Sharper Image (SI724) Air Purifier

Pros: Quiet, but not silent, very effective, attractive.
Cons: Collection grid is difficult to clean properly, grids have approx 1.5-2 year life.

Update- 11/23/08- All replacement grids functioning perfectly- a good thing sisnce Sharper Images seems out of business. The absolute best way to clean is with a putty knife the approximate width of the opening and a micro fibre cloth cut to the correct ...

Pros: When it works, does a nice job of cleaning
Cons: When it works is seldom, high failure rate, low quality. It's costly junk.

Finally found this review after a lot of searching. Very surprised at my experience versus these reviews, and my experience would hardly be atypical. I'm compelled to post this so it can be seen and reviewed. Purchased one in October of 2006. I'm now ...

Pros: excellent cadr/watt most energy efficient
good ozone catalyst fairly quiet. good cleaning power
Cons:  worth the energy savings
initially way over priced at $499. no timer,bright power light

I bought this second hand because it has a very high cadr/watt
of >15 see energystar.gov for comparisons; also it has an ozone guard grid that mitigates ozone - consumer reports stopped recomending any electrostatic precipitators because of ozone. I
have asthma and alergies and high levels of ozone irritate my eyes and lungs- but the ozone catalyst makes it useable for me.

i modified mine with a mesh prefilter under the intake grill to reduce
large particles like hair and dust bunnies. a good light electrostatic  prefilter keeps the collection grills clearer longer - just vacuum the
prefilter once a month and the collection grid won't need to be cleaned as often.

very low opperating cost about $10 per year
 bright power light can be covered.

Pros: when it works it the best cleaner around I've tried.
Cons: Expensive, mechanically unsound, possible fire hazard, absolutely no support from Sharper Image.

I purchased in Dec. 06 in Jan. 08 the grids failed. They sound like an electrical short circuit when turned on, then the unit switches to the drying cycle and then to the needs service cycle and repeats. The problem appears to be so bad that if you call Sharper Image their phone directory has link to " air cleaners ", not that this will do you any good, as replacement grids are not available and they do not service, nor return to the original manufacturer. In fact they told me to take it to Circuit City and see if they could repair it.

Pros: Turn it on and forget it till your weekly cleaning
Cons: Can't really think of any yet.

My daughter bought us one of these units to help my wife recover from double pneumonia. The unit definitely helps you breath.

The most amazing thing is that it allows you have the most restful sleep I have ever had. Never in my life can I remember sleeping so well and having so many dreams. I can even recall the dreams when I wake. I used to feel that I never got enough sleep but now I wake refreshed every day.

Pros: NOTHING!
Cons: Grids fail after 3 months of use and coating begins to chip off.

It's no wonder Sharperimage is going bankrupt.
I purchased the Hybrid GP along with the smaller version about 3 months ago. Within a month the collection grids began to chip and fall apart after 1 cleaning with windex as suggested in the instructions which came with the units. I contacted Sharperimage about this and they gave me the run around. After several phone calls to the company and explaining to them that the unit was only 3 months old and aruging that it the grid DID NOT NEED TO BE CLEANED AGAIN (So stupid!), they finally agreed to send me a collection grid. When it arrived, it arrived DIRTY and used (obviously they sent it from one of their stores) and...SURPRISE! It was for an older model and wouldn't work with my unit! I called again and they told me they didnt have any more grids available...they left me hanging with a broken grid and I still can not get them to send me a new one! I spoke w/ managers and still nothing. They are apparently on backorder. I might as well have thrown my 499.99 out my car window! LMAO!