even clever people be not up for a I.Q. test when the alarm go off in the morning . it be remarkable how poorly most alarm clock satisfy the requirement of be a alarm clock . this one be a notable exception . \* the adjustable back glow of the face can be make arbitrarily dim , so you can set the face to be just readable but not intrusive . \* the alarm set adjustment be readable and accurate to within a couple of minute . \* the alarm turn off with a big knurled switch on the side - the only switch on the clock . \* the alarm ramp from soft to loud over about a minute . why can not all alarm clock be as good ?