I'll copy and psate my recent response to someone else with the same question..... There's a Kenmore OTR MW with a 600 cfm fan and a door that can open from either the left or right, although it doesn't seem to get great reviews. Worth a look, still - I like how the controls are all at the bottom. The LG units with the sideways-sliding tray rather than a turntable, and a pull-out hood are nice. Some of these have a 400 cfm fan. I've used several OTR Advantiums and they are probably my favorite due to their versatility and build quality (nice roomy stainless-steel interior, etc.). Also, 4 choices of styling (Cafe, Profile, Monogram, Monogram commercial-look). Get the the Profile or Monogram in black or stainless and you get a neat illuminated keypad too. The 240v versions of the Advantium work much faster and better as speedcookers and slightly faster as a microwave oven, but the same as a convection oven. Worth the added cost of the oven and rewiring for 240v/30a if you use the speedcook alot, but if you use it only occasionally the 120v will suffice.

Frankly, I think it all depends on your cooking style. I have an OTR micro and in my kitchen reno last summer I put the old one right back over the range. It's almost 10 years old, and still looks brand new and I do a LOT of cooking; however, I never do deep fat frying. Before the reno, it was not vented to the outside - it is now. It works fine for the type of cooking I do - both long term and short term stove top and oven-type cooking and baking. I have never - and I repeat NEVER - had more than a few spatters of grease which I clean up immediately after cooking as part of the clean-up process. If i would have put in a "real' hood (which by the way would have cost just about the same as the cabinets and trim for the OTR) the micro would have ended up in a very awkward location - not all of us have the luxury of a large kitchen area. Although my kitchen is considered large by my friends, in actuality the working kitchen is only 13x10, with several doorways. Just like in decorating, while vertical blinds might be 'dated', sometimes they're the best solution to a window/door problem. So...sometimes the best solution is an OTR - you go with what works for you. Helene

Electrolux and GE are both well respected manufacturers in the cooking area. In terms of induction ranges, I think GE has gotten slightly better reviews in terms of long term reliability, but there are plenty of people happy with their Electrolux. GE refreshed their Profile line not too long ago with a new look, so you may not get as many reviews if you search the new model number, but people really liked the older version. As I understand it they're mechanically identical. I assume you're looking at free-standing ranges? If so the Whirlpool built induction range becomes an option. It's sold under the Whirlpool, Maytag, and KitchenAid brands. There's also the less expensive Frigidaire freestanding made by Electrolux. If on the other hand you are looking at slide in ranges another option to look at that is very new (so not many reviews) is the new sharp looking Bosch Benchmark series. Besides Electrolux, GE, and Bosch the only other slide in induction to my knowledge is Kenmore, which is made by Electrolux. OTR microwaves are pretty much all the same. The brand doesn't matter so much as whether you're venting it outside (which you are). They mostly come out of a small set of Asian factories where many different American brand names are slapped on them. Most people just buy the one that matches their range. I think Sharp is going to have to have the edge in quality in this area though, and as far as I know they're the only one making these in the US. I don't know if that's true of all models though.

They say you should not stand directly in front of a MW while it is on as that is the one place where a leak is possible. With an OTR MW, your head is not only in front of it, but close to it. Whether this is really something you have to worry about, especially w/a new MW, I don't know. I know that I don't stand in front of mine just in case. Regardless, I think the bigger issue is that the MW is over a cooktop or range and is (1) too high for most people to be able to check the food and/or stir safely and (2) you must reach up over a hot surface to get to the food in the MW. I definitely would not want children using one until they were well over 5'...for safety reasons. Another reason I don't like them is that they're just too short! Oh, and if someone wants to use the MW while someone else is working at the cooktop/range, you have a traffic jam! But, to each his or her own! It's your choice. If you like them, go ahead and get/use one.