I looked at a lot of scales. This scale had a lot of extra features but the price was only slightly higher than a scale that just gave the weight. I needed to know the carbs, fats, etc. so this scale is very informative. My favorite features is that you can put any container on the scale before you turn it on and it will zero out so after you turn it on you get just the info. for the food itself, makes clean up easier, just toss your plate into the dishwasher and grab any old plate or bowl for the next measure. My only problem is I find the book with the code numbers a bit awkward, too many diff. sections for everything, and I have to wear "cheaters" to read it. I plan to spend a little time (maybe when I'm a passenger during a car commute) to pull out a list of codes for my most frequently measured foods, then type up my own, larger print list to make it handier. I don't know how long the scale will last, but it appears to be well-made and has a small footprint on the counter. I find it very usefull and with all of the different information it supplies, it is useful for everyone in our household.