Design peeve of the day

[jbsegal]

Most microwaves sit on kitchen counters, putting them well-below eye-level for many (most, I think) people.

The displays on most modern (2 years or newer? I pulled that number of of the air) microwaves are not readable when you're standing in front of them within arm's length... perhaps at anything more than 40 degrees?

I've spent almost as much time bending over to look at the displays on microwaves than I have cooking in them, I think.

It's probably an LCD failure, compared to the previous use of LEDs.

Comments

[fidgetmonster.livejournal.com]

if you don't have one that has hidden knobs on the top for attaching underneath a cabinet (assuming your microwave is placed/placeable underneath a cabinet), you could frame out a wooden box suspended from a cabinet that will fit your microwave. then it'll be closer to eye level, depending on the height of your cabinets. I've actually never noticed this problem, maybe because I'm lots shorter than you, so I'm closer/at a better angle to the display. The microwaves that double as oven vents are awkward and dangerous for me to use because I am reaching over my head for something very hot.

[ceo]

I'm thinking about doing precisely that with my kitchen rebuild. I also dislike the ones that double as range hoods because they make really lousy range hoods.

[n5red.livejournal.com]

That's why I like my microwave/vent hood combo so well. Food and display are at eye level.

[deguspice.livejournal.com]

Perhaps they need a display that can be tilted up?

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

That's my thought.

[smoakes777.livejournal.com]

I always have problems with microwaves that are attached underneath cabinets or, worse yet, in the hood of the stove, because I can't reach/see anything and the people who put microwaves up high also never seem to keep footstools in their kitchen. And so stoop, I say! Stoop!

[dcseain.livejournal.com]

I have, at various points in time, kept my microwave atop the refrigerator.

[devoken.livejournal.com]

How tall are you? (I remember you being tall, but I'm very short - 5', exactly, and so I am bad at judging a ballpark height for anyone or thing above 5'6".)

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

6' Maybe 6'1"...

[whitebird.livejournal.com]

Ah, then the problem is that you are too tall. Consider shrinking?

My microwave just has two dials. It's rather old, though.

[devoken.livejournal.com]

Okay. You're not far off the average height for an American male (5'9"). If you'd said 6'5", or something close to it, I would have told you to suck it up and deal with the fact that you are outside of normal in terms of height. :)

As it is, mostly what I have to say is still suck it up and deal - though, in the nicest way possible, and with a smile. To be sure, the placement of a microwave is going to affect its usability, and therefore a design needs to take into account how well the common choices for placement will work affect usability. (I don't know if designs take this into account, but I will say that I have never had a problem reading a microwave display, including the ones on microwaves which sit on the top of a refrigerator - and I am way outside of 40 degrees when looking at those.) Ultimately though, placement is a choice, one entirely under your control. If the current placement doesn't work for you, change it. There's no reason for you to be inconvenienced by your own microwave when the problem could be easily alleviated by moving the microwave.

[42itous.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've never had that problem. You may have just discovered the one class of items that is designed for short people!

[aerynne.livejournal.com]

Count your blessings. In my experience, most microwaves are, in fact, mounted under cabinets/above the stove or sitting on top of the refrigerator--which means I am reaching up waaaaay above my head to retrieve something very hot which is occasionally likely to spill on me if I don't keep it level (soup, other liquids, etc.)

I *wish* we had enough counter space to keep the microwave on it.

[entirelysonja.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I bought a new microwave less than a year and a half ago, and it has a very nice bright LED display. I agree with you, LCD's are not the right choice for this application...

[chienne-folle.livejournal.com]

Norman is constantly annoyed at our microwave for this reason. I think perhaps it's only a problem for the over-6' crowd.

[babasyzygy.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, I'm recessing mine into the wall behind one of my counters, at countertop level plus about 2 cm, with enough sticking out to open the door. It eats some space from the now-understairs-closet, soon-winecloset, but I think it's worth it. Anyway, the readout is below eye level but not by too much. Other options would have either eaten precious counter space, or involved bending over which is right out (my back is pretty bad - had to wear a scoliosis back brace 23x7 for a few years as a child).

I hate the ones that double as hoods. Hoods should be hoods (like this) - do one major thing well.

[fire4voice.livejournal.com]

My microwave lives on top of my refrigerator. I thought it was a good place for a tall person to put it. That, and my kitchen here is smaller than a postage stamp and there was no counter-space elsewhere.