I just purchased this product last week and already I'm a fan. After reading many reviews, I decided to try this product. I ordered it on a Monday and received the package on Wednesday. I was a bit skeptical about what kind of shape the unit would be in as it was shipped right in it's original packaging - no extra box, bubble wrap or peanuts. As soon as I opened the product everything was just as described in the booklet. The packaging was easy to read and the product was even easier to figure out (very few working parts). Just pull the water chamber up from the base and flip over, unscrew the filter/cap and pour water into the chamber. It's nice that the chamber is flat so that it doesn't move around in the sink. I had no problem with it being too tall for my sink as others had written. The hole opening in the chamber appears to be wide enough to get my hand inside to physically clean it, although I haven't had the opportunity to do that just yet. Then screw the filter/cap back on. There was no problem with water leaking out of the chamber as others had mentioned - the trick is not to screw the filter/cap on too tightly. Then you flip the chamber back on the base and plug it into the wall. The dials are all easy to figure out. I don't know why so many people have complained about the chamber not holding enough water, it holds just plenty. There's no reason why anyone should be setting it on the highest lever of humidity or else it will create excess humidity and mold in your house. If you have the humidity level up halfway as I do, it will use about half the tank of water per night (roughly 16 - 24 hrs. of use total). However, I've only tried this method on the cold mist setting. My boyfriend and I were impressed at how quickly the mist comes out upon turning on the unit. At the very highest setting it really does look like pea soup. At the very lowest level, there appears to be no visible mist. Occasionally I will hear a few trickles of water coming from the unit, but within an hour or so it really dwindles down to almost no noise. It is certainly quieter than my old humidifier which sounded like I was boiling water on the stove. I also like the sleek look and un-bulkiness of the unit as well as the ability to have two directional mist flows. I am thinking about buying another one for the living room. It definitely beats my old V790 Vicks GermFree Humidifier in look, performance, sound and just about everything else hands down. In fact, I think I am throwing away that piece of garbage after just one year of use. Even if this new unit works for one season, I know I will be much happier.