The conical grinders are truly precision instruments. Not to be confused with other conical grinders (esp. Italian ones) that are often of low-quality cast metal: these are machined to tight specs, and give a great fine grind. The housing is beautiful as well, but since it is wood, don't set it on a damp spot or the bottom will warp.
Negative Product Points
Yes, it does require elbow grease to use. BUT, if you get tired, HERE IS A TIP. I've been using mine for about six years, and the thrill of manual operation all the time wore off after the first couple of years. But note the acorn nut on the top of the handle assembly: all you have to do is get a socket wrench socket (hardware store) that fits, and a hex driver adapter, and if you happen to have a cordless hand drill (or even a corded one) -- Viola! you now have a powered grinder of high precision, that you can also still use by hand. If you have the drill, you are probably also not afraid of screws. So if you like to clean your grinder, I recommend prying off the bottom plate (it's stapled on) and reattaching it with screws. You can now easily remove it to take the cone out to clean it without busting your knuckles. Yeah, I know, this all sounds stupid, but this is a superb grinder for relatively little money and, though it may look stupid (you WILL amuse your guests), you will no longer curse the crank (though you can still use it when you're in the mood).
Detailed Commentary
Obviously not a grinder to use if you have physical impairments affecting hand strength, but it's probably the only alternative to spending 200+ if you have an espresso machine that likes a fine grind.
