Thanks to all Now it's decision S8 Auto or PR ONE

[Slinky]

Ooops, yeah. I forgot dinner meeting. I was thinking seminar. Probably NOT a good idea to take a tape recorder and ask them if you could tape. They could find the request offensive.

[socalmonkey]

Okay, I better throw in a vote for the PR One.

With all the response you've had... it's mostly from people who have an S8. Since the PR One is so new... nobody here is going to tell you how great it is. Except me. I truly feel it's delivering far superior treatment to anything I've had in the past (mostly M Series and Auto M). So I'm sure the S8 is a fine machine, but the PR is different. And the superior design of the Humidifier can't be ignored either. I never have any rain out problems. I love it!

The software is coming in early 2010. Eventually, everybody who is holding out... will jump on the PR band wagon.

Although the more people hold out... and express there frustration over the lack of software, the better it will be for us with the machines. Anyway, that's my twisted view on it.

I would be more concerned over PR's recent price controlling over the online dealers. If you haven't looked lately, almost all online retailers are being forced by PR to sell the new machines at full list. They really are a strange company... but I love the PR (shhhhh - just don't tell them I said that).

So back on topic - I really love my machine and have never been getting better therapy (not to mention how silent it is). For now, I am getting by with resetting the data everyday and piloting it out in a spread sheet.

What every way you go... I am sure you can't go wrong with either machine.

[cotech50]

I am pleased with my system one. Find it very easy to get into a breathing rhythem and drift off to sleep. Software is an issue if that is important to you.

The most important thing is that you get a machine and mask and you can use the machine every night for however many houe of sleep you can get. Remember that sleep with cpap is better than twice the hours without it.

I adapted to mine like a duck to water and I hope and pray that you have the same experience that I have had. To get to the point of choosing a machine just means that you have traveled a sometimes difficult road to get to this point.

Good luck in your machine choice

cotech50

[packer]

THANKS SOCAL- you really have me leaning towards the PR

it really is hard to determine- I am going to try and see if I can demo a PR for a week and the S8 for a week
I have a good DME and will see if there is a way to " test drive" before purchase

data is a concern- but you are getting data from the PR- the honest truth is I only download 1 time or so a month with my aflex
[ I also use the oximeter once a month as a double check- what matters most, of course, is how I feel- which is subjective anyway! big grin!]

thats where i am this morning- see if I can test drive them both for a few nights

again-- it would be great to hear from people who have used both on the feel of the exhaust relief
[ i was going to quit way back when all I had was the leaf blower- thank God for this forum and you great people-
you helped me through those first days until I got better equipment] Packer

[bailachel]

I can't compare the two since I have never had a S8 but I really like my PR one. It is absolutely silent. The only thing I hear is my own breathing. I have never had rainout. It has a ramp feature but I find I don't need to use it.

As to the data issue, at first I followed Socalmonkey's path and reset the data every day. This worked just fine. Then I came up with an alternative that I think also works for AHI without reseting. I just calculate the daily info from the averages in a spreadsheet. Once I input the formulas all I have to do is enter the average and it calculates for me. Assuming 7 days of data: (7 day avg AHI X 7) minus (the sum of the previous 6 days AHI) = current day AHI. (adjust formula for 1st 6 days).

It doesn't work as well for the large leaks or periodic breathing as I don't think the percentages are high enough to register well on a 7 day average. I did have some periodic breathing (0.3%) in the detail report I received at the Dr's office, but it didn't show up in the averages on the LCD screen.

[jdm5]

I have both machines; I got the PR System One as my first machine (started in October). Was so thrilled with how CPAP has helped me I ran out and got a backup machine...I had read good feedback on the S8 Autoset II so found a great deal on Craigslist for a new one.

I'm actually working on a detailed comparison of the two (my contribution to the world of CPAP) but am tied up at work and haven't had much time to make good progress.

I am a relative CPAP newbie, so if there are corrections/suggestions to this list I'm welcome to hear them.

Here's my quick list of pro's / con's for the two machines:

PR System One

Good

• Swivel hose connector
• Simple interface (knob, one button)
• Relatively ergonomic
• Humidifier simple to open, close, fill, clean - MUCH simpler than the S8 Autoset
• Auto on / auto off selectable (I can't seem to turn off the auto off feature on the S8 -- leaving it running is helpful to dry out the hose...the S8 will automatically shut off if it detects no person wearing the mask - the PR model does this, but the S8 doesn't).

Bad

• No 1 day numbers - can't see your previous night's therapy results
• Stupid beep - it beeps whenever you turn the machine on or off! totally stupid design!!! I wrote up a document on how to de-solder the transducer (speaker) - http://www.tnlc.com/Lara/laura/osa/PR-S ... y_jdm5.pdf to disable this because it drove me crazy.
• Clicking of the wheel/button - it makes a clicking noise when pushing the button down to select something...again, stupid for a device used for sleeping.
• No backlit display - can't see anything on the LCD display without a flashlight. Dumb design decision
• Software not available to users

ResMed S8 Autoset II

Good

• EPR seems more natural than AFlex/CFlex. I can't really explain this more than the EPR just worked better for me.
• 1 day numbers available right on lcd (can only see 7 and 30 day averages on PR System One) - as well as week, month, 6 month averages
• No beeps!!!
• Backlit display - easy to read at night
• Humidifier warming function - nice touch
• Has direct usb cable option available (no card reader if you have laptop or pc nearby)
• Has mask fitting option - when you first turn it on you have the option of it showing you how your mask fits / leak info
• software is available (but need a card reader or their usb cable)

Bad

• Ergononomics - adding humidifier puts the buttons in the middle, harder to find for me from bed
• No swiveling hose connector - stuck at that angle/location.
• More complicated UI (but more powerful)
• Doesn't use minisd card - it uses a relatively propietary card, though there is a less expensive reader available
• weird form factor / perhaps heavier.
• The humidifier chamber I received is sealed - can't open it to fill or clean it easily. There is a "dishwasher safe" one which I ordered (for an outrageous amount of money). That one you can open to clean but it opens from the bottom - which is a bad design (doesn't help you in filling it, and I feel like the latch mechanism is likely to break at some point).

I've settled on using the S8 as my primary machine; the PR is my backup.

[rested gal]

Very helpful pro/con review of those two machines, jdm!

[tattooyu]

Awesome JDM. I'd like to add some comments about the S8 since that is my first and only machine.

Auto Off — The blower continues after shutting the machine off, most likely to draw out any residual moisture from the machine. On mine it turns off by itself after about an hour. Not sure why yours continues to blow air.

EPR — I agree that it is very comfortable. Compared to the Respironics machine they used at the lab to titrate me, the exhale relief on my ResMed (EPR) seems much more natural.

Humidifier Tank Cleaning — I've never really had an issue cleaning the tank. I fill it with sudsy water or a diluted vinegar solution, let it sit, rinse thoroughly and air dry. I ONLY EVER USED DISTILLED WATER. Last night I took Carbonman's suggestion of using denture tablets to clean/disinfect the tank, and it was GREAT! But, I did feel a little weird buying denture tablets at Rite-Aid (I'm only 36 and have all my teeth--well except my wisdom teeth ).

[carbonman]

But, I did feel a little weird buying denture tablets ).

...hey, after my 4th day of cpap found me at Walgreens,
searching the aisles for Lansinoh, for my nares and
Polident strips for gluing my mouth shut,
getting the tablets for the tank cleaning was cake.

[blakepro]

I tried the ResMed S8 Autoset II for 30 days and I have had my PR System One Pro since early October and I can say hands down that I like the PR System One soooooo much better.

Don't get me wrong, they are both great machines, but for many of the reasons stated by others, I like the PR1 better.

Main reasons:
-NO rain out. I don't know how it does it, but I don't even have to use my hose sleeve any more. Even when I crank the humidity up to five, I NEVER get rain out. its amazing.

-Easy to fill and clean humidifier chamber. The S8 II has a sealed humidifier chamber that you are supposed to just pour soapy water in and put a cap on it while shaking to clean it... Never really felt clean when I did that... The PR1 has a super easy to open and clean chamber. It just slides right out.

-Swivel hose attachment. Seems dumb, but it actually helps a lot. Keeps me from fussing with the hose as much.

-C-flex plus seems to work better with the way I breathe. Feels more natural and less forced compared to the S8 in my opinion.

-Standard memory card. I know everyone is freaking out about software, but when it is eventually out there, you don't have to buy any special card readers to access your data. The reporting is really good. I had a very nice person read my card data for me (using the 2.1 software) and gave me a detailed report and its a lot of great data. Cant wait for the patient version!


THINGS I DON'T LIKE:
The only things I don't like are the beep, and the lack of a backlight on the screen. But to be honest, the beep doesn't bother me THAT much, and for the most part, I don't really want to be looking at the screen much anyway. Most of the time, All I want to do is turn the machine on and off and that is easy to do (even in the dark) since the button is a big round wheel button. There is no mistaking the button so you don't need to feel around to make sure you are pressing the right thing.

If you think about it, once the software is out there, are you really going to care that much that it doesn't have 1 day data? or that the screen is not back-lit? If you had a rough night and you want to investigate, you just pop your card into your computer and see everything in amazing detail on your computer screen. much better data there than you will ever get from any cpap machine screen directly.

Anyway, I'm telling you, in October, I had the same option you are facing and I went with the PR1 and I am glad I did. No regrets at all here.

[jdm5]

Auto Off — The blower continues after shutting the machine off, most likely to draw out any residual moisture from the machine. On mine it turns off by itself after about an hour. Not sure why yours continues to blow air.

Let me clarify - the PR System One allows you to toggle "auto off". If you disable auto off, you can run the blower at normal xPAP pressure as long as you want, even without wearing a mask. This is handy for drying hoses out (I just leave it connected running for an hour or so until it's dry). The S8 automatically turns off full pressure (yes, aware of the low pressure run it does after it turns "off" for a little while). So I can't use the S8 to dry a hose - it won't stay on full pressure without it sensing a user. (this is a nit, but just to make it clear).

Humidifier Tank Cleaning — I've never really had an issue cleaning the tank. I fill it with sudsy water or a diluted vinegar solution, let it sit, rinse thoroughly and air dry. I ONLY EVER USED DISTILLED WATER.

Agreed, I likewise only use distilled water...this is also a nit, but you have to admit the PR System One humidifier is a much better design - can completely open the thing for filling & cleaning.

Good feedback - thanks!

[jnk]

. . . it won't stay on full pressure without it sensing a user. . .

Is that true even if SmartStart is toggled off?

For the record, your awesome comparative review above is the kind of amazing post that keeps me coming back to this forum time after time. Thanks for that.

jeff

[jdm5]

. . . it won't stay on full pressure without it sensing a user. . .

Is that true even if SmartStart is toggled off?

Very good question! I never thought to try turning that off! Will try it and report back - thanks!!!

For the record, your awesome comparative review above is the kind of amazing post that keeps me coming back to this forum time after time. Thanks for that.

Thanks also for the feedback...try to give something back here - this has been a great resource for me as I learned about my condition and treatment.