In March! I thought it was going to be introduced before the end of the year.... :( Oh well. A few more months of cleaning my nasty gas cooktop. I guess things could be worse.

Heck, I had gotten an e-mail from them saying not until the end of 2008. Maybe no one knows:-) In Australia they even have a great microwave that vents out the front, like a countertop. Perfect for putting a tambour roll-up on the shelf above the built-in oven, or other roll-up doors, or if you have the money expensive electronic raising panels.

They wrote they had no intention of releasing it in the US.

I wonder if everyone there--or anyone there really knows what is going on.

But I think the 36" Induction will cost over $4K. Maybe considerably more. With the price of German engineering and manufacturing combined with the ever-sinking US dollar it could easily be between $4,500-$5K by the time it arrives.

I already bought the GE Monogram 36" at $1,784, as paying a fortune for an unknown future release, having 5 timers that I would never (or rarely) use and a phone call pause function- which maybe important to people with memory problems or gadget freaks that can't be bothered to turn off the burner and then put it back to where it was before the phone rang. Besides the price, what bothered me even more was the lack of a frameless cooktop that could be melded perfectly with a granite cooktop. I had zero desire for a stainless frame that can scratch, get dented, and collect crud around the edges.

It's a very similar reason I bought an undermount sink with no lip that melded perfectly with the countertop for sweeping crumbs and whatever into the sink unimpeded by a lip.

Whatever disappointment I might have had in paying a ton and delaing with the stainless frame, I am more than consoled by the fact that with the money saved I could buy a nice new whirlpool tub:-)

Greg

Quiet? Do do a search.

Miele sent me an e-mail indicating a Mid Jan information on the wb and Feb release.

After lurking on this board for what seems like ages gathering info on induction cooktops and seeing live demos of Diva, Electrolux, Thermador and Viking I finally took the plunge and bought the GE Profile and I couldn't be happier. I just love it!!

I was a bit apprehensive, not having seen a demo, about the possibility of noise or clicking, etc., which was extremely important to me, but felt that I would return it to Home Depot and pay a restocking fee if I had to. Fortunately, that is not the case.

I am still amazed at the power and control. The responsiveness is phenomenal. I had been using a radiant cooktop for the past four years since I moved into my house. I had used gas prior to that and I could not get used to electric. Last year someone turned me on to induction and I am so glad.

I have not had my electric upgraded so I have not had all 5 hobs up all the way but I can use up to three at a time at almost full power. What I am finding is that I really don't use power boost except to boil water (and does that happen quickly compared to my previous cooktop). I have stir fried and that works out really well. There is a learning curve. Since you don't see flames which calculate to level of heat, you have to get used to understanding how it is calibrated.

My big concern was noise. What I have found, as others have said, is that a lot depends on your cookware. My current cookware does pretty well. I have one saute pan that I do hear a louder humming than my other pieces but it is totally acceptable to me. I am scouring the shelves of TJ Max and Home Goods in search of other pieces I need.

All in all, I am very happy with my purchase (which was stimulated by someone on this board who shared with us that there was a good deal at Home Depot at the time). I look forward to cooking everyday.

My advice is to see live demos, if possible, know the look you want(framed or frameless, etc.), check out the power sharing situation, think about what's important to you (noise) and read these boards. There is so much information available.

I am equally pleased with my AEG 30" induction cooktop, which I've been using for a couple of months now. It has one very large burner among the 4 which was essential for me.

I am happily using the cooktop with my large LeCreuset dutch oven, cast iron skillets and one All Clad saucepan. All my other cookware was incompatible (sob). I tried an induction disk sold on Amazon and MetroKitchen but it was useless. By the time it had heated a bit of water in the pan it had gotten so hot that it shut down my cooktop. Bummer. Not sure if the problem was with the disk, the cookware or my cooktop but I had to return it.

That said, everything else about the experience has been a joy. The cooktop doesn't make much if any noise. The controls are intuitive once understood. It is incredibly responsive which makes cooking more fun for me, and I'm turning out much better meals as a result. I was happy to note when making stock that the cooktop has a preset automatic shut-off after a set number of hours when the zone is at a certain level. Meaning, I coud leave the stock on low heat overnight, have it turn off after 6 hours and be cool enough to handle in the morning. I have yet to use the timer on the zones but anticipate that I will.

As far as appearance goes, it's pretty easy to keep clean. I don't worry about scratches or anything, even with my old clunky cast iron. The stainless rim on mine isn't a problem with regard to gunk either. It's flush with the countertop so that probably helps.

I really love my induction cooktop. I'm sure that Miele's will be wonderful (that was my 1st choice but I couldn't wait) and I would hope that all the American manufacturers will be able to offer reliable products as well.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mauviel Induction Disk

Great to hear something on the AEG. They have some cool layout features on their ceramic cooktops, especially the round/oval hobs. I also think the zone-free induction version is slick (but a bit small, perhaps). Has anyone heard if AEG will offer more models of induction? Has anyone heard if any other manufacturers have a zone free model in the works?

I've been watching the GE induction threads. I went all GE Profile in the kitchen we remodeled in our last home a few years ago. I paid more for higher end models, and expected a lot in return. I was pleased with some and annoyed with others. I can easily see myself getting sucked in to the "good specs at good price" offering they have on the induction.

Pammo - Is the link to the induction disk the one that you used or a different one?

My appliance salesman told me today that the Miele induction cooktop will be delayed until late 2008. He said that because of changes in the approval process (don't know if it was UL or what), induction cooktops not previously available in the US, such as Miele's, must now be vented from the sides not the bottoms (although models previously approved are grandfathered in).

jraz_wa - Yes, that's the induction disk I tried.

I've been researching the induction cooktop for over 6 months. I was about to go with the thermador, but decided to go with the DIVA. I am attracted to the Diva because I consulted with a professional chef who has cooked on all the brands. He thinks the Diva has been making them for many years and there won't be many kinks. Since I use my cooktop everyday, I don't want to be a guinea pig to an induction cooktop that is new to a particular brand.
According to the pamplet for Diva induction, it has more power than other units on the market, however I haven't confirmed this. The unit has come down consideraably in price the last couple of months. I bought mine for around $2800.

Does anyone know what the difference(s) is between the GE Profile & GE Monogram induction lines (besides the blue rings on the cooktop surface)? I've had a look through both sites, and the specs look exactly the same.

Also, how many zones in the 36" model? Oskiebabu - I think you said in another posting that the total power is 10,800w. I'm curious how they are set up for power sharing.

I assume all the Diva's are imported? They aren't mfg in North America now, are they? They must be feeling price pressure here from other brands to be coming down that much, given what the dollar is doing.

"According to the pamplet for Diva induction, it has more power than other units on the market..."

Be aware that it is likely that the Diva pamphlet was written prior to the introduction of many of the induction cooktops that are now available in the U.S. market, so that claim may be obsolete. (I don't know one way or the other, I'm just pointing out that the induction market is developing very rapidly, and marketing literature tends to be around for quite a while after it's printed.)

Well, my thanks to Lizzysher because I didn't know any of these came in white! Diva does! I will be comparing features, etc., but I sure didn't want to design around a slab of black glass, so this is a contender :)

The major difference I see between the GE profile and Monogram is the Mongram in black doesn't have a stainless frame. This allows for smooth melding of the cooktop into the granite or quartz countertop with no seams. No stainless scratches or dents and no crud build-up on stainless frame seams.

Greg

The GE Profile line also has the 30" and 36" available without the stainless frame.

Here is a link that might be useful: GE Profile 36

I also noticed that GE Monogram has WHITE 30 and 36 induction cooktops. However, they both have black where the controls are, so they aren't completely white like the Diva ones.

Here is a link that might be useful: White 36

Because of this board I bought a DeDetrich 5 burner and I couldn't be happier. I had to add a whole 60 amp circuit to my kitchen, but I've had the cooktop about 15 months and I love it. It has a sleek, shallow rim of stainless, which is very unobtrusive and looks great on my flamed black granite countertops (modern and Japanese kitchen, very minimal).

I would never have found DeDetrich without you guys, or probably even have seriously considered induction, so thanks. When we remodeled I put in a gas line in the island just in case I regretted the induction decision, but fortunately I won't be needng it.

I always do water-boiling demos for my fascinated friends at dinner parties. Puts a new spin on 'a watched pot never boils'.

After reading the GE literature, I believe that the units are not WHITE but Stainless Metallic.

One of the best things about this forum is that it introduced me to induction cooking. I bought the Diva DDP-4 and it is poetry in motion! I love, love, love it. It is fast, powerful, instantly responsive, beautiful, and the coolest thing in my kitchen. I recommend that anyone updating their kitchen give serious consideration to this technology. You won't be disappointed!