The Antique Microwave Oven that's Better than Yours
Why Hacker News recommends it
Cited again and again in microwave and smart-appliance threads as proof that older appliances were smarter, especially for steam-sensor cooking.
What it is
Technology Connections examines an old feature-rich microwave and shows how it uses a humidity or steam sensor and lookup data to cook food well, arguing it beats many modern ones.
Recommended by 7 HN commenters across 3 different months, 2020 to 2025.
What Hacker News said
Recommends TonyTrapp · 2020-11 · on “Pimp My Microwave”
Tangentially related, Technology Connections published an interesting video just a few days ago, "The Antique Microwave Oven that's Better than Yours": [this video]
Recommends gibolt · 2020-11 · on “Pimp My Microwave”
Great 'Review' of an old Microwave loaded with features. [this video] Why can't we have nice things by default, especially with appliances like microwaves, toasters, printers...
Recommends guerby · 2020-11 · on “The future of microwave cooking is solid-state (2016)”
Fun video about microwave oven now vs thirty years ago: [this video] "The Antique Microwave Oven that's Better than Yours" by Technology Connections
Recommends andrewxdiamond · 2020-11 · on “Pimp My Microwave”
Coincidentally, technology connections just did a recent YouTube video on microwaves that might be of interest to you. [this video]
Recommends tux1968 · 2020-11 · on “Pimp My Microwave”
Technology Connections just put out a video about an old microwave that he contends has better features that most you can buy today. Also it explains how microwaves use a humidity probe to sense steam escaping from say a microwave-popcorn bag to determine when its done. [this video]
Recommends cuddlybacon · 2021-11 · on “A toaster from 1949 is still smarter than any sold today”
Since everyone is mentioning Technology Connections (he deserves it, great channel), I want to bring up this video: [this video] To me, this really shows the sad direction smart appliances have gone in. I would love to see that smart appliances would have continued to evolve in this direction. I don't like the current state of smart appliances, but going back to the absolute basic seems like an over-reaction to me.
Recommends TimeBearingDown · 2024-09 · on “Microwave spontaneously turned on by its LED display”
Don’t forget a physical handle to pull open the door. I’d take a steam sensor as well. Thanks to Technology Connections, great channel. Convinced me to read all the fine print until I found a Breville that had it. [this video]
Cites nom · 2020-11 · on “Pimp My Microwave”
We have a microwave at work, I used it once and it took me 5 minutes do actually make it do something. It is like someone just slapped some buttons and dials and a display on there without thought and created some twisted logic just to annoy the user. I only ever bought two dial microwaves. Power and time, two variables, easy to understand and intuitive. Granted, I might try the microwave Technology Connections demonstrated [0] because it sounds like it actually works.. but no chance of getting an old model where I live... or anywhere else. 0: [this video]