630G Trial Period

So here it is: my 630G:

It's currently warming up as I attempt a sensor with it.

As I said back when I got my VEO, I am able to upgrade to the newer pump if I want to.  I have a 90 day trial period, after which I will have to send either the VEO or the 630G back.  Medtronic told me to take my time on making the decision, because once I decide and send a pump back, that's it (I won't be able to change my mind).

So I've been running the 630G pump for about a week now.  I was super excited to try it.  Back a few months ago I went to an information session and got to play with it; it seemed really, really awesome!  But first impressions while playing with it for a few minutes are not the same as wearing it for a week.

So first, what I like about it so far:

• Access to the basals (including patterns and temporary basals) is super convenient on the main screen!
• It's water-proof!
• Basals are easier to edit because the pump remembers subsequent lines!
• You can have up to 8 basal patterns (I think the VEO has a max of 3)!
• It runs on AA batteries, not AAA's!

What I do not like about it:

• When the screen goes to sleep, upon waking it you have to unlock it.  This is super annoying, adding extra unnecessary button presses. And the worst part: YOU CAN'T TURN THIS FEATURE OFF!!!! (I do understand why the feature exists - to make it harder for children on the pump to give themselves extra insulin. But I have been on a pump for years and have never accidentally bumped the pump and given myself extra insulin. The extra button presses are annoying!!!)
• The menu layout is actually really terrible.  On the VEO (and all the old Medtronic 500 series pumps that I've used), the most important features are first (like bolus settings, suspend, sensors, and basals). On the 630G, the insulin settings are fifth in the list, sensors are sixth. (I know you can access insulin settings from the bolus and basal options on the main screen as well, but I'm looking at it just from the main menu). I don't see why audio options, history, AND resevoir/tubing are all above sensors and insulin settings.  Suspend is thankfully still near the top.
• I have to turn the screen on to see the time. With the older pumps, the time is always visible on the screen (you just hit a button to turn the light on if it's dark).
• I can't find the history of when I did my last reservoir and set change without manually going through the daily history. (I guess you can turn a reminder on to do the set change, but the reminder I set for two days went off after just one for some reason, so I turned it off).
• Changing the reservoir takes even longer than it did with the VEO (that was the one thing that really annoyed me with the VEO - I get it, they want to make sure new pump users are comfortable/have proper guidance. But for myself, I find the extra steps and button presses SUPER ANNOYING).
• The screen doesn't rotate.  This doesn't bother me most of the time, but there have been a few times where I've been annoyed that I couldn't see what I was doing and had to grab the pump.

Things I am disappointed about it:

• I was super excited to hear that the glucometer functions as a remote for the pump, letting you bolus from it. Unfortunately my expectations were a little too high - I thought I'd have access to the bolus wizard from the glucometer.  No, I do not.  It literally functions like my old remote (but a bit improved), letting me manual bolus only.  Well, and use preset boluses, but I don't know why I would bother to program in a preset bolus. 
• The basal rates are like the VEO - you get awesome fine-tuning options if you need less than 1 unit an hour.  As soon as you hit 1 unit+, you have less fine-tuning abilities.

To be completely honest, when I discovered that I couldn't turn the screen lock function off, I was ready right then and there to send the 630G back. But I want to make sure I give the pump a fair trial period (maybe I'll get over it....?). And for that to happen, I also need to run a sensor.  I've heard that the sensors are more accurate with the 630G, so I'm starting one tonight and will report back once it is over.