First of all, you can't tell from the picture but this unit is quite big. Set up is very easy; all you have to do is to fill the reservoir with water, plug it in, and press the buttons. The fan is very powerful even at Low speed, which means it is also a little noisy. If you have it in the "Cool" mode, it pumps water to cool so you can hear water flowing. It sounds like fountain. So, if you plan to use this to cool your bedroom while you sleep, and you're a light sleeper, you might want to take the sound into consideration. Of course it does not cool like a real AC would, but it is better than a fan. I tried filling the reservoir with cold water and it makes it cooler. It comes with a remote control so it is very convenient.
This is the first time I bought a Portable Cooling unit and I have to say I was rather disappointed. If you're naive like me and think that it is going to make your room cold like an AC then you will be disappointed. The sound bothers me too so I'm going to... Read more

This Cooler is not small, but it is powerful. I took it out of the box filled the unit with two gallons of water plugged it in, and cool air was abound. And I'm using it in a Living room that is 440 sqft. It's 90 degrees outside and about 77 degrees inside.
And truthfully I don't find the unit to be loud for the amount of air that it is producing, and I haven't turned it off of low setting.
I am quite pleased with my purchase and look forward to a Cool Summer at less cost than running my AC unit.
By the way I live in the Southwest; where humidity is low most of the Summer.

PS: Hats of to the supplier because I received my order in TWO DAYS... Outstanding service!

I read the reviews and was nervous about this one but went with it because I could afford it. My elderly mother needs heat but I'm dying here, so I got this to cool just my room. The first time I used it I wanted to test it so I left it on high in a closed room for just the time it takes to shower, and when I returned whoo-ee! Hot and muggy, just like the other reviews have said. However, now I leave the window open (you only need a few inches of open window), and it works perfectly. I have it by the window approx 6 feet away from me and it feels like a lovely spring breeze. It is 88 outside and 76 in my room, and that's without the house a/c on. The side of the box says specifically to put it by an open window, so that's something to remember. I guess the key is to have at least some airflow at the back of the machine, not a closed room. It probably won't always cool the whole room, especially in say, Arizona in August. It will, however, cool you. It makes noise but less... Read more