The timer feature is simple to use, giving off a very helpful insistent beeping as the picture is about to be taken - rather than taking a photo of you telling your family the camera's about to take a picture, it takes a photo of everyone paying attention to the beeping Spectra.
If all of this beeping is too much to bear, you can set the camera to a silent mode.
I use a variety of Polaroid and Minolta APS cameras for art and family photos. When I need a reliably good picture right away, I reach for the Spectra and am rarely disappointed. Polaroid, by the way, is an extremely responsive company with great technical assistance and customer service.