but laid around until the birds. The sleep button is easy to find - it's right on top. The alarm is easy to turn off. So here are my two wake up options: A. traditional way: a pitch black room with an ear shattering "EH EH EH EH EH EH" drilling into your brain which you are so desperate to shut off that you slap the alarm clock halfway across the cold dark room followed by turning on a light which burns your retinas so badly that you can only squint to see and inevitably trip over the cat while temporarily blind. B. new way: waking up to birds chirping (as loud or soft as you like). When you open your eyes the room is already lit (as dim or bright as you like), and it's not harsh because your body has already adjusted to the change in light while you were slowly waking up. You still trip over the cat because the cat is a jerk, but you're not blind nor reeling from the sensation of being awakened by an air horn. I think I love this thing.