I have been using the same machine for a number of years (REMstar LITE) and since discovering this website am coming to the realization that it is a dinosaur. I'm very interested in hearing thoughts from posters on what the "latest and greatest" is in CPAP technology. My employer recently changed from BC/BS to POMCO so I'm thinking I may be able to justify the cost of a new machine. I'm particularly interested in how the humidifier and software works. Right now, I simply have a machine with a blower - nothing fancy. Thank you in advance for your time.

PeakTek78 wrote:I have been using the same machine for a number of years (REMstar LITE) and since discovering this website am coming to the realization that it is a dinosaur.

Could be why your responses were so sparse?

The Lite was before my time but I wonder if you just need to hold those buttons down long enuff - until you hear beeps?

I don't think there is a clear Best and think you need to spend some time here reading and searching then reading some more.

Since Resmed and Respironics are putting the brakes on software for the user I would go with a machine which has the software and readers available. Like Intellipap or Sandman.

The ratings from users on cpap.com for machines I believe are true and accurate. They have also provides sales rankings. Lately, on my search I have been paying attention to craigs list or cpapauction.com for rare awesome deals.

The humidifier makes the air "softer" and a warmer. I turned mine off all summer and only turned it on last month when the air got dryer. It was a record year for rain; the first time I turned it off for any length of time. Definitely nicer with the humidifier on. Ever had a dry pained nasal cavity? That stops and everything is normal in the morning. On the flip side, if set too high you get a bit moisture in the mask spitting at you (called rain). It seems to be easier to get to sleep with a heated humidifier. Some machines will preheat the water before you start to sleep.

The software & readers gives you graphs and numbers, letting you know how you are doing. It is (or was for my old machine) a pain to keep going over the data. After a year, I stopped looking at it and have not checked in what feels like a couple years. I feel as if I am doing ok. If I had any concerns over the machine or sleep I would probably re-install the drivers and take a look.

And my machine is from '05.

Well, I've only had mine since 10/29/09 and don't really know any different, but I will say I'm happy with it. It is very quiet. No beeps at all. Very dim. Humidifier helps, but sometimes I'd rather breathe in cool air, but I'm too afraid to try it without the humidifer. Don't want dried out sinuses!

If I could of I would of gotten an Intellipap, not only are the reviews on it great, but it is also the only machine that has a 3 year warranty and has never had a recall unlike resmed or repsironics. When I talked to their home office about trying to located a dme that was in network they were real helpful, they also sent me a follow up card to see how I was doing with my therapy, they didn't have to do that even knowing that I went with another vendor.
Also the software is very user friendly, which is the real downside that I have to my respironics 8 autoset which other than that so far so good but it has only been a month.