"ScratchMonkey" wrote in message
.. .
I've got a microwave on my xmas list, for deployment in a relatively small
kitchen. I'd like something with lots of volume, but that will probably
eat
a lot of counter space. (My current one is on top of the fridge, but I'm
tall and I have a utility step to look in the window.) I'm considering
getting one integrated into a range hood. There's a couple like that at
Sears in the $250-400 range.

So what do you think? What should I get?

I don't see myself using the presets. I normally just dial in the time and
power I want. The 5-speed fan on the range hood combo I looked at is nice,
but I don't know that it's worth $100 more.

If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set twice
a
year.

If all you want is a basic over-the-range microwave, then about anything
will do. If you look closely at the various models available, you will see
that they are all made by about two manufacturers so one oven is about the
same as the next. You can get one at Home Depot for about $200. I recently
got a microwave/convection oven and it has become my primary oven. I
thought that I might not use the convection feature much and could do
without the senor cook feature and so on. Now that I have used it for a few
months I rarely fire up the full size range. In a way, the more
sophisticated controls and technology makes using the oven easier. You can
put in the food and press sensor cook or senor reheat and the oven does the
rest of the work, calculating the temperatures, microwave power levels, and
timing. The combination of the convection heat and turntable assures that
cooking will be uniform. I would recommend that you look at the Sharp
microwaves.
http://www.sharpusa.com/products/Fun...1050,2,00.html They are
priced well and have a lot of features. But, if you really don't think you
will use any of the advanced features, then I would get a basic unit like
the E-wave microwaves from Home Depot.