Sorry I'm just now getting to your response to my pump post. I'm out of town visiting my folks :-) I didn't try a manual so I can't compare but the swing is awesome and it's pretty compact, doesn't have a bag you have to put it in which is nice for travel too. Although it could be a pain for traveling without baby since you have to pump each side... I'm just using it to pump for rice cereal and for going out for a date night (yipee!).