they have change this clock since the review by dr that be currently list as most helpful . the small change be that it now use 3 aa battery instead of one c cell . the big , and good , change be that the clock now have a dimmer switch to adjust the brightness of the automatic dial light . you can adjust it from very dim to brighter than a night light . the light itself have also apparently change from earlier model ; now it be a even , overall green light dial instead of a hot spot of light . you can still also push the snooze button to get a very bright blue light . the bad part about this clock be the hand . some designer must have think they would give it some sort of `` look '' with the cut-out design of the hand instead of the functionality of a solid hand . the cut-out hand make it very difficult to see the time at night with the back-lit dial because the light come `` through '' the hand and fuzz they out . to be able to see the time require that you turn the dial light way up , which be very annoying in my opinion . fortunately it be easy to fix if you be even modestly handy . pry off the lens with a very small screwdriver at either the 6 or 12 o'clock position . Cut some black electrician 's tape with a fine scissors or x-acto blade to span the open cut-out on the hour and the minute hand and apply it . I use a tweezers to position and apply the tape , gently tamp it onto the hand to stick . the whole process take less than 5 minute and be now easy to read in day or night condition . I have upload a photo of the result .