I purchased this clock as a replacement for an older Timex travel alarm clock that I lost. While this model functions on a basic level, it is disappointing overall.As another reviewer mentioned, this clock gains time quickly. After just a couple of days it will be minutes ahead of the actual time. If you only use the clock for weekend trips this probably won't be much of an inconvenience, but for longer trips or regular use at home, this is a bit of a nuisance. I can honestly say that in my entire life I have never had any clock, watch, or other appliance so poor at keeping the correct time.
I have also been disappointed with the quality of the Indiglo backlight on this clock. On my last travel alarm, as well as my Indiglo watch, the Indiglo backlight is bright and makes the characters easy to read in the dark. However, on this clock the Indiglo backlight is feeble by comparison. It's just bright enough to qualify as usable, but if your eyesight isn't great the combination of the weak backlight and the fact that you probably aren't wearing contacts or glasses in the middle of the night may make this clock difficult for you to read.
As far as the user interface is concerned, the time display is very large, but other on-screen items, such as the "alarm on" indicator, are not necessarily obvious by a quick glance at the display. The Indiglo button, as you can see in the picture, is in the middle of the face of the unit. My last travel alarm placed this button on the top of the unit. If you can imagine trying to illuminate your clock in a pitch dark room, you can probably guess which location is more convenient. Fortunately, all the buttons you need to set the clock are easily located on the lower half of the face of the unit. For setting the time/alarm the clock has a pair of up/down buttons that move the time in one (if you press and release) or 15 (if you hold) minute increments. This is particularly useful for making small time adjustments backwards.
Overall I have been very disappointed with this clock. It lacks some of the ease-of-use features I'm used to, and it suffers from poor craftsmanship. It was relatively inexpensive and it hasn't technically broken, but if I could go back in time I would most certainly purchase a different travel alarm.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Elgin 3400E LCD Alarm Clock
Product Description:
With its tiny size and clear, 1-inch LCD, Timex's 3400T portable digital clock is a perfect travel companion. The clock's cool Indiglo display is easy on your eyes when you check it in the dark. Enjoy 1-minute to 4-hour naps with the unit's handy nap timer, and select from either 12- or 24-hour clock settings. The clock runs on 2 AAA batteries (not included) and measures 2.5 x 4 x 2.125 inches (W x H x D).
What's in the Box
Clock and a user's manual.
