Great alternative!
Bought this for my daughter.  She tried it out as soon as it arrived (earlier than we were told which was a nice surprise).  My daughter is biracial and has very curly hair.  She was impatient at first but once she let it completely heat up it worked really well and it just took a few brushes through her hair to straighten it.  It did not get perfectly straight like as it would with a straightening iron but it was straight enough that she could style it or put it up, etc. and there were no curls.  She has used it numerous times and likes the ease and the fact that her arm doesn't get tired when using it.
Rating: 5 stars