Product review (4 stars): Immediate gratification.  Makes lots of ice.
The Knox ice machine was delivered today.  It is easy to use.  I expected it to fit on a countertop, but it is a little bigger than I expected, so I found a spot for it on the floor with eight inches of ventilation in each direction.  Then I cleaned it and waited 30 minutes before turning it on, like it said in the manual.  (I believe the 30-minute waiting period is for the coolant to settle; you're supposed to wait 30 minutes after you move the ice maker, before you plug it in.)

Once the machine had time to settle, I plugged it in, filled it with water, and pressed the "On" button (which is the one that looks like an asterix).  The "Snowflake" icon started blinking on and off.  Pretty soon the machine started to gurgle, and after a few minutes, it spat out the first batch of ice.  It makes about 6 cylindrical plugs of ice at a time.  I was going to say "cylindrical cubes" - ha ha - but obviously they are not truly cubes, more like a thimble shape.

The batches are smaller than I expected.  Each batch is just about enough to cool one drink.  However, the machine does cycle through pretty fast, and you get a new batch of ice every few minutes.  I think there will be no problem with having it keep up with 1-2 people refilling their iced drinks.  I'm not sure about a whole party.  I guess it depends on the party.

I started the ice maker running about 7 PM.  The tray was nearly full by 9 PM, but then, the tray is pretty small.  One tray of ice is not really enough to fill a cooler so I can defrost the fridge, but the machine is still running, and gradually we're getting there.  (I'm lazy, and I'm always neglecting to defrost the fridge, so right now now the freezer compartment of my refrigerator is frozen completely shut, and I can't get the ice out.)  It will be handy to have this Knox ice maker as a backup, so I can fill up a picnic cooler with ice while I defrost the fridge.

This model of ice maker (Knox) was not my first choice.  I would have preferred a silver finish, rather than white.  However, the Knox model was:  (1) Available for two-day shipping; (2) Fifteen dollars less than the next-best choice; (3) Good reviews from other customers.  Even though this was not my first choice, so far I'm very satisfied.

A previous reviewer commented on the ease of use, and how good the manual is.  I agree, this ice maker is very easy to use.  The manual is written in "English-as-a-second-language," but it's very well translated, and it's one of the better manuals I've seen lately.  Not only does the manual explain how the machine works, I even figured out the programming instructions.  Usually I skip the programming instructions on anything I buy, but it looks like the automatic shut-off feature will come in handy.  You can program the ice maker to turn itself off at a certain time (e.g., midnight or whenever).

In general the manual is easy to use, but I thought it was hard to read the picture where it shows how much water to add.  Apparently, you just fill the water to the same level where the bottom of the tray rests on the ledge.  That's what I did, anyway.  So far, so good.

Also, when you open the package, you will find a mysterious little plastic envelope containing what looks like a tiny rubber plug.  The manual does not say what this is for.  If you inspect the microscopically small picture that shows where all the parts go, you will notice there is a water outlet or drain in the back.  I figured out that if you twist off the rubber stopper, there is a small rubber plug you can pull out of this hole.  Apparently, the plug in the envelope is an extra plug for sealing off this outlet.  Please note, if you are curious enough to unplug the stopper, it is quite difficult to get it back in, and you may need to use some kind of tool.  (I used the flat, thumb-shaped plastic grip on my staple puller to push the rubber stopper back in.)

I have never owned a portable ice maker before, so I can't compare the Knox to other models.  I believe it will make all the ice I need.  Mostly I will be using it just for myself, so I can have iced drinks during the summer.  Also I will use it to fill picnic coolers with ice, but apparently it will take several hours to fill a cooler.

On the down side, this model of Knox ice maker is definitely quite noisy.  I can't say that it really bothers me, but I will definitely be turning it off before I try to sleep.  It sounds something like planes taking off in the distance, with an intermittent gurgle, hum, and crackle as the ice breaks loose.

UPDATE:  It is later the same night. I wanted to add this comment.  The first tray of ice took 2 hours to fill.  However, after that the trays started filling up a lot faster.  I haven't timed it exactly, but I think it's filling a tray about every half-hour.  The moral of the story:  Make sure to start the ice maker a couple of hours before you really need the ice.

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CODA:  This ice maker lasted 17 months then stopped working.  It was making a funny labored noise for the last couple of months, and the sensor that detects whether the bin is full had stopped working.  I'm not sure if this was a natural ice-maker death, or if I possibly damaged a part when I reached inside with a dish cloth trying to clean it.  Anyway, it works out to about $6 a month for unlimited ice, without having to buy a new refrigerator.  I think I'll just buy another one the same.