bit-tech Shopping: Whynter ARC-13S 13000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner Platinum EditionWhynter ARC-13S 13000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner Platinum Edition

Rating: 10

Time with product: 5 Days

Strengths: Cooling capacity, appearance

Weaknesses: Manueverability, heftiness

Summary: Got this a supplement to the in wall unit I have. Surprisingly, I'm using this more than the wall unit now. It's relatively noiseless for a portable unit but has serious cooling capactity. It get's frosty real fast. You know how you turn it on full blast when you step into the room on a warm day and I usually have to turn it down within a half hour. It cools much better than other portable or window units I've used. It's fairly easy to move around but gets clumsy if you're navigating sharp corners. It's also heavier than it looks. The platinum exterior and overall design is sharp. Fits my style perfectly.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 2 Weeks

Strengths: Cools you down quick, best looking product available

Weaknesses: Need the remote to control unit, can't lift it easily.

Summary: I was deciding between the silver and the white and I'm really glad I paid slightly more for the silver, it's is stunning. It's hard to use words like that on appliances, but having owned 4 different portable units in the last 10 years, this is definitely in a class of it's own. It is so small and discrete you hardly notice it, but at the same time it looks good enough that you don't mind noticing it. I am particularly happy with the cooling efficiency. Some units use their fans to blow at a really noisy high level to get the area cool, but this just emits really really cold air. Don't get me wrong, it's not silent, but just does a nice job of cooling space. I seldom recommend anything but I think this has impressed me enough to get my vote.