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(More customer reviews)Since I just got it, I'll try to post a followup review in a few weeks.
There seems to be only 1 review on this product (everywhere, believe me I looked) and I have been tracking this for a long while to see if more review would come but alas. The price was down to $49 and since I had a 10% coupon I thought the time was perfect. I was so dubious I had to download and read the entire manual online before visiting the store to check it out. The manual made it even better than I first thought - it just doesn't make sense that the price was so low.
To be honest I guess the biggest hesitation I had about buying this was the fact that, being a gadget freak, a brand like Emerson isn't exactly one that gets me excited to covet said product. I have never owned anything with this brand.
Having said that - these are the features that changed my mind (ranked by importance):
- projection clock - the one that I had really been coveting was an Oregon Scientific one that projects during the day as well, looks really sleek, when it alarms you wave at it and it stops. It does the 180 to reverse display in case needed. And yes, atomic time was cool too for all the obvious reasons - but guess what, it costs $119. It didn't matter how much I told myself that I was 'worth it' - I just couldn't justify spending that much for something that does just one thing. No radio, no dual alarm (I think), no in/out jack. THIS ONE has all that, the projection is bright compared to my old one (I did a side by side) and the focus adjust works great. I am visually impaired so this was important. But wait, theres more!
- IPOD mode - a lot of the made for IPOD products out there do not have a projection clock. That's a deal breaker for me - so that starts to narrow the selection even further. This one has adapters for the various generation ipods and for added measure it has a line in (for shuffle or other mp3 players). So what made me give it 4 instead of 5 stars is the fact that the dock is not made for IPHONE. And I knew that when I bought it. Having said that, if you don't care to miss calls while charging, then just put it in airplane mode. Ah, but this is where the line in comes handy for me - I can't miss phone calls (because of work), so if I don't care about charging my IPhone, I connect it to the line in and voila! no more interference (the wire I use is long enough to keep the phone away from the clock). SO for IPhone, to charge - put in the ipod dock, to use - connect to line in. Its like, whoever designed this product read my mind or was in the exact predicament I was in - I really feel that ( in case (s)he happens to read this review. p.s. this product better be reliable! )
- The sound quality is decent - I mean for the price, its not really fair to compare it to the Logitach 5.1 surround setup that I have on my laptop with a Creative Audigy sound card. Like the previous reviewer, I listened to a couple of other made for IPOD gadgets and they were all pretty awful and the one that sounded decent was in the $150 - 300 range. This one to me sounded better when it was louder. The bass could be better BUT again its really not that bad. If you are such an audiophile, you probably won't feel bad spending a few hundred dollars but I bet you probably will not get all the features this $45 has.
- The dual alarms, the weekend, weekday, 7 day alarm mode, the Smart Set, Sleep Mode, headphone jack and backup battery got thrown in too and it still $45! Depending on who you are, these could be nice to haves or absolute musts. I'll take 'em - all of them! I heard horror stories about atomic clocks being iffy on the receiver's strength or the signal's strength relative to your location - so this Smart Set fixes that issue. Lets just hope that the president doesn't change the DST again in a long while - but given that this contraption is already a swiss army knife masquerading as a bedside clock I wouldn't be surprised if there was a way to adjust for future changes like that as well ,like the way Iphone does firmware updates...ok maybe not.
- Can't wait to try the hand wave snooze thing tomorrow when the 'weekend mode' on Alarm2 goes off at 9. Whee!
So the biggest gamble for me is gong with a brand I haven't used before. I am hoping to be lucky, my last projection clock radio is a no name brand JWIN and it has always been reliable since I got it as an elephant gift 6 or 7 years ago. I am so hesitant to replace it - but the lure of smart set, ipod and the 'wave' upgrade (not to mention the price point) caused me to cave. I guess once you use a projection clock you can never go back - so my little girl will get the old one in her room. (unless they can develop one that tells you the time when you want without you having to open your eyelids - kekeke, yes I am lazy, but apparently not lazy enough to write a short review).
Heck I'm on a roll, I'll continue on - what does it NOT have that I wish it did (as if all the features for $45 wasn't enough) - a smaller footprint like the Scientific Oregon, a weather sensor, a remote, a clapper, a kitty litter box cleaner, a masseuse...just to emphasize how absolutely silly it is to expect more for this price >.< I'll just be thankful if its reliable for a few years.
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Emerson iC172 iPod Dock Alarm Clock RadioThe iC172 iPod dock alarm clock radio by Emerson features more than an iPod docking station. Features like an integrated time display projector, dual 24-7 alarms, Emerson's patented SmartSet technology, and a "snoooze" motion sensor make it an ideal choice for your bedside.
Integrated LCD Projector The iC172 boasts an integrated LCD projector, which allows you to project the time in large, legible numerals onto your wall or ceiling. The projected display is ideal for anyone who has poor vision or a difficult time seeing without the aid of eye glasses, and of course it just looks neat. The time also displays on the 0.9-inch red LED display on the clock's face, whether or not it's being projected.
Charge and Play Your iPod The iC172 is compatible with all dockable iPod models, and charges your battery while your device is docked. When you're ready to get up and go, so is your iPod.
SmartSet With Emerson's award-winning and patented SmartSet technology, the flashing "12:00" display is a thing of the past. On the first, use the iC172 immediately sets itself to the correct year, month, date, day, and time based on the time zone you specify. It also adjusts automatically for Daylight Saving Time, Leap Year and after power outages. For those who like to set their clocks ahead a little bit to make sure they're on time, manual adjustment is also provided.
Dual Alarms The dual alarm system features two alarms that can be programmed separately--one for you and one for your partner. Both alarms can be programmed to operate on weekdays only, weekends only, or all seven days of the week.
You have the option of waking to the radio, your docked iPod, or (for the masochist) a classic buzzer.
Snooze With Ease Turn on the snooze button by simply waving your hand in front of the sensor--no need to press a button (or slam your clock radio in a rage).
Sleep to Your Favorite Tunes You can use the adjustable sleep timer (in 10 minute increments) to drift off to music on your iPod.
Auxiliary Input and Headphone Jack This system includes an Auxiliary Input (Aux) Jack on the back panel so that you can connect older non-dockable iPods, other MP3 players, CD players, etc., and listen to them through the iC172's speakers.
A headphone jack is also included for private listening.
What's in the Box Emerson iC172, AC Adapter, iPod Dock Inserts, User's Manual
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