I searched for hair dryers, and modified my search to sort by customer rating, and included "no noise" and other things as filters. I already had a few on my wish list, but I decided to look at others, including ones that were a little higher priced. This brand name, Berta, came up a LOT. The rating of basically all of their dryers were like 4.8/5 and higher. There didnt seem to be a tremendous difference between most of the models I saw. I read many reviews and narrowed it down to this one. I love it!!Let's walk through a few features. First, the outer surface. It is a smooth, matte finish, and the color (which of course is not important to the product's operation) is really lovely. It isn't sticky or rubbery. The next obvious difference is the cord length. This model's cord is nearly 9 FEET LONG! I can be drying my hair and practically walk into the living room at the same time. There is a velcro cord strap for wrapping it up neatly. The air filter is, in my opinion, superior to any other dryer that I've owned. The outer mesh cap does not remove completely, but is hinged and folds down --- very nice feature! And the inner filter is flat, so it can just be wiped clean. No crevices to have to dig down into!This model (and probably most of Berta's models) has two switches, giving you a variety of heat and air settings. I use it on the highest setting, and while some dryers get so hot that they could actually cause a burn, this one does NOT get ridiculously (and potentially damaging) hot!! It doesn't NEED TO! I am actually of the opinion that, while most hair dryers made today CLAIM to use negative ion technology, this one actually uses it effectively. Lower air temp, but faster drying time! Great for use on children who hate the high heat and extreme noise of typical hair dryers. And the noise..... it's a hair dryer, so yes, it still generates a fair amount of noise... but I find it less so than other dryers I've owned, too. It comes with 3 attachments, which people rarely use, I think. Still, they're nice to have. I actually did use the diffuser attachment today, and I like the results it gave; I will probably use it often.My only negative comment -- and this is nit-picky -- is that, for me, anyway, the switches are placed right where my thumb falls during use, and I keep shutting the dryer off accidentally. I certainly don't know where else it could be placed, so I guess I will have to adjust my grip and get used to its design. That's a small concession that I'm more than willing to make. In all, a great little dryer!! I will definitely consider this brand if I ever have to purchase another!