I can't believe what I am hearing about the MTD Hydo trans. I have a ranch in Montana. I cut a 3 acres every 2 weeks (11 times a year) It has so many hills I have to ride my 42" cut yard machine side saddle most of the time. I have rolled it 3 times in 14 years of use! I am installing a new (pivot bar) (front Axle) now because 14 years of use has reamed out the axle shafts. (this is a pressed metal pivot bar. Not cast iron. That being said. I have way over 800 hours on the engine (B&S 17.5 hp) and the MTD Hydrostatic tranny. NEITHER HAVE GIVEN ME ANY TROUBLE (AT ALL). I have never changed the oil in the tranny (factory says it's a sealed unit) and I believe them. I have used 3 MTD tractors on my years in the last 40 years! I have sold all of them for 1/2 of what I paid for them. (I did have one B&S engine throw a rod at 250 hrs. Cost $357 in 1993 to get a new long block and 5 hrs to change the motor. My neighbor bought a $4000 JD the same time I bought this mower in 2002. It lasted 3 years and the Kaw. motor blew. He went to JD and they said. That was a really bad motor. We don't replace them and have no other motor to put on your mower. AND we no longer support the trans. on your JD. So he sold it for $600 for parts and was out $3600! (By the way JD said it was really a bad mower they shouldn't have built. But they would be glad to sell him a good one this time. (no discounts mind you!) Ha ha. My little old $1200 (with bags) in 2002 MTD is still running today. So if it runs like a Deere I'd run to the nearest MTD dealer and get a good mower. One with a Hydrostatic trans. that will last I think forever. But I can guarantee you it will last 800 hard hours of use! With no maintenance at all! (Sealed unit) remember. I truly think the MTD lawn tractors are the best value for the dollar of anything I have ever purchased in the past 40 years! Other than my MTD weed eater, but that is another story! You who are look between that auto CVT and the Hydro. GO WITH THE HYDRO. (SEALED UNIT) You will not be sorry! From a 40 year user of MDTS!

A quick bit of research finds claims ranging from two weeks to four years ... both are probably unlikely extremes. Ecover specifically states 365 days. Seventh Generation 360 days. Citra-Dish powder does state 4 years. Dishwasher powder tends to absorb moisture. Signs of staleness include a swollen box and clumping. A typical-size box of WM Great Value usually lasts months for me. Assuming I didn't miss recording a purchase, I bought a box in June 2008 and in Feb 2009. I don't buy the larger-size packages.

Neither are extremely common in my area, but I did gather quite a bit of info on in-floors systems thus far, but haven't made a final decision due to cost. I have the Oak and Pine tree situation like you and my view of the pool would be straight down not level from most rooms on the rear of the house. Reduced maintenance, appearance and hopefully passive solar warming were some of the positives to consider. If you would like some specifics drop a note to me at NJFolks4@gmail.com. I am not considering an auto-cover at all, however, if I lived in an environment where I could use the pool almost year round it might be different consideration for reduced heat loss and safety if that were a concern (fencing is mandatory for us here). Hope this helps.

What does "sign-out" mean to you? You most certainly can close any app - then it's not running - would that suffice? The paradigm of apps on a smartphone or tablet is a bit different than using a browser to sign on to a webpage with a PC. As far as speed of input, have you tried voice input (press the microphone icon when you see it)? Or, the Swiftkey/Swype approach where you keep your finger down on the keyboard but move it quickly from letter to letter and it gives you choices for what you spelled. i can do either nearly as fast or faster as typing on a full size keyboard but it did take some practice.