Chaney Instruments Touch Screen Travel Alarm Clock Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This looked like a good idea at first. Build an easy-to-use intuitive touch screen travel alarm clock for under $15. NO instructions necessary.
In practice, I've seen a few issues with this clock and am going to return it or use it as a backup clock only. There are too many functions available on the main screen in touch mode that are critical and easy to reset in the dark - (more below)
Pros
- Every setting is touch screen. This is very convenient and it makes a great first impression. It's intuitive. Setting the alarm is easy. The time/date auto-sets itself (amazing)
Cons
- The alarm "off" hotspot is in the upper right of the screen. If you hit the wrong "hotspot" (easy to do in the dark), you may only engage "snooze". The initial wakeup sound is more like multiple, soft chirps. The 5-7 minute later snooze wakeup is loud and maybe wifey doesn't know how to shut if off and runs into the bathroom ready to strangle you.
- The Timezone setting is what messed me up.
By making it too easily available/immediately changeable on the touch screen, in the dark, it's easy to touch *it* (timezone hotspot) by mistake and now all of a sudden EST becomes CST so guess what? You don't get up for that important interview!!!
I got used to feeling for the UPPER RIGHT corner to shut off the alarm without going into snooze but it's just too easy to mess this up. The unit isn't backlit automatically so that also makes it harder.
The user has to look carefully at the clock each night before turning on the alarm to make sure he/she didn't inadvertently reset the timezone. If you have small children, forget it.
I wanted this to be a use-and-forget product. I can't trust it.
The manufacturer should do the following:
- DISABLE any changes to the time parameters once the alarm is set.
- bury the timezone change in a menu or make it a 2-step "confirm" (Y/N)
- maybe make the snooze a 1 touch and "alarm off completely" be 2 touches to a large hotspot. (IE disable all other functions while alarm is active so touching ANYWHERE on the touch screen activates either snooze or alarm off)
I don't recommend this as an alarm clock. It can be a cool desk clock though and that's why I'm giving it 2 stars.
Update: 12/15/2007
Found a good clock from LLBean after searching all the alternatives here. It's LLBeans' Nightfinder II Travel Alarm Clock for only a few dollars more than this one. This is a simple digital clock with large numbers and no touch screen features. By simply pushing it backwards slightly on it's spring-loaded mount, it illuminates (nice). If sold here, I'd give it 5 stars. The NightFinder III is unworthy of the LL Bean name - don't buy the current one.
The original NightFinder I also has problems as the shutoff slide buttons are impossible to slide in the dark. These units are made by Oregon Scientific and are also labeled "NightFinder" but are no longer made (the "I" and "II" models)

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Set & Forget Technology means you will never have to set the time on this travel alarm.Unit will display the correct time and even adjust twice annually for DST.Touch Screen for easy setting.Displays month/day/year with inside temperature and features alarm/snooze and back light

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