this be a really cheap rice cooker , so naturally it be very simple and be not as versatile as the more expensive model . however , if all you be interested in be the basic functionality , it do the job almost perfectly . if you have ever use a rice cooker you probably already know everything there be to know about it , they all follow the same pattern . it be get a non-stick pan , a warming function , a spoon and a cup and a steam tray . basic stuff so i will not go into that . I be not sure if there be any real difference in cooking time between different rice cooker -lrb- i would assume not since rice can only absorb water so quickly -rrb- , but this do the job well . a cup or two of white rice take 15 or 20 minute to finish ; if it be brown rice it 'll be more like 30 . it seem slightly faster than boiling , but not by much . -lrb- definitely way more convenient though . -rrb- some thing i do notice : 1 . when you plug it in , it automatically go into ` cook ' mode , even if the lid be open and the button be not press . this be kind of annoying , i do not understand why it do it . 2 . as far as i can tell , you can not just leave it plug in all the time like a toaster . it be always run as long as it be get power , so when you be do with it you have to unplug it . this be a minor irritation , because i be lazy . : -lrb- 3 . the manual come with cooking direction , but in my experience so far they have be off . if i follow the manual 's instruction , my rice always come out a too dry , kind of with a fried-rice consistency . this be especially the case with brown rice -lrb- which require more liquid obviously -rrb- . they water measurement be just too conservative . but this of course depend on what kind of rice you be use , whether you add any extra ingredient , and so on , so it 'll vary . you 'll figure it out after one or two attempt though . if you be interested in a rice cooker but you be wonder if it be worth it to get one , i would definitely recommend it , especially since this one be so cheap . I myself have not personally own a rice cooker before -lrb- although i be familiar with they -rrb- , so i be sceptical about whether it would get enough use out of it to justify the cost . but i do ! it be much easier to make it in the rice cooker than it be on the stove ; i can dump the rice in when i wake up , and go do what i need to do to get ready for work -lrb- without worry about whether it 'll burn -rrb- , and then shovel it all out right before i leave . I eat a lot more rice now than i do before .