Omron Hem 790IT Downloadable Blood Pressure Monitor

Pros: Computer download, averaged weekly morning and evening readings, big buttons, 2 user.
Cons: Cuff is finicky about placement, requires trial and error and holding at times.

I bought this a month ago, when it was $20 higher than it's all time low.  You can track the price via http://tinyurl.com/noo5s4Last year I bought a automatic BP reader made by Panasonic.  That unit did not do averages, nor did it log ...

Pros: EASY to use, tracks data by date/time and through graphics.
Cons: You can only print out 17 readings at a time (but can see all).

I got the Omron Hem-790IT about 2 months ago in December 2008 after learning that I had the beginnings of hypertension (high blood pressure).  My doctor wanted to start prescribing meds, but I asked him to let me deal with my problem by changing ...

Pros: large reading screen
Cons: unit must be programed, so must figure out their system. 

American Heart Association seal of approval and promo hype sounds good so you take a chance and buy.  Then you can read the fine print in the warranty that the "comfit" cuff should be replaced every year!  Old style cuffs will last, but gimmick junk, planed obsolesence, is criminal cynicism.  My cuff no good after 8 months.  Customer "service" there to wiggle out of replacing it.  Warranty starts from when it was made, not date of your reciept!  And you must send in for "technical" evaluation--and pay more money.  And if your doctor wants you to monitor pressure morning and night....
Software is junk, hard to figure out graphs.  Not a simple average number box for morning-evening readings.  If you want HBP--go to Omron!

Pros: none
Cons: False readings can give you a false sense of security.

My sister-in-law bought one of these for my husband when he found out he had high blood pressure.

His doctor said that he did not need to come back for a visit for a few weeks if he monitored his pressure and it wasn't too high.

To our amazement, his blood pressure seemed to drop quite a bit. He took his meds, and checked his BP twice a day....then he went to see his doctor. Unfortunately, we had been getting ridiculously low readings.

I called Omron and they agreed to replace our defective monitor. As soon as the new one arrived, my husband went to his doctor to gauge the new machine. Again, it did not work.....not even close.

Save time and money and skip buying this. It's totally useless