[spike]

Wow! it's got a lighted dial bright enough you could read a book by. It's not a dim green light light the UltraSmart. And the log entries (previous bg readings) in in full sized font, EASY TO READ. YEAH! I like it! It's a bit bulkier than the Ultra, so it won't fit into the old case.

[Cyborg]

Pictures! Details!

[Tokyo Cate]

How exciting it is to get new toys! I hope you find the perfect case for it soon.

[spike]

Originally Posted by Tokyo Cate

How exciting it is to get new toys! I hope you find the perfect case for it soon.

I'll have to wait for LifeScan to send me one. They said when they agreed to send me the meter that a case wasn't yet available because they are waiting for shipments of the entire retail product with case, lancet, and test solution. I received a "bare" meter for the time being, like a warranty replacement shipment. I'll call them on Monday for the case.

[spike]

Originally Posted by Cyborg

Pictures! Details!

here's a pic....

[Cyborg]

Does it have all the features of the UltraSmart?

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by Cyborg

Does it have all the features of the UltraSmart?

I believe it's a dumbed down UltraSmart. Basically the main advantage over the Ultra is that it shows more readings (more memory) and it does averages (which I believe the Ultra doesn't do.)

[spike]

Originally Posted by Cyborg

Does it have all the features of the UltraSmart?

No. there are no graphs. I never look at those anyway. The Ultra II has a smaller footprint than the US, but it's just as tall.

[spike]

Originally Posted by Cyborg

Does it have all the features of the UltraSmart?

It has no beep sound. You have to watch the screen to know when to apply the blood.

[psilocybin]

looks neat, may get myself one,...dont reallylike the strips though

[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by psilocybin

dont reallylike the strips though

I've heard a few people say that, but I'm not sure why. They take less blood than many other strips, but I believe there are some others that take even less.

I think I still prefer my UltraSmart over the Ultra II, but I'll have to get my hands on one first before I can say for sure. I sure like the bells and whistles on the UltraSmart. The one thing I don't like is when it asks for a code confirmation and catches you offguard. If you don't catch it in time, you end up applying blood to the strip and wasting the strip. I think it asks about every 25 tests.

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by Cyborg

I've heard a few people say that, but I'm not sure why. They take less blood than many other strips, but I believe there are some others that take even less.

I think I still prefer my UltraSmart over the Ultra II, but I'll have to get my hands on one first before I can say for sure. I sure like the bells and whistles on the UltraSmart. The one thing I don't like is when it asks for a code confirmation and catches you offguard. If you don't catch it in time, you end up applying blood to the strip and wasting the strip. I think it asks about every 25 tests.

On the code, it does ask every 25 strips, which happens to be one vial, which is when a code should change. I agree it does catch me off guard though.

And it does require less blood, however the way the strips are designed they start counting down the second blood enters them. And you have to get blood in it fully before it hits 3 or 4 seconds left (of a 5 second timer) or it gives you a code 5 error. Many times I have wasted strips because the countdown starts and I need to squeeze a tad more blood out.

[spike]

Originally Posted by psilocybin

looks neat, may get myself one,...dont reallylike the strips though

Here's why I like the strips

1. I can remove a strip from an uncrowded vial (unlike Freestyle strips)
2. Visual indication of blood filling the strip (Freestyle strips remain black)
3. Accuracy
4. It takes just one hand to pull the strip from the bottle and insert into the meter. Freestyle strips are placed upside down in the vials, requiring the "two handed juggle" to get the strip into the meter.
5. I've no problem getting enough blood for those strips, so sample size is not an issue for me.
6. The meters that use those strips (Ultra, Ultra II, UltraSmart) start counting down the very moment that the strip is filled with blood. Freestyle and Compact meters have a significant delay, causing me to keep hovering over the strip to be sure it accepts the sample. That irritates me. I want it fast and simple.

[spike]

Originally Posted by spike

Here's why I like the strips


6. The meters that use those strips (Ultra, Ultra II, UltraSmart) start counting down the very moment that the strip is filled with blood. Freestyle and Compact meters have a significant delay, causing me to keep hovering over the strip to be sure it accepts the sample. That irritates me. I want it fast and simple.

I should have said the Compact meter only, has a significant delay in confirming the application of the blood sample. The Flash, while a bit slower than the Lifescan meters, is still reasonably quick to confirm.

[gettingby]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

I believe it's a dumbed down UltraSmart. Basically the main advantage over the Ultra is that it shows more readings (more memory) and it does averages (which I believe the Ultra doesn't do.)

My Ultra gives 14 and 30 day averages.