Pros: Better than air conditioner in dry, hot climates because doesn't dry your nose, eyes etc. Has a remote for us lazy people. Has oscillating louvers inside that move the air around, but can be turned off if you just need it to blow in certain direction. New Egg had excellent pricing. One filling with water and it lasts about 8-10 hours so it will last all night if you use it to cool a bedroom. And it is very easy to move from room to room.

Cons: Having to fill with water isn't my favorite thing, but it does last quite a while on one filling. Do need to replace wick inside after a couple of years depending on how much you use it. Wish the horizontal louvers on outside were motorized like the internal vertical ones, but the can be moved by hand.

Overall Review: This is the 2nd one we've owned and it's great! We live in Boise, ID and summers are usually hot and dry since we're upper desert here. The first one lasted about 6-7 years and we only replaced wick once. We usually just use in summer as a backup source of cooling instead of running the house swamp cooler at night. Also use it to direct the cool air from our larger cooler into kitchen or corners that swamp cooler doesn't quite reach. Keep in mind when you use an EVAPORATIVE air cooler that you need to open windows slightly to direct the air into that room. With this small portable version, you should crack open a window(s) in which you are running it or it will build up humidity. Best thing to do is to place it so that it blows across whatever or whomever you are trying to cool and out a door or window. Just read the instructions that comes with it, they mention this. And ice does really cool things even more! It's a shame the previous reviewers didn't seem to read their manuals wel