hello all...i also favor the one touch ultra...only 5 seconds for a glucose reading...it's a palm-sized meter...the strips come in a small round snap-top container.The Bayer Glucometer Elite XL is pretty good also,but the readings take about 45 seconds,i think...don't know anything about the software....the diabetic doctor that my companion goes to does all the downloading of information....she provides the papers that have 3 weeks of graphs that u document daily glucose readings and what amount of insulin u take at each meal...much easier than a book u have to flip thru....also the one touch ultra is probably one of the most expensive meters....but most diabeticians have a supply of different meters on hand for their pts. to try, for the asking.