Ask any doctor and he will tell you that treadmills are not great for your body. Jogging outside or on a treadmill will cause impact to your feet, legs and joints and over time it can cause serious damage. Elliptical machines are the far superior alternative to jogging as you get the same aerobic workout without all the impact.
Health clubs have realized how much people like ellipticals and there are usually as many of them now as there are treadmills. An elliptical machine gives you much the same workout as running but with a smooth gliding motion instead of the hard pounding you get while running. Your legs and thighs all get a great workout and your heart gets the aerobic exercise it needs too.
Elliptical machines are expensive and can run anywhere from around a $1000 to well over $5000 for the higher end machines. If you buy one of the more expensive machines though, they are of high enough quality that they should last for many years.
If you are thinking about buying a home elliptical machine, it is a good idea to do some research first. There are many models to choose from at many different price levels and it is smart to have an idea of what you want first. This is because when you go to an elliptical store, you will most likely be a bit overwhelmed with all the choices.
When you give the different machines a test by getting on them, you will immediately feel a difference between the more expensive models and the cheaper ones. Machines that cost only around $1000 to $2000 will feel much less stable beneath you and the circular motion will not feel quite as smooth. It is much like the difference you feel when riding in a cheap care versus an expensive one. The more expensive elliptical models will all feel very heavy and stable beneath you and give you confidence that they will not break down.
Depending on how much you want to spend, you can get a basic machine or one with a few bells and whistles. The extra programming on my machine is nice but I havent really used half of it as I am just too lazy to learn. It seems easier to set up a fixed routine and stick to it rather than fooling around with all the extra unnecessary workout variations.