This is my third Stamina rower and I'm pleasantly surprised that this more basic/cheaper model exceeds my expectations. Assembly was easy. I really like the single t-bar design on which the grips are mounted and now prefer it to the dual-bar arrangement since the t-bar ensures equal tension on both grips. It's quieter than my prior Staminas and narrower, but also longer and deeper. A cinch to lift/move nevertheless. The seat at rest is positioned at the bottom of a downward-sloping track bar. Sitting on it requires sliding the seat up the track (against gravity) and holding it in position, then straddling and squatting. That's somewhat awkward and I suppose, if the seat slips away during the mount, perhaps injurious. It's too soon to tell whether this product proves to be the work-horses (daily use for at least five years) that each of my prior Staminas have been. For the price of this, a couple years of service would qualify it as a great deal in my view.