[AndrewDavis]

Even appliances that aren't internet connected are going down this terrible UX path.

My old washing machine had nobs (dials) you turn. You put the clothes and soap in, close the door and press the button. My preference of type of wash and water temperature were all "saved" by the nob position.

My current washing machine, nob is type of wash, capacitive touch buttons for everything else. Keeping the nob "on" keeps the digital display on and consuming power. And the wash options like temperature, extra rinse etc are all controlled digitally with no memory. Want 60 degrees water? Press the water temperature button 8 times, each with a delay of about 3/4 of a second for it to register before a press works again. It's utterly terrible.

[SoftTalker]

I like solid-state controls for my laundry and dishwashing machines. The old mechanical gear-and-cam type of controls were troublesome in my experience.

However I agree on the complexity. I deliberately buy appliance with as few optoins as possible. My dishwasher has two cycles: normal or heavy-duty, and one more option for heat or air dry. It has a single button to start/stop. If you just load it and press start, it runs the last cycle chosen.

My washer and dryer (LG) have some more options but if you just load them and press Start they run the "normal" cycle which is what I want 90% of the time. Simple.

Do not want internet-connected appliances with apps and excessive features.

I'll never again have a water line connected to my refrigerator. They eventually leak and in one case did significant damage to the floor before I noticed. For cold water, keep a pitcher in the fridge. For ice, use ice trays. Simple and they always work.

[ongytenes]

From my experience, the somewhat clear plastic tubing that is often used is subject to becoming brittle and crack over time. I replaced mine with copper. Haven't had any problem since with it.

[nextos]

Also you can't operate e.g. a dishwasher with kitchen gloves now, as those silly touchscreens won't cooperate. Few brands know how to keep it simple. Even Miele and Liebherr are falling into these absurd trends.

[Liftyee]

Can't believe that none of these designers thought that one might want to use a kitchen appliance with gloves on before slapping capacitive touch on everything...

[TeMPOraL]

It's market efficiency at work: appliances are well past the point of being good enough, they're now being optimized to the point of being as shit as they can be without becoming unsellable.

Capacitive touch buttons became cheaper than mechanical buttons. That's why they're suddenly on everything now.

[asystole]

Unrelated, but the word knob has a k in it. :)

[hansvm]

It's shrinkflation in action.

[em-bee]

ISMO on silent letters: https://youtu.be/dBpMlRmkV1Q

[tlonny]

My kitchen stove is touch screen. Totally non-functional when it gets wet. Brilliant UX.

[xanderlewis]

> nobs (dials)

You just made me realise Americans don’t use the word ‘knob’… or do they?

[yarekt]

knobs are more expensive :(

[account42]

Yes, but we are talking about saving cents on hundreds of dollars here. We really need to come up with better ways to make companies bear the cost of their shitty cost cutting measures.