Ok, after spending most of the night online over washers, I definitely decided to go top loading. Its the best for me and what I need (SPEED of washing, and I don't care one hoot about noise since the machine is in the basement)

I keep reading conflicting reports on the energy star models with sensors. People love or hate them. People seem to have a ton of problems with them, or they're the best thing since sliced bread. The common thread on the ones who hate it is they haven't read their instructioin manual.

I still have no idea which way we're going -- we need one now, not in October for the rebates! grrrrrr