The elliptical fitness machine has competed with the other top selling at home fitness machines in sales volume since it's invention, and has recently began to overtake them. In my opinion, there are two main advantages an elliptical fitness machine has over the others which makes this the case.
First, it offers it's users a full body workout. Because of the way an elliptical is used, the user must use both his or her lower body and upper body at the same time. This provides the body with several distinct benefits that allows you to get the most out of a workout. First, it builds and tones the muscles in your legs, arms, chest, abdomen, and butt. Secondly, it burns a lot more calories than just using the upper body or lower body individually would. You can burn over twice the amount of calories from a twenty minute workout on an elliptical, than you could on other types of machines.
The second major advantage is the design and style of the machine. In short and simply put, working out on an elliptical trainer is fun. It takes a bit of coordination and athletic ability to use one properly. When you get it going correctly, it's a lot of fun. Because working out on one is fun, it's a lot easier to actually get on the thing and use it. You no longer dread your workout.
It's true that in the at home fitness equipment industry, ellipticals are considered at the higher end of the price scale. However, it is also true that you get what you pay for.