Microwaves ovens are dumb

Posted by: muzza

Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 04:45

if anyone can produce evidence otherwise, I'll stand humbly corrected.
Microwave smarts do not appear to have changed in the last ten years

Here's a list of things I want on a microwave oven
  • permanent clock. One of the main things a microwave has become is a chronograph. Why not keep the clock on all the time?
  • Separate time remaining/countdown display. This should be the same or smaller type of display as the clock with high visibility VFD numerals.
  • An LCD for menu control functions
  • a Jog wheel for easy adjustment and selection of features
  • a funtion to add time to the current cooking time
  • a function to adjust the power/temperature without stopping and resetting the cooking process.
  • a current temperature display
  • a touch screen would be great too
  • comm or ethernet port for remote interrogation / notification when my coffee/danish has re-heated while i'm working in my study.
  • hijackable kernel or at least upgradeable OS
  • a robotic maid to bring the coffee to me


Ok, maybe the last one is a feature for next year but are there any other features to add?
Posted by: frog51

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 05:13

Well, they aren't all bad:

permanent clock. One of the main things a microwave has become is a chronograph. Why not keep the clock on all the time?

Mine has this - and I like it. It does die if power cuts last too long, though.

Separate time remaining/countdown display. This should be the same or smaller type of display as the clock with high visibility VFD numerals.

Yup, got this too. It rocks:-)

An LCD for menu control functions

Don't understand what you mean.

a Jog wheel for easy adjustment and selection of features

Give me a keypad over a jog wheel anyday.

a funtion to add time to the current cooking time

I thought this had been standard from the days of clockwork timers.

a function to adjust the power/temperature without stopping and resetting the cooking process.

Could be useful. Mine does it, but you have to pause and then unpause.

a current temperature display

The high end ones give you a thermometer which gives you a core reading, on the front panel. They're cool!

a touch screen would be great too

Not after a couple of years when bits of food become embedded

comm or ethernet port for remote interrogation / notification when my coffee/danish has re-heated while i'm working in my study.

A loud beep or ping often suffices.

hijackable kernel or at least upgradeable OS
a robotic maid to bring the coffee to me

Erm....okay...not sure about these.
Posted by: Dignan

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 07:39

Well, that sounds like a pretty expensive microwave.

Like he said, I have a clock on mine. My cook time clock is not seperate, but i have an oven clock beneath it so that doesn't matter.

I don't need a jog dial. That would be annoying. The primary use of a microwave for me is for quick heating (hardly ever defrosting). For example, Campbell's Chunky soup takes 3 minutes to cook. On my microwave, you just need to press the "3" button for quick heating.

I am also able to adjust power level while cooking (without pausing), and add time in 30 second increments.

As for a robotic maid, maybe Honda can help you out.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 08:01

a funtion to add time to the current cooking time
I thought this had been standard from the days of clockwork timers.
If anyone knows of a microwave that can be purchased in the US that has this feature, I'd like to know about it.
Posted by: robricc

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 08:06

I have a Samsung 1000W microwave I bought 2 years ago with a big button to add 1 minute to the current cooking time. Each time you hit it, you add 1 minute. It is very handy.

My parents have a new GE Profile microwave with a +30 seconds button.

If this thread is still alive when I get home, I will post my microwave's model number.
Posted by: peter

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 08:54

I have a Samsung 1000W microwave I bought 2 years ago with a big button to add 1 minute to the current cooking time. Each time you hit it, you add 1 minute. It is very handy.
My Samsung (M6245) bought more like seven years ago has the same button. If you press it while it's not currently cooking, it starts up for 1 minute at 100%. I very rarely use any other button except the door-opening one.

Peter
Posted by: robricc

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 09:17

If you press it while it's not currently cooking, it starts up for 1 minute at 100%
Mine also does this. I use that feature a lot when cooking frozen White Castles or burritos.
Posted by: genixia

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 09:35

hijackable kernel or at least upgradeable OS

I think that's the most important!

Seriously though, you're right. Most microwaves UIs are still in the relative dark ages. My microwave clock is rarely set correct. Brownouts are so common that it often loses time. Usually just after I've resigned myself to setting it again. Give me an ethernet port and a linux based OS, and I'll use ntpdate to keep it sync'd to my server.
Posted by: frog51

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 09:36

ALthough my favourite (favorite if you prefer) button has a big star and CHAOS DEFROST written on it.

I've been too scared to find out what it does...
Posted by: andym

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 09:51

Probably opens some kind to worm hole to another dimension for the sole purpose of warming your food. Bet it uses quite a bit of electricity to do it...
Posted by: tonyc

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 09:55

If anyone knows of a microwave that can be purchased in the US that has this feature, I'd like to know about it.
Most microwaves by Sharp have a "Minute Plus" button which does it.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 09:56

Damn it. I'm behind the times. I guess I need to get rid of my rotary-dial microwave, huh?
Posted by: peter

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 09:58

Damn it. I'm behind the times. I guess I need to get rid of my rotary-dial microwave, huh?
Dude, you were scammed. Some bastard sold you an Aga.

Peter
Posted by: tonyc

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 10:00

Damn it. I'm behind the times. I guess I need to get rid of my rotary-dial microwave, huh?
I guess, but if you're like me, you'll find yourself missing the satisfying "ding!" of a real bell, instead of the annoying "BEEP BEEP BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP" of most modern microwaves. The last microwave with a rotary dial I used was in my freshman dormitory at Penn State where they had combination microwave-fridge units with a microwave on the top that was so small you practically had to cut your microwave popcorn bags in quarters and microwave them separately.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 10:04

Some bastard sold you an Aga.
Whoosh.

/me passes his hand over his head.
Posted by: Dignan

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 10:10

Most microwaves UIs are still in the relative dark ages
You're kidding, right? when I can open the door, put food in, and press one button to make food, how could you possibly improve the "user interface"? I'd say that it sounds like most of the people here own microwaves that can do this, too, so I wouldn't say most.

By the way, mine is a GE Spacemaker, model # JVM1630WB 002. This might be the kind Rob is talking about. It's a built-in though. It substitutes for an oven hood/light too.

Ding! Oooo, my delicious clam chowder is done...
Posted by: davec

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 10:12

Most microwaves UIs are still in the relative dark ages.

That's probably why they're so cheap nowdays, they're pretty much disposable. No more high dollar R&D it's all just production. Crank 'em out and sell 'em for $89 at Fry's Electronics.

BTW I have the 1 minute button, that and the timer (no-cook mode) is all I really need. Oh and the door open button...
Posted by: andy

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 10:18

http://www.agaweb01.agalinks.com/agal/agaContent?FRAMESET_ID=5988
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 10:28

Yeah, I found that, but I don't see what that has to do with rotary-dial microwaves. They just look like ranges to me.
Posted by: andy

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 10:36

In think he was suggesting that the technology level of a rotary dial microwave was on par with a range...

Posted by: peter

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 10:40

In think he was suggesting that the technology level of a rotary dial microwave was on par with a range...
Yeah, OK, that was a bit obscure, sorry.

Peter
Posted by: genixia

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 11:03

I presume you're looking at the use of one specific feature - the 'One Minute' feature.

Now why is that *so* useful. Perhaps because for a lot of stuff that you cook, it's easier to guesstimate the amount of cooktime needed than it is to use the 'Tell The Microwave What It's Cooking And It's Weight' feature? Get my point?

If I could take a piece of chicken out of the freezer, put it in the microwave and hit 'defrost' or 'cook' without having to look at the little sticker in the door that tells me which program I need, and without having to enter the weight, then the UI would be much improved.

A decent display and rotary dial could handle the first requirement. Turn the dial until it displays 'Chicken'. Then if the microwave had a built in scale, the second requirement could be met. Press the defrost button.
Posted by: tonyc

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 11:07

If I could take a piece of chicken out of the freezer, put it in the microwave and hit 'defrost' or 'cook' without having to look at the little sticker in the door that tells me which program I need, and without having to enter the weight, then the UI would be much improved.

A decent display and rotary dial could handle the first requirement. Turn the dial until it displays 'Chicken'. Then if the microwave had a built in scale, the second requirement could be met. Press the defrost button.
But does it run Linux?
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 11:42

Yeah, OK, that was a bit obscure, sorry.
I think the joke would have worked on Bitt if you'd said "Toaster Oven" instead of "Aga".
Posted by: rob

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 11:55

The empeg microwave lets you dial in the foodstuff, and then consistantly undercooks it. That's what the +1 minute button is for.

Rob
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 12:02

The empeg microwave
 For a moment, I thought you guys were branching out into new product lines.

I think you meant to say... the microwave at Empeg Towers...
Posted by: bonzi

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 12:07

My old Moulinex has most of those features (well, at least those that don't require mlord and pca to implement them ), plus conventional fan-assisted hot air oven and broiler. Of course, all these functions can be combined.

I do use it mostly as a clock and coffe warmer.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 12:08

I think the joke would have worked on Bitt if you'd said "Toaster Oven" instead of "Aga".
Now, that would have been funny.
Posted by: genixia

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 12:24

Curiously enough, I was wondering earlier whether it'd eventually be possible to interface the tuner kits' additional IO lines to a microwaves control unit. Then just embed a dock and speakers into a case that mates with the microwave, and you'd have the ultimate microwave. Of course, someone would need to write empcook.
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 12:26

You're STRANGE, dude.
Posted by: Dignan

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 12:28

Perhaps because for a lot of stuff that you cook, it's easier to guesstimate the amount of cooktime needed
I don't need to guess, it's printed right on the can!
Posted by: JeffS

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 12:35

For a moment, I thought you guys were branching out into new product lines.
The empeg microwave:

Features:
Store hundreds of your favorite foods for quick access at anytime
Don’t limit yourself to standard food combinations: create your own cooking lists to suite your tastes
Upgradeable with off-the-shelf components to increase storage capacity
Visualizations driven by microwave process while you cook your food
Simple, easy-to-use, non-cluttered user interface
Comes with a variety of screen colors to match your kitchen
Remote control so you don’t have to stand next to the unit to cook your food

Runs on an embedded Linux system, allowing for end-user modifications such as:
Programs to list ingredients as the food cooks
Games
Customizable startup animations
Other modifications produced by a dedicated on-line community
Posted by: tonyc

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 12:42

I cannot believe you left out the most obvious of features for an empeg microwave: The "soup" button!
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 12:50

The "soup" button!
It hasn't been implemented yet.
Posted by: peter

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 12:51

I think the joke would have worked on Bitt if you'd said "Toaster Oven" instead of "Aga".
I did a Google search for "toaster oven" (though I guess, unlike Aga, it's exactly what it sounds like) and the first one I found has an LCD readout, memorises 7 brownness settings, costs $125 and generally looks considerably more complicated than my microwave. So whether or not it would've worked on Bitt, it didn't work on me

Peter
Posted by: Daria

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 12:52

Don't forget, the empeg makes a poor soup support.
Posted by: robricc

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 13:04

This is my toaster oven. Much different than the one you linked and it's what most Americans think (IMO) when you say "toaster oven."
Posted by: Heather

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 13:57

http://www.agaweb01.agalinks.com/agal/agaContent?FRAMESET_ID=5988


I want one of these. Anyone know if they sell these in the US?
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 14:05

That link doesn't seem to take me anywhere in particular, but, yeah. Go back to the front page of that site and click on ``Locate an Aga Showroom''. It claims the closest one to NY is in MA, but try Atlantic Co., NJ. It shows one in NJ and one in PA.
Posted by: andy

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 14:09

Yeah, I deliberately picked a US Aga site, so that it might make more sense to most people here...
Posted by: drakino

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 14:17

If I could take a piece of chicken out of the freezer, put it in the microwave and hit 'defrost' or 'cook' without having to look at the little sticker in the door that tells me which program I need, and without having to enter the weight, then the UI would be much improved.
Sensor cook is what you need. I have a rather old microwave with an earlier version of this, and it works decently. Toss in a few slices of old pizza, hit sensorcook 5, and come back when it says it's done. Ture, you still need to press two buttons, but on newer ones, the food buttons are laveled instead of having a chart with numbers.
Posted by: Ezekiel

Re: Microwaves ovens are dumb - 27/03/2003 14:23

I have that feature (called Sensor Reheat) on my microwave. It has a hygrometer and when it senses a good deal of steam, it thinks it's done. It works pretty darn well. It a medium setting so food's not burned on the edges and cold in the middle. That and the 'popcorn' button are my favorites.

-Zeke

Now if only they could make a self-cleaning microwave, that'd be something.