Things I like: ease to set up out of the box, appears very durable, can use without cords or with very easily, doesnt' take up much space, battery powered timer counts steps, keeps time and shows calories burned, relatively quiet to use. Things I did not like: The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because the instructional video that came with it was a VCR tape...who uses VCR anymore? That makes me question how long this product has been sitting on a shelf somewhere. Fortunately I still have a functional VCR hooked up but haven't looked at the video yet. Overall this is a product I would recommend and do not regret my purchase.

This exercise stepper is great. The bands are strong and sturdy, and the base is steady. You get a great lower body work out, while increasing the aerobics with changes in pace and arm motions. The resistance from the bands is just as good as free hand weights.

I have only had this item for a few weeks and have not used it as much as I intended yet. I gave it four stars only because I can not yet comment on whether it is durable or gets results. I can say that after just ten minutes, my heartrate is up and I have a pretty good sweat going. I can definitely feel the burn in my legs and butt. Definitely much more of a workout than the four flights of stairs at work that I traverse about six times per day. Its seems like a pretty sturdy device, and contrary to what others have said, I find the resistance cords to add a significant strain to the workout. In any event, they are easily removed if one prefers to use handweights or just shadowbox or play with your Nintendo Wii instead. It is definitely quiet enough to watch TV while using. It doesn't squeak like some others are faulted for doing, though mine does seem to make some kind of swooshing sound when it gets hot. This could be some air movement as the seals heat up. It doesn't seem to affect the resistance or if it does, I seem to automatically compensate for the minute change. All in all, seems like a good value, but that fifth star is going to have to wait for ten pounds and better endurance.

I've had this thing for a couple of weeks now, and i really like it. It seems really well made. I I really like the adjustable tension.
The arm bands are kind of hard for me to use right now, but maybe in time.
the only complaint: the hidraulycs start to make noise after I've been on it for about 30 min.

I have always wanted an elliptical trainer. But with limited space, I found a mini-stepper to be a good alternative. I have done a lot of research and read reviews from Amazon, and seems that this is a more reliable stepper. After 1 day of use, here are my findings:

Pros:
-It arrived pre-assembled. All you need is to remove the plastic, put together the resistance knob (see Cons below), cord, and meter.
-Some mentioned the paddles being too small. I wear 7 1/2 and the paddles are more than I need.
-Space-saving
-Good resistance for a starter for low-impact workout. I want to focus on my tummy, hip, and thighs, and this stepper provides what I need.
-Meter is simple to use, I know when I can have my next cookie

Cons:
-The knob that is supposed to tighten the resistance cord gets loosen up fairly quickly. I haven't used it long enough to tell, but it seems to work best if you were to stay on it consecutively. This is my biggest disappointment.
-It's squeaky (just a little)

For under $70, I can avoid the rain and sweaty equipment in gym. Good low-impact workout.