Our new GE washer is terrific.  I like the cycle choices and the large basket works well for both small & large loads.  The automatic load-size sensing seems to work well for automatically determining the water level.\n\nThe amount of detergent to use in this high efficiency washer is different.  It uses less water, so less detergent is needed.  I use about ½ as much as I used to.\n\nIf you use the washer as intended, you are not going to see the water level.  But if curiosity gets the best of you, you can look inside during washing by pressing the start/pause button before lifting the lid.  If you want to adjust the water level higher, you can just select a higher level with the knob & more water will go in.  The last spin is very fast, and the lid lock cannot be unlocked.\n\nNow here is something important that isn't clearly stated in the manual.  The way the detergent is rinsed out is by spraying water on the soapy clothes as they spin.  The basket is not filled with rinse water unless you turn the option knob to select "deep rinse", which you need to do if you have poured liquid fabric softener into the dispenser cup.  Use a very small amount of softener diluted with water or else it will be too much.  The words "deep rinse" may lead to you think this setting uses a lot of water, but it only fills to the level setting you selected.\n\nThe manual is worth reading with a highlighter handy.  The booklet, which you have to print yourself, is the same for 14 models. That means some of the info is not going to apply to your model.  It is helpful to highlight the headings of features you have, especially within the 2-page "Wash Cycles" table that shows all the possible cycles.\n\nTruthfully, the manual is cumbersome.  Designing one for many models is an old way to save money.  Today, it could be done better.  A specific manual for each model is necessary because these machines are complex.  It is too much to expect customers to wade through info that doesn't apply.  I hope this thought will make it to the right people who can make this happen!