I love my slow cookers and own five in different sizes, two round and three oval.This is a great one. The new Jan-Feb issue of Cook's Illustrated also reviewed it and has a diagram which shows its special features: the wrap-around heating element, the two layers of insulation, and, most important to me, the temperature sensor that automatically adjusts cooking temperature to prevent boiling, a common problem with newer ovals. It also doesn't run as hot as most oval cookers which is a big plus. The control panel is intuitive and easy to use. It has a keep-warm setting in addition to high, medium and low; you can also easily bypass a time setting if you wish. I love it and plan to give away my Crock-Pot Smart Cooker which I've never liked.