[low_key]

This is cool, but my preference for a microwave is one that only has 2 buttons: +30sec and clear/off.

That's it. Just press 30 seconds and it turns on for 30 seconds. Want two minutes? Press it 4 times. Want it to stop? Press clear.

[TchoBeer]

So you want to have to press a button 20 times to put your microwave on for 10 minutes? What do you have against keypads?

[crazygringo]

From my observation, people tend to use microwaves 2 different ways.

Either they're for quickly reheating small amounts of leftovers or maybe boiling a cup of water for tea, and you have no idea for how long, in which +30 is all you need. You never do more than 2 minutes at a time. You'd never put something in for 10 minutes.

The other way is the microwave as a kitchen tool, where you do things like put in a large frozen family-size something (soup, veggies, etc.) and reheat it on 20% power for 20 minutes.

The 2-button microwave is awesome for the former group. It's useless for the latter group.

[joedevon]

I often have used the microwave as a timer/alarm before switching that function to my phone.

[emodendroket]

Since the 30 second button is there anyways I can't really see why both groups wouldn't be satisfied with the current arrangement.

[yohannparis]

I'm like the OC, I have no need for a microwave for 20min, just 3min max at the time. I don't need programs and what not.

[stickfigure]

I hate to imagine the desiccated black carbon that would emerge from my microwave after anything at all is given 10 minutes of continuous exposure.

[clarents]

An office I worked in had a microwave that had only a single dial. The dial had time increments on a pseudo-logarithmic scale from 10 seconds up to tens of minutes. Turn clockwise to turn on, turn counterclockwise to turn off/clear. It was nice because you could also decrease the time mid-cook if you decided that you didn't want to as long and were fine eating a slightly colder lunch.

[jpindar]

Then why not buy the cheap one I have and glue a piece of plastic over the other buttons?

I'll even make a nice looking piece of plastic for you.