Thomas,

None of my business really ;-) but newer ellipticals are a superb workout with a natural striding motion. With your height you need a 23" stride- don't waste time with anything less. Look at pedal separation as well: better ellipticals have <2" separation which again is very natural. The reason I like the Octane is because it has both of the above, but it also monitors heart-rate and alters the workout to provide a better/safer cardiovascular workout. It also has programs to alter the routine- apart from the usual hill-climbs etc you can have random variations like arm-buster (work your arms, not your legs), glute-buster, backward squats etc etc.