GE seems to be about the only manufacturer doing this, enabling a slide-in look, with front controls, and an optional SS backsplash. With the tight countertop variances necessary with most slide-ins, this is a nice feature. It's frustrating that there are few reviews so far on this series of ranges. In looking at the stove, my only complaint is that the metalized plastic knobs, though they look OK, don't work as smoothly as I'd like, and it has porcelain coated oven grates (as opposed to stainless steel). Also the griddle for the bridge burner is Teflon coated, which I could do without.

I have a 17 1/2 year old GE slide-in that has been flawless, so I've got my eye on this one.

The pro-style ranges like DCS, Wolf, Capital, Bluestar and Viking are free-standing but look a lot like slide-ins - the controls are on the front and there's no backsplash with controls on it behind the range. Plus, they go all the way back to the wall so you don't need a countertop strip behind them.

Weissman, of course you're correct. I wasn't considering the pro-style ranges when I said GE was one of the few doing this. Certainly, when you start getting into the $2400 area for a range, the 30" pro-style ranges start to become competitive, at about a grand more. My issue, as I'm planning my kitchen, is my frustration with some of the reliability issues that come with the pro-style ranges. I think that's what gives the new GE Cafe range such a good market niche. That is, if they can deliver a reliable, well designed product. The jury, however, is still out on that one.

So these seem to be a fairly rare item...at least in the sub-professional class ranges. That's too bad as that seems to be a great feature.

Thanks for your input,
Rob.

This is the type of GE range I bought 18+ years ago... and I live in fear of having a hard time replacing it when it dies. Standard 30" range, with no "back" sticking up and all controls infront... My stove "backsplash is a piece of corian to match the countertop, which comesright to the top of the counter... I really don't wnt to have to pull that down and replace with a range with a "back".... Interesting to me that this many years later it's still GE doing this.. but I'm glad to hear it!

I have a free standing range.... It is a slide in and made by Kitchenaid (stainless). It looks great and yes, you are right it is important to make sure it will slide in over your counter on the sides. They have a stainless steel backsplash you can order to go behind it if you don't have tile. Like I said we love the look of it ... gas top and oven is gas and convection. The controls are very easy to use. Be sure to get the extended warranty as our convection went out after only 2 years. We also had one other repair that was covered under warranty. It looks and works great, but get the extended warranty would be my advice.

If the stove overlaps the counter sides, it is considered a slide in, not a free standing range. The freestanding KA range has a non-removable, black enamel on stainless, backsplash, and it does not overlap the counters.