Originally Posted by anabolism

Having been staying at a few non-Hiltons recently, I am really struck by just how backward the Hilton mp3 clock radio devices are.

A lot of hotels now provide Bose clock radios that are also iPod docks.

The Bose devices are much easier to use, with large dials on the top to adjust the alarm wake time or tuning. These dials are simple and intuitive, and let you go backwards as well as forwards. By contrast, the Hilton clock radios have small, difficult adjustments that only let you move the time forwards, so if you overshoot you have to go all the way around.

Also, the Bose devices are true iPod docks, which charge the iPod as well as play it. Controls on the clock radio itself can be used to control the iPod. There is also a standard mp3 player jack for non-iPod devices. By contrast, the Hilton clock radios have only the mp3 player jack, so they do not charge the iPod and cannot control the device.

Note that I don't care if the devices are Bose or not. I tend to find that Bose makes products that are adequate but overprices. But I do care a lot about the functionality and ease of use, especially being able to charge and control the iPod, and easily adjust the wake time.