Product review (3 stars): Heats Unevenly.  No Auto Shut-Off or Other Safety Features
I am always on the lookout for adaptive cooking devices that help me deal with cognitive and mobility issues I've developed from having lupus.

The Nesco portable cooktop addresses some of the mobility issues by letting me put it down lower than where my stovetop sits. The bottom stays absolutely cool, so I'm able to put it on my kitchen table without burning anything. And cleaning up afterwards takes much less time and energy than my gas stove.

The cognitive stuff I deal with has led to the deaths of several pots and kettles that I've wandered away from and forgotten about. The kid needs something, the cat needs something, and off I go, never to return until summoned by the fire alarm. This model does nothing to help with that. There is no auto shut off or timer function, which, really, is okay at this price point. I will say that the heat settings are nice and accurate and very precise, which unlike the gas stove - the settings of which are more art than science - allows me, once I have figured out the exact time I need, to set a timer for myself have have it be very reliable as to actual cooking time. This is a fair trade off, I believe, for not having any in between settings or adjustability for the temperatures beyond the factory settings.

The sole problem I have with this cooktop, and it was serious enough to warrant docking the review to 3 stars, is that the heat isn't applied evenly. it gets hotter in a doughnut shaped area in the middle of the pan, and that requires constant stirring to keep whatever's cooking from sticking and burning. (You can see this for yourself by heating a thin layer of just about anything - water, even, and then watching how it evaporates.) Other than that, it's great. In a side by side comparison with my gas stove, 16 ounces of water boiled a full minute faster on the cooktop set to boil than it did on the stove at its highest setting. The cooktop also cleans really easily and is light enough for me to move around comfortably even with my mobility issues. It also didn't dim my lights or seem to use a lot of power.

As of this writing, the price is unbeatable, and the Nesco does not appear to have the quality control issues that have plagued other induction burners at or near this price point.

For the money, this would make a good extra burner for an attentive cook. Probably not safe for seniors whose attention spans are dwindling.