Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I almost didn't buy this clock because at first I didn't know what to make of the strange mix of good reviews and really bad ones. But the reasons became clearer after I bought it. Here's what seems to be going on. This is a pretty small clock (about 3 inches high by three inches wide) and it's meant mainly for bedside use or travel. Its good for those purposes but not for others. For example, unless you have amazing eyesight, you can't see the numbers from across the room. The display is also NOT back lit, which means once it gets dark, you can't see the time unless you press the light, which comes on for a few seconds and then turns off. I actually like these features in a bedside clock because I don't want extra light when I'm sleeping. But anyone looking for a clock they can use in a family room, with a display that's easy to see at all times, will likely be disappointed. Another criticism is that when it shows the date, the clock puts the day before the month. There is no option to change that setting to make it month/day. I don't use my clock to check the date but can see how that might annoy some folks. Several people also feel that the clock's set-up instructions are hard to follow out of the box. I don't know if the company updated these recently, but I found them pretty straightforward. The instructions are on one small page and involve just a few buttons -- a "set" button and two buttons with "up" and "down" arrows. The set up took me no more than two minutes. Finally, several reviewers also mention that the angle of the clock's face isn't ideal. I agree. If you're lying down, the angle makes the numbers hard to see without tipping the clock forward a bit. Not the end of the world but enough to drop a star off the rating. TO SUMMARIZE: Choose this clock mainly for bedside use and if you don't want to continuously see the display at night. It does a nice job, doesn't take up much room and looks good. But if you want a clock for more everyday use in a family room or elsewhere, this isn't it. Look for a bigger clock with a brighter display that is designed for those uses.