M Series w/A-flex or S8 Autoset II?

Decided to buy a new machine. My older CPAP has no software/data recording options. I'd also like to "tinker" with some of the Auto CPAP options.

Right now I'm leaning toward the M Series Auto CPAP with A-Flex with the humidifier, software & reader.

Was also considering the S8 Autoset II based on customer reviews, but it appears there is no software available on cpap.com for this unit.

Any thoughts, suggestions or advice would be appreciated. I'm especially interested in reliability/quality issues between the two machines and also the ease of use and usefulness of the two respective software packages (for the data).

*edit* I'm also open to other recommendations.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

I recently bought an S8 AutoSet II (with the software), but since then ResMed has stopped the sale of the software to end users. Supposedly it is because the software can be used to change the machine's setting. All of the manufacturer's try to prevent end users from changing settings.

I'm told that the ResMed S8 II series is quieter than the Respironics machines, and that the Respironics software is better than ResMed's, but I have not had the opportunity to compare them myself.

I have also read that the ResMed software can be purchased by telephone from an Australian source, as the law is different there and the software is still available for sale to individuals. Search the board for Australia + ResScan 3.7.

Steve,

Your initial leaning has you headed for a very good machine. Pretty hard to go wrong with it. The Autoset II is a good machine as well. I think the Autoset has better, easier access to data via the LCD screen, but the software for the M series is used and liked by many here who can help you with it. If you like the M series, go with it.

For therapy both devices you are considering are excellent. For ease of acess to and amount of data available via the LCD screen the Resmeds can't be beat.

As far as the Resmed software, its available, just takes some searching. I have both ResScan 3.7 and EncorePro 1.5.7. ResScan was much easier to install, I find the data presented in a much more understandable manner for me. I also found it much easier to use than EncorePro. And I do have the MyEncore and EncoreAnalyzer freeware which does help to better clarify the EncorePro data. The ONE item EncorePro produces that I LOVE and wish Resmed produced something equivalent is the Daily Events Per Hour table. On the other hand I like being able to stretch ResScan's detailed graphs out from 10 second to 24 hour intervals to better analyze something in question or of interest.