This recent article in the Grauniad reminded me to rant about
microwave ovens these days.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,2123217,00.html

But first, I agree with the point that microwave ovens are generally
for reheating rather than cooking as such --- with the exception of
rice, for which the microwave is a legitimately easy cooking method.

The microwave my parents had when I was a kid had something like a
numeric keypad on it, so you could (for example) press 2-3-0-start to
zap something for two and a half minutes. Now you have to press the
minute and ten-second buttons repeatedly. This annoys me. Bring back
the numpad.

Also, why does the stupid thing have to beep EVERY TIME I press a
button? I want it to beep ONCE ONLY --- to get my attention when it's
finished. I can understand that the button feedback is useful for
people with low vision, but it should be an option that I can turn
off.

Oh, and of course, GET OFFA MY LAWN!

In article <9vhjn4-o1o.ln1@news.ducksburg.com>,
Adam Funk ducksburg.com> wrote:

When *I* was a kid, the only microwave ovens around were the radar
dishes my Dad worked on at GE. Uphill. Both ways.

And when I was a young adult, the only microwaves had mechanical dial
timers. In the snow!

So you know when your kid is about to microwave your cell phone.

You get offa mine. Come back in twenty years.

Doctroid wrote:

When *I* was a kid microwave oven did not exist. I got
my first one when I was in my 30s - I was waiting till the
price was under $200 - up till then they were too expensive
for me. My first oven, which I bought in the early 80's,
and which I had until about 2 years ago, had only a dial.
(Analog microwave. ;-)) The dial went up to 15 minutes.

Kate Connally wrote:

I thought they all had number pads, too. The ones I've looked at do,
except for the budget models which still have dials.

On Jul 25, 10:34 am, Pennyaline caramel.corn> wrote:

Some of the very inexpensive ones only have a dial.
John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

** Cross posting deleted **

Adam Funk wrote:

Steve Calvin wrote:

The OP appears to be in the UK. I've seen quite a few microwaves in UK
shops, which have the 1 sec, 10 sec, 1 min, 10 min buttons, rather than
a full numeric keypad.

In article usenet01.srv.cis.pitt.edu>,
Kate Connally pitt.edu> wrote:

Microwaves seem to have followed a strange curve.

In 1999, I bought my first one for $80, and it had the buttons,
but they were arranged strangely. Instead of being four rows
of three buttons, it was two rows of five buttons. I think
that's why it was cheaper.

In fact, I think a lot of kitchen appliances are cheap because they
have bad interfaces. I used to have a rickety-cheap toaster oven
that I used all the time, for toast, muffins, frozen tater tots,
and...

S Viemeister wrote:

ah, I didn't notice the UK origin. I probably wouldn't have
put 2 and 2 together even if I did. I've never been across
the pond

On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 07:46:07 -0700, John Kane gmail.com> wrote:

And the -really- inexpensive ones have a wind-up key in the back.

Dave "no no, the DOG has ticks!" "then we must FLEE!" DeLaney