When you set the programme it plays a tune then the LED display does a little dance while the drum balances and weighs the washing, and it's ultra quiet. What more can you want? Oh and it's got a 10 year Direct Drive motor warranty, 5 year parts warranty and 2 year parts & labour warranty.
There's a number of drying settings for different temperatures - Cupboard, Low Temp. and Iron, as well as 'Air Refresh', 'Air Refresh - Hygiene' and 'Time Drying' settings. It automatically sets the drying time by sensing the weight and slow spins initially to balance the clothes around the drum although you can alter the time to suit yourself. It displays the drying time left on an LED display.
The washing machine emergency drain is in an accessible position, it's got a child lock and a debris filter and you can even switch the sound off if it begins to irritate. The machine only requires a cold water supply. For anybody who has a combi-boiler that takes a short while for the hot water to come through it will be a bonus.
Air refresh means that clean clothing can effectively be dry refreshed rather than having to wash the clothes again. This is particularly useful if you are in a rush and find that the shirt you want is a bit musty or something and it can be dry refreshed quickly ready to put on.
The washer has all the usual settings (cotton, wool, synthetics, delicates etc.) as well as sports wear, denim, hand wash, pre-wash, multiple spin speeds and others.
I've found the instruction manual is well set out and descriptive enough to understand. It's large drum has meant that it can easily cope with more washing - providing you don't try to overfill it. It also clearly counts down how long it has to go. At the end it plays a little tune and displays 'End' to notify you the washing itself has finished. After a few more minutes it plays a little tune to say that the door will open. This is probably very useful for a blind person, while a deaf person can see what is happening from the display.
I'm impressed how quiet it is when it is fast spinning - not a bone shaker like many machines. I can even listen to the radio without having to turn the volume to full when the kitchen door is open.
For some it may stick out a little further than some washer dryers, but I believe that is the nature of the beast of being direct drive