Because they use less water, they also require less energy to heat the water, resulting in more energy savings. This cost is recouped over time, however, in savings in water and energy costs. The fron-tload machines require you to bend over a bit to attend the load. Some models, such as Maytag's Neptune, come with an angled, cut-away door which pretty much eliminates this problem, but the Maytag is also more expensive than other models. Limited color and design options.
Most models are available in white or almond.
Color availability will increase as the front-loaders become more popular. Washing single items, such as a sweater, towel or jeans is not recommended. The machine will stop, and re-start, and will complete the load, but the items will feel wet at the end of the cycle because of reduced water extraction. This can be corrected by adding items to balance the load. This does not apply to single bulky items like sleeping bags, blankets or throw rugs.