Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Chele on October 16, 2010 at 8:19pm

Spoke with Customer Rep. and Software Tech. today concerning what was lacking with the carrying case and software. Suggested Bayer develop a smaller case as well as different Strips container that is not so bulky. With the software I suggested adding medications and insulin to the software. Also, that the need was there for listing Carbs. and Calories. Tech. took all the info down and said she would send me the feedback from the company of the meter and software. Hope, she does follow through. Chele

Permalink Reply by The Diabetic Welfare Queen on October 26, 2010 at 7:36pm

Likes:
Physical appearance, tabbing meals as pre or post, color display, sleek design
Software, colored lancets it came with, and the fact that the meter case was two toned instead of the usual dull black. Now it's both a dull gray, and a doll black! lol
I got it free, at Walgreens (they had a sale for $29.99, and I had a $35 coupon for it.)

Dislikes:
The size and awkwardness of the test strip bottle.
The angled straps that are supposed to hold the bottle and the lancing device.
The fact that it's always 15+ pts off of my Bayer Breeze2 (which is always on par with lab results).
I had to replace the first one I got because the meter never announced that it was done charging. That bit was broken.
Bayer's customer service sucks.

Permalink Reply by Gerry on October 27, 2010 at 5:19am

I really like the meter, but my experience with customer service has not been good. Additionally, their web site offered a freebie for answering a few questions (which I did). I never got the freebie, either. As long as the meter works, I guess I'm happy?

Permalink Reply by The Diabetic Welfare Queen on October 30, 2010 at 7:37am

Yes, I'm not terribly unhappy. I'm still going to use it. lol But if I had my way, I'd fix those few things, too. :)

Permalink Reply by Jake on October 31, 2010 at 3:33pm

A quick fix for the strip bottles is try using the Arkay style strip (glucocard) bottles filled with the Contour strips.. Pretty sure they fit... I was using a OT strip bottle for them and that helped a bit.. Just keep the bottle you took the strips from untill they are spent...


Never did get the sleeve either...

And their customer service is "blame the customer" and not go out of their way... This is why i stopped using the original Dex meter... Not true of the other major vendors and a lot of the smaller vendors..
(Lifescan is good, Accu Chek is good, Agamatrix is amazing (like lifescan USED to be), and bayer is : I rather call my doctor or CDE than deal with Bayer )

Permalink Reply by Paul Scharf on October 28, 2010 at 4:00pm

Likes:
I love the compactness of the Contour USB.
I love the fact that I can just plug it into a USB port and upload the readings.
I don't have to buy any additional hardware/software to get it on the computer.

Dislikes:
The software is very limited in what it will do! I would like to enter my meals, my exercise activities, my A1c, etc. I don't see how to do it with their software. However, all this is mitigated by the fact that the data is stored in a SQLite database that is on my hard drive. And, there is nothing stopping me from writing my own GUI front end to enter all that stuff and display it what ever way that I want!

Permalink Reply by Graeme on November 25, 2010 at 1:26pm

Likes:
the size.
the fact that I can just plug it into a USB port and upload the readings
the display
pre/post buttons
the battery

Dislikes:
the case
the error messages that are not clear
the number of wasted strips because the meter does not turn on automatically when the strip is inserted or just error out for no reason (this is a big one)
the very limited time to apply the sample

Permalink Reply by marcus on January 20, 2012 at 10:15am

Graeme:

I agree the time limit to apply the sample to the USB Contour is a bit of a drag. I've gotten caught on this because if I am having a rough day, I can't be rushed to prick my finger from time to time.

I work around this problem by placing a test strip just inside the meter BEFORE I prick my finger to get a sample.

You can pull the strip out quickly before the meter fully powers up, so it is just resting inside the meter.

In other words, the strip inside the meter, just not FULLY inserted for the Contour to recognize that it's there and powered up.

When I prick my finger, I use my free hand to gently tap the strip fully into the meter so that it powers up and initializes, showing the display screen.

As soon as I see the "apply blood" message (usually about 2-5 seconds after power up), I apply the blood from my now-prepared-finger to the strip and run the test.

Hope this helps. ;)

-marcus

Permalink Reply by Mike on April 18, 2012 at 6:37pm

Likes:
No batteries needed.
Compact
The reminder feature
USB interface with my PC
No coding
The software that's downloaded from Bayer. It slightly more capable than the software resident on the meter.

Dislikes:
Can't delete readings
Can't change notes after strip is removed

Permalink Reply by Maycri on April 30, 2012 at 9:41am

I used to carry the One Touch Ultra smart, and I loved it but got the USB free and is so handy, now I'm torn. My ideal meter would be a combination of the two.

Contour USB (many i have copy/pasted)
Likes:
the SIZE and shape
the fact that I can just plug it into a USB port and upload the readings
the display
the button size
the battery
the alarm (would like it to be louder and repetitive tho)
the small blood sample

Dislikes:
would like to enter carbs + correction
would like standard deviation graph
a smaller strips bottle (at least same thickness as meter itself, there is so much wasted space in there!!)
a sample solution to come with the box! had to order mine and never arrived, how do i know if properly calibrated?
To be able to re-size the info that prints... I don't need 15 pages of BG results that display 1-2 days at a time in huge font :/

And the biggest issue ---> i wish I could use it for my future pump as a PDA! Do I really have to go back to clunky :(

Permalink Reply by Jake on April 30, 2012 at 10:16am

Likes:
Color display with no need for backlight
Rechargable
Integrated USB/Software

Dislikes
High gloss finish on device and esp display and BUTTONS..Ideally should be a replaceable anti glare film (ideally a matte finish screen with a protective film) at least on the display side, preferably a rubberized finish on the back and sides (which you sort of get with the sleeve

The software.. Needs more charts/graphs/ways to use your data.. Fond of other vendors charts and graphs a bit more (yes Onetouch and Agamatrix are good examples, Accu-cheks isnt bad either)

The huge strip bottles.. make it easier to remove the strips

Customer Service.. I have *NEVER* liked Bayers customer service.. Very much a blame the customer experience..

The strip port light should be brighter, possibly using a real white LED or a white/yellow led mix and turn on automatically during evening hours and dimmer during the day

It be nice to be able to enter insulin doses and carbs, similar to the One Touch Ultrasmart, even without all the extra buttons or calculating it for you

Think it be too non-intuitive if the contour usb had a food database.. its asking too much of this device..

just my .02cents

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