Oh Baby It's Cold Outside! (Oregon Scientific Projection Clock and Thermometer)

Member Name: Machair1

Product:	Oregon Scientific Projection Clock and Thermometer
Date:	12/01/09 (117 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Continuous Projection Of The Time and Outside Temperature.

Disadvantages: Very bright

I have a very annoying habit of waking up in the night and wondering what time it is. I never used to but years of getting up with babies has taken its toll and I have become a light sleeper. One of the things which really helps me to settle down after waking is to know what time it is. This is especially important if I have an early morning appointment as I have those disturbed nights otherwise where you keep drifting in and out of sleep. It's also due to having ME/CFS which also wrecks sleep as well!

When I was nursing and on shift work in the early 80s I had a wind up luminous giant alarm clock but technology has progressed since then!

So for Christmas I received a present of a very stylish projector clock which my husband bought for me direct from the Oregon Scientific website. I spent ages choosing which one as it was to be a replacement for a similar one we had, but I wanted one which had a larger display as without my contact lenses I can't see much in the night!

I settled on this one "The Radio Controlled Projector Clock by Oregon with outdoor and indoor temperature control". We purchased it online from www.oregonscientific.co.uk and we paid £39.99. Model number RMR329P. Delivery was quick and efficient.

The first thing to say about this clock is that it looks very stylish. In blue and silver it really does look modern and minimalistic and I like the design.

It is simple to set up too and for me the clock has several important features.

1. It continuously projects the time onto the ceiling when it detects a lack of light in the room. You do not have to fumble in the dark to activate this feature.

2. The clock has an outdoor sensor which you place in a position of your choice. This links up to the clock and gives you a continuous display of the outside temperature. I find this great on two counts. Firstly it makes you feel cosy and warm in bed when outside is freezing, and on a practical note it tells you how frosted up your car is likely to be in the morning so maybe you have to get up a bit earlier!

3. The display is a pretty lilac shade and is large. There really is no doubt about the time even for someone with poor eyesight!

4. As the clock is radio controlled it automatically adjusts itself.

It also has an alarm setting which gives you 8 minutes more to snooze! No good for me as I have a shih tzu who makes sure I get up after the first alarm but useful if you like that feature!


Now the only disadvantage is that my husband thinks it is too bright and I have to say he is right on that point. It does illuminate the room with quite a bright lilac glow. I think it is bordering too bright but I am getting used to it. The advantage for me is I get to watch my husband sleeping which is quite romantic actually, and my little dog looks cosy in the night in her little bed in our room so it is nice for that. I think I can only give the clock 3* because of this though as I am sure many people would find this too bright and rather annoying. If you angle it slightly differently it does have slightly less of a glare.

I think the great use for this clock is before a really early start. We often have to catch a 7.30 ferry from Lochmaddy in North Uist to Uig on Skye and check in is 7am. The drive takes half an hour and so getting up and preparing for this is a challenge as in the Western Isles this time of year it is pitch black. With only the stars to illuminate the room it is so dark that you risk oversleeping. This clock would be perfect for situations like these where an early start is vital. For an average day I would say beware- if you like to sleep in a room which is like it has been fitted with blackout curtains this will not fit the bill at all!

I don't know how long this clock will remain in our room as it is certainly casts a lilac shadow. The jury is out on that one but it might take a few more months of testing to come to a verdict!

Summary: A great clock but beware of the light intensity of the display