this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2025
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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 day ago (9 children)

I imagine it's because their use is evident (no need to advertise what they do, since they've been common in households for the past half century), and they've likely peaked in terms of function. You can't really improve much beyond what we have now, the last great advancement in the microwave was probably the turntable for consumer units, and the moving fields that commercial units have. You're limited in power output by the outlet you plug it into, so "faster cooking" is a no-go (unless you stuck a 240v plug on the end, and good luck getting that to fly with your average consumer in the US, we already find those annoyingly sparse for dryers and ovens and such) -- what else can you innovate to differentiate your microwave from every other microwave on the market?

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 day ago (12 children)

what else can you innovate to differentiate your microwave from every other microwave on the market?

My ideal microwave:

  • 800W, always full power
  • A dial to set the time/make it go
  • Pull door to open, not pushy-button-open-nonsense

I have never needed to use power variation, defrost settings, popcorn button, or any of the other junk.

Innovate through simplicity. Less features means less to go wrong, and cost savings that can be put into either making it cheap or improving component quality.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Also, a single fucking ding when it's done. I don't need it to beep five fucking times goddamnit I HEARD YOU

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Ours screams on completion. Even when you stop/open the door, it will 'sing' the whole song....

For a dial, Ding is assumed :)

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (7 children)

You want a commercial microwave, basically, except the wattage will often be higher. Try restaurant auctions for a cheap(er) one

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

My mother picked up what can only be a commercial microwave for her house. More than 30s and your food is on fire. The sweet spot is so incredibly small that I can't for the life of me get food that's a comfortable temperature out of it. I clearly do not have the credentials to operate a commercial microwave. Good band, though.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (5 children)

popcorn button

I discovered the existence of those on online forums, it literally blew my mind. Manufacturers engineering microphones in microwaves because US people can't be arsed to stay for two fucking minutes next to the oven. Fucking unbelievable.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Wait, is that what the popcorn button does? I always thought it just was a preset for a time that would work decently for most standard brands.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I briefly rented an apartment with a microwave that was also a toast oven. Grandet, it had a dumb, slow, digital screen to control. But it was really nice inside. There was no turn table but still heated everything evenly, and due to its size, it was much more efficient that a normal oven at baking. The door also opened forward like an oven.

That is to say, I agree with you thst I want a dumb dial, but there are some nice features out there that I wouldn't mind having.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Hold up. Most of what you described was just a toaster oven. You're saying it used microwaves but could also toast? I need to see this magic machine.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

I have to assume it had the equipment of both but putting heating elements inside a microwave chamber sounds like an interesting problem.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Yup. I've never seen it before. A toast oven that is also a microwave. But instead of a dial to select the mode, you have to go through a touch menu 🤮

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

All i care about is that it's stupid. After that, 1000W and a +30s button.

My current microwave has a dial with 5deg rotation per minute. So hitting 30s often just turns it off. Was super cheap though so 🤷

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Must be a proper chunky dial that actually controls the circuit then.

I like that, but would also accept 'cook by wire' where the dial sets a time digitally. Cost would go up though...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Yeah it's a mechanical switch

Honestly if the only control on the thing was the door switch and a +30s button I'd be soo happy LMAO

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

How nice it is to find your people hahaha.

I swear if I had more time I would Kickstarter this.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (2 children)

One could almost say the same thing about cars. But there are ads for those everywhere.

But similarly, you never see an ad for a stove/oven anymore.

I think you’ll occasionally see an ad for a fridge or washer/dryer but it’s usually actually an ad for a local appliance retailer. The manufacturers themselves don’t seem to make ads.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It's because demand is inelastic. Every household needs one. No more, no less.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

When I was a kid we had three...

boilerOne was broken, the other was on the countertop, and the third was stored in the attic equivalent, but we had three!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I imagine, the difference is that profit margins are higher for cars and they're more of a status symbol, something you're seen publicly with.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

Cars are also consumable.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

Great Caesar's ghost!

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