I wish the post had gone deeper trying to answer the question. I'm not sure what the answer is, but I think several factors contributed:
1. Microwaves originally had analog dials. The first digital UIs were seen on fancier, high-end appliances. This made them a bit of a status symbol. Eventually, tech costs came down and everyone imitated the high-end UI.
2. Almost nobody grows up wanting to design appliance UIs. They're considered boring.
3. Removing features is hard. If you remove a feature used by 1% of your customers, and you have 10,000 customers, that's 100 angry people. They'll be much more vocal than the slightly happier 9900.
Amusingly, the cheapest microwaves are often the ones with the best interfaces. I spent $80 on something like this[1] years ago, and I like it more than any fancy microwave. This includes the model touted by the author. Having only one knob (time) is too minimalist. I hardly ever touch the power knob, but it's occasionally necessary.
It's also about what you like in the store and what you like at home.
People got swayed by the iPhone 4 design in the store and bought it, then once they own it they covered it in cheap plastic to protect the glass.
The flat surface on the microwave looks great and sleek. The many functions makes the oven seem good and sophisticated. Who knows what magic this microwave does when you ask it to reheat a slice of pizza! Surely it must be better than the normal heating function! Let's get that.
Once you are home, all you want is to set the time and maybe change the power.
I don't recall mine being particulary expensive but it has the two dial (time and power) and to my eyes looks nicer than the other simple interface microwaves being discussed.
Comments
I wish the post had gone deeper trying to answer the question. I'm not sure what the answer is, but I think several factors contributed:
1. Microwaves originally had analog dials. The first digital UIs were seen on fancier, high-end appliances. This made them a bit of a status symbol. Eventually, tech costs came down and everyone imitated the high-end UI.
2. Almost nobody grows up wanting to design appliance UIs. They're considered boring.
3. Removing features is hard. If you remove a feature used by 1% of your customers, and you have 10,000 customers, that's 100 angry people. They'll be much more vocal than the slightly happier 9900.
Amusingly, the cheapest microwaves are often the ones with the best interfaces. I spent $80 on something like this[1] years ago, and I like it more than any fancy microwave. This includes the model touted by the author. Having only one knob (time) is too minimalist. I hardly ever touch the power knob, but it's occasionally necessary.
1. http://image.haier.com/us/products/kitchen/microwaves/W02013...
It's also about what you like in the store and what you like at home.
People got swayed by the iPhone 4 design in the store and bought it, then once they own it they covered it in cheap plastic to protect the glass.
The flat surface on the microwave looks great and sleek. The many functions makes the oven seem good and sophisticated. Who knows what magic this microwave does when you ask it to reheat a slice of pizza! Surely it must be better than the normal heating function! Let's get that.
Once you are home, all you want is to set the time and maybe change the power.
I don't recall mine being particulary expensive but it has the two dial (time and power) and to my eyes looks nicer than the other simple interface microwaves being discussed.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-Microwave-Litre-Watt-Black/d...