Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I purchased my Band directly from Microsoft when it was announced. Previously, and concurrently, I tried numerous other fitness tracking devices. Because I use a Windows phone, all but Fitbit were quickly eliminated because I could not monitor them on my device. The MSFT Band is in a class of it's own. Yes, it is a fitness tracker that counts steps, and measures sleep, like most others on the market. However, it may be more accurate than many other brands. It does add heart rate monitoring which is not yet commonly available without an external strap. What makes the device stand out is it's integration with the phone(s) ( including iPhone and Androids ). On the Windows phone I can speak to Cortana using the band. It also monitors my calls, messages, emails, etc, and provides onscreen alerts if I want them. Since my phone is in my pocket, and I don't always hear it, the band alerts me to anything to which I may want to respond. That is very helpful. It also has alarms which can be set by voice command with Cortana. The reviewers who have seen them for a day or two hit pretty hard on the aesthetics and comfort. I haven't worn anything on my wrist for years so this was a new feeling for me. In fact, over time, it has become very comfortable. I wear it display down, like many others, and I find the ability to view the horizontal screen to be very easy, as is accessing the controls. In fact, it is easier than a multi-function watch. Some also talk about the need to recharge every couple of days. I usually have some extended periods working on the computer, so during the first one, I slip off the Band and put it on the charger. When I'm ready to go, it is fully charged, and may last a couple of days before being too low. The fun of the band is in watching for what will be coming. We know MSFT will need an online portal ( reportedly under development ) to allow us better views of the data over time. Also, there needs to be a better integration with MyFitnessPal to monitor calories burned/consumed. Beyond that, we can only guess what the many included sensors will produce in interesting data. Finally, the Band is far more rugged than any of the other devices I've tried. I put on the screen protector that shipped with it and there has not been a scratch. It has been banged around a bit when I've been working in the yard but it has not suffered any damage or problems. So, if I like it so much, why only 4 stars ? There are still needs relative to the software tools that go with it, so when they are improved, this review would move to a 5.