I cannot help you compare different brands of ductless a/c units (often called split units).
I lived in Fiji for 10 years. In Fiji and many other countries, split a/c units are much more common than the type that installs in a window or in a large hole in the wall. I do not understand why they are practically unknown here in the U.S. If on TV you look carefully at pictures of Iraq and other countries, you can see the condensing units for split systems hung on the outside of some of the buildings.
Split units are available for 1 room only, or for a few rooms. The evaporator part, which includes a very quiet fan or blower, is hung on a wall in the room to be cooled. It is connected to the condensing unit via a few wires and tubes through a hole in the wall which is about 4" square, located behind the evaporator. The tubing and wires can be rather long if necessary, thereby providing more options as to where the parts, i.e., the evaporator and condensing unit, can be located. Typically, the evaporator is hung high on a wall to reduce drafts.
Here are the advantages of split air conditioners:
They are quieter
They are generally more efficient
They provide greater flexibility in installation
They look better
They require neither windor space of a large hole in the wall
A wireless remote control is standard, which generally includes a timer
Here are the disadvantages:
They cost more - maybe about twice as much
They must be professionally installed
Some manufacturers make split systems which have a variable speed compressor. There is very little cycling because the speed of the compressor gradually changes to meet cooling requirements. Thus, installing an over-sized unit creates no problems since the speed of the compressor will simply be automatically adjusted to match cooling requirements.
I hope that this information will be helpful.
