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Re:A Linux-powered microwave oven by bazzargh on Thursday February 18, 2016 @11:47AM (#11127049)
Solid-state microwave generators have been developed to replace magnetrons recently, and they can run at variable power.

http://electronicdesign.com/blog/say-good-bye-last-vacuum-tu...

Using the MHT1003N, manufacturers can use from one to eight of these 250 W units to build a microwave oven with the desired power level. And the magnetron’s 4 kV power supply goes away in place of a supply of 28 to 50 volts. Furthermore, the crude on-off control of the magnetron can be replaced with full variable power control.

However, as far as I know there's no consumer devices containing things like this yet - the only ones I've seen were concept devices from Freescale. This article suggests we won't see them until 2017, and then only in high-end cookers:

http://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/design/the-future-of-m...

Re:A Linux-powered microwave oven by aidenn0 on Thursday February 18, 2016 @01:25PM (#11127978)
They are as-yet too expensive for low-end microwaves, IIRC they are around 0.10 per watt in quantity so $100 in parts just for a 1kW oven.