love the feature of this clock ! I travel a lot on pet-sitting job stay in other ' house , & have learn the hard way to bring my own clock . I have to have one that be absolutely silent and that I could easily see at night . this fit the bill with it be sweep second hand & it be adjustable brightness back-light via a turn wheel on the back . my only problem be the stupid design of the ` cut-out ' hour & minute hand . unless I have the adjustable back-light on full brightness , -lrb- a little too bright for I to sleep -rrb- I could barely make out the hand since there be not enough contrast . -lrb- I have near perfect vision , and do not need to use glasses\/contacts , so that be not a factor -rrb- . I think about have a jeweler replace the hand , but I end up fix it myself . I take off the plastic face plate and , use some black electrical tape cut to size , put the tape piece over the hand . tweezers come in very handy do this -lrb- & a steady hand -rrb- , but it be not too hard . I just have to make sure I get the placement right the first time , since try to rip the tape back off could damage the hand . now it be perfect for I . I would have give this clock a 5-star have I not need to work on it . FYI it run on 3 aa battery , keep accurate time , be 4 1\/2 '' tall . if Elgin ever make a smaller ` travel size ' one , I would get that too !