I bought a "crappy" brand microwave because it has a great UI:

One knob with rotary encoder for time (turn faster for minutes).

One knob with rotary encoder for power.

Both settingscan be changed even while microwave is running.

That's what the original microwave UI was like:

http://www.radar58.com/radarange/fullsize/2Panel.jpg

Mine is like that too, and it works really well and simple to use compared to the alternative of a dozen not-very-tactile buttons. It's based on a mechanical timer, so no buggy firmware either.

Have one like that. Only problem is that it predates the rotary plate, so i have to do half and half times to make sure they heat somewhat evenly. Great for a quick bag of popcorn though.

That's the standard interface for microwaves for me.

Lucky you. My samsung oven has something like 20 buttons with cryptic icons. Feels like an old VHS remote control.

My standard interface is a finicky touchpad. Has been for ~30 years & half a dozen microwaves.

This is one that I've bought this year: http://www.elektrogeraete-co.de/bilder/produkte/gross/434738...

Not a crappy brand, a mid-range product I think. Costs around 180 EUR here.

That's gorgeous. It would be laughed off the market here in the US. Where can I buy one?

It's this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gorenje-MO-4250-CLI/dp/B00FMYZME8

I have trouble finding US shops that have it, maybe it's Europe-only brand, but hope you have better luck!

Really? Every single microwave I saw in the UK is like this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Russell-Hobbs-Microwave-Litre-White/...

One knob for time, the other for power. Done.

I've not seen one like that in the US since the 80s. They all look like this:

http://tinyurl.com/uwaveimg

>Then again, the buttons on my microwave are also so horrible

Is it really that hard to push "Time cook -> 2 -> 3 -> 0 -> Start"? I mean come on I can understand wanting to optimize your life or whatever but complaining about microwave buttons seems a bit ridiculous.

For the record, many of the microwaves I've used have required something more like "Time cook -> 2 -> 2 -> 2 -> 3 -> 0 -> 0 -> 0 -> Start -> Facepalm" than the intended "Time cook -> 2 -> 3 -> 0 -> Start".

TL;DR: pressing buttons is easy, but sometimes they press your buttons back.

Ahh memories. Back in college I had a microwave where almost all of the buttons stopped working over time. Eventually I had to set everything for something like 4:44 or 44:44 and use the timer on my phone to know when to take it out.

My previous one had something like, e.g. "Cook > Power > 500W > Time > 15 sec > 15 sec > 15 sec > Start" for cooking something for 45 seconds at 500W. None of my guests knew how to use it, because pressing buttons in wrong order would do nothing (not even error "beep").

In japan at least most microwaves have au automatic mode that stops heating usually at the right time.

Gold automatic mode? Sounds blingy

You're an awful person. /s ;)

I only upvoted because I felt smart for recognizing "au". (Not a high-school graduate.)

Mine often makes the beep without registering the press. Drives me nuts.

Our Emerson is awesome, you just push 2 and it runs for 2 minutes, no need for Start. Push Start alone, and it runs for 30 seconds, every push adds 30 seconds.

Haven't pushed more than two buttons in almost a year.

Some microwave ovens have pretty hostile user interfaces.

The microwave oven I've got doesn't let you use the number keys to specify the power level. Each press of the power level button decrements the power level by 10%, and the first press doesn't count. So to cook something at 30%, you need to press the power level button 8 times before typing in the cooking time.

Or you have the quick option, where hitting start add time in 30 second units.