I bought this ice maker to replace a Frigidaire that died after 2½ years of constant use. I wasn't sure about the size on this Kismile, as my family of 7 loves their ice. The basket and reservoir are smaller, as well as the over-all machine, but I decided to give it a try.Like every other ice maker out there, this machine makes 9 standard-sized bullet ice cubes in about 8 minutes. As for basket capacity, the machine makes roughly 2 pints (4 cups) of ice before tripping the "basket full" sensor. You can push down the ice and get another cycle to completely fill the basket. One complete basket-fill takes about 45 minutes.Some have complained that the ice is wet. Apparently, they don't realize how ice is made in these machines. It is not a freezer. When the water drains, the ice cubes are released and drop into the basket. The machine then acts as a cooler. While others have then dumped the ice into a bag to be kept in the freezer, I prefer to pour the ice into a tray. By the time the basket is full again, the ice in the freezer tray has set. I break it up with an ice pick and transfer to an ice bucket. It's a process, but it works for my large family.As I mentioned, the water reservoir is smaller than the Frigidaire and has to be refilled every other time I empty the bucket. However, I think I like this better. While it is a step that has to be done more often, the smaller tank ensures that the water is constantly fresh and not simply re-cycling the same water all day long. I think this will help in the long run with cleanliness.Speaking of cleaning... The Self-Cleaning feature is pretty cool. Although, I'm not sure exactly how they expect it to "self clean". The function is simply cycling water over and over for half an hour. I guess it's to dislodge any buildup in the hose lines? Now the feature that was the selling point for me was the detachable lid. With the Frigidaire, I found that it was impossible to fully clean the compartment where the ice is made. Being able to remove the entire lid gives my cleaning toothbrush full access to scrub down every area that might tend to get nasty over time.As for noise, I guess that's subjective. To me, it's quieter than the Frigidaire, which could be heard all over the house, like white noise. This machine can only be heard at night when the ice dumps into the bucket.Comparing prices, this machine was not bad, all things considered. I did purchase the 3-year protection plan simply because the Frigidaire lasted 2½ years. (We all know things aren't built to last. They are built to be replaced. I even had a repair guy tell me this.) If this machine lasts that long, I will be happy and get a replacement to boot!