Sanyo EM-S6588S 1-Cubic-Foot Microwave Oven, Stainless Steel Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this after doing a ridiculous amount of research on microwaves. I'd had a GE Spacesaver microwave for 12 years and when it died, I first checked out Consumer Reports. It gave good ratings to GE, Panasonic, Sears, and Sanyo. I went to look at all but the Sanyo (there were none in my town.) And then I checked out the reviews here, on the Sears and BestBuy sites, and elsewhere. It seems the Consumer Reports doesn't consider service records in any category but automobiles, so its recommendations are of limited value.
EVERYONE complained about the GEs, and the salesperson at BestBuy said that they get a lot of returns and repairs. He said GE sold their small appliance division and the stuff isn't that good anymore. I really wanted to buy such a large item locally to avoid problems getting a repair. But the reviews of the GE, Panasonic, and Sears models I was interested in were just awful (go look for yourself.)
So I bought the Sanyo. It had the least bad reviews. The delivery from Amazon was a breeze and it is a beautiful appliance. It is much quieter than my old oven. It seems to work well (but it's just a day old!) It is small, but so was my old one (although with the turntable, this will hold less, I think.)
But the user interface/keypad is just ridiculous. That seems like such a stupid mistake to make. My old oven went on for 1 to 6 minutes if you just pressed one of those numbers. That was very convenient. This oven won't do that. You have to press the full time and then start. Also, if you want to change the power, you have to scroll through ALL the power levels from 10 down. That is ridiculous! Why not let you enter the level on the key pad?? So far I have used two of the automatic settings: beverage (which wasn't hot enough to make tea) and Plate, to reheat lunch, which seemed fine. It seems sturdy and as I mentioned, it is quiet. I'll come back and report if I have any problems, but SANYO: IF YOU READ THESE REVIEWS, get a better, more versatile user interface!
UPDATE: OK, now I've owned the microwave for two weeks. I have to agree that it is a little underpowered. I have to use more time than I did in my tiny, ancient GE to heat soup, beverages. Also the defrost function takes way too long. Finally, I've learned the hard way that you cannot use the timer at the same time you use the oven. This is a big problem when you are cooking dinner, and again, it is something that my old microwave could do. Also, if you want seconds instead of minutes on the timer, you have to start with 00 since it assumes minutes.
It still seems solidly constructed and it is nice to look at.
UPDATE #2: I've now had the product for over a month. Although I still think it's a little underpowered, I had an appliance repairman here for something else and he tested it for me. The test is that a microwave should be able to increase the temperature of exactly a quart of water 30 degrees in two minutes. This raised it 26 degrees, which he said is within range.
I'm still happy with the looks and the quiet operation. Still very unhappy with the user interface and the fact that you cannot use the timer and microwave at the same time. Also, when the timer or microwave goes off, it only beeps once. So if you are absent-minded (as I tend to be) you can forget. My old microwave beeped every 30 seconds until you opened it, or turned off the timer. I liked that feature and miss it.
One last concern: last week, for no reason (there was no power outage) the clock just went off. I was able to reset it but that concerns me, as others have commented that it doesn't last. I will update if further problems arise.
UPDATE #3: Well, I am a year into owning this now. It's still underpowered. The controls still drive me batty (particularly the power set problem) and now it has a noticeable bubble in the keypad over the 2. I don't have long fingernails, I don't use abrasives. It's just worn after light usage (1-2 times a day) for 11 months. Really disappointed in this product over all.

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Equipped with 1000 watts of power and 10 power levels, this stylish microwave oven provides quick and easy meal preparation. The unit's large 1-cubic-foot interior offers ample space for cooking large dishes, while its 12-3/8-inch glass turntable ensures even heating and can accommodate a full-size dinner plate. The microwave also supplies a user-friendly electronic keypad with eight direct-access menu keys for one-touch programming of popular items. In addition, its multi-stage cooking function allows for programming different times and power levels to cook meals in sequences. Other highlights include the ability to defrost frozen food by weight or time, a two-color digital display, a kitchen timer, a time-of-day clock, and a child-lockout safety function. To clean, simply wipe the inside and outside with a soft cloth and mild detergent solution, then rinse and wipe dry. The microwave oven measures 17-3/8 by 20-3/16 by 12 inches and carries a one-year parts-and-labor warranty.

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