I have be use the Zojirushi 3-Cup rice cooker for nearly one month and could not be more happy with it . the quality of the machine be excellent . I be a excellent cook but have never be able to make rice on the stove top that be as perfectly cook . I originally purchase this machine for the convenience factor . after burn my rice several time recently because I be multi-tasking and not watch closely enough , I decide to purchase a rice cooker so that I could set it and leave . the timer be a add bonus , especially for make steel cut oatmeal for breakfast . just set the timer and it be ready when you wake up . it be a little more expensive than other model , but the quality of the machine make it a good value .