I wanted to buy a new microwave oven recently. Every single model I could find committed at least two of the following crimes:
- Loud, ear piercing beeps on every opportunity. Why would anyone need to hear a beep every time they press a button? Imagine if an iPad did that.
- Speaking of buttons: over-complicated controls, for something that should be two dials and one button
- Ugly, spaceship like industrial design that has no place in a home
- Inner surfaces with holes and protrusions that would be difficult to clean
- Bright glowing green or blue LEDs that are always on, contributing to indoors light pollution
There were a few expensive models that were less terrible (red lights, softer beeps (still beeps, mind you!), OK controls) but they were all too big to fit in my kitchen.
My conclusion is that these manufacturers have no clue and no culture to figure out what a “luxury” product would look like today. They still think people find LED screens, chromed plastic and digital buttons impressive.
- Loud, ear piercing beeps on every opportunity. Why would anyone need to hear a beep every time they press a button? Imagine if an iPad did that.
- Speaking of buttons: over-complicated controls, for something that should be two dials and one button
- Ugly, spaceship like industrial design that has no place in a home
- Inner surfaces with holes and protrusions that would be difficult to clean
- Bright glowing green or blue LEDs that are always on, contributing to indoors light pollution
There were a few expensive models that were less terrible (red lights, softer beeps (still beeps, mind you!), OK controls) but they were all too big to fit in my kitchen.
My conclusion is that these manufacturers have no clue and no culture to figure out what a “luxury” product would look like today. They still think people find LED screens, chromed plastic and digital buttons impressive.