I've had the machine for about 11 months now, and am happy with the performance. I believe I probably have over 50,000 strokes on it by now so it has gotten a fair test. I'm not certain of the total stokes on it cuz the overall total rolls over at 10,000. It's done that a number of times now. Was not difficult to set up. I initially noted some clicking noises while rowing and isolated these to the place where the main rail joined to the front frame. A small piece of cardboard (like the back of a note pad) helped to silence that. I also tinkered with the seat stop near the front of the main rail. I found that I would bottom out on this and did not care for the clack when the seat would hit the rubber stop. Inititally I added a small piece of foam cushion (headliner from an apholstery project) to the front of the seat where it hit the bumper. That had mixed results. I eventually removed the rubber "button" bumper altogether and added a foam rubber cushion about 3/4" square to the stationary spot where the seat can hit it at the bottom of the stroke. This had the benefit of allowing the seat to come about 3/4" closer to the wheel which I liked because it allows you to scrunch yourself closer to the wheel at the start of the stroke. Seemed to feel appropriate to me and is quieter this way with very little impact at the bottom of the stroke. The seat is OK but I sometimes fold a bath towel and add that as an additional cushion. The machine is quiet and has stayed that way. It does not have any "entertainment" as the display is just basic parameters of stroke count, time, pace (strokes per minute) and calorie count. I think that the calorie count is a very simple function of strokes as it shows exactly 200 calories at 1400 strokes. I'm not sure it is sensitive to the load setting or your pace. I kind of doubt it but I don't care. I don't watch the display, but have the unit faced towards a TV and generally watch something that engages me to keep going. You can get a pretty good workout in the last hour of the original Die Hard. That keeps you from constantly looking at your stroke count and thinking "Oh crap. I'm only half way to my goal...". Bottom line is this thing does what is says it does and for a rather modest price compared to some of the wind and water versions, and it's quiet enough to accommodate Bruce Willis movies, ...or even Hallmark or Nicholas Sparks if you are so inclined.