I have two - one at work and one at home. At work I use the National Presto 04830 Corn Popper. At home I use the Nordic Ware 60120 Microwave Popcorn Popper. As far as how the popcorn pops and how it tastes, I like them both equally. The downside to the Presto is that it uses discs in the bottom of the bowl that need to be replaced occasionally. The Nordicware is my favorite. Yes, it's just a bowl and a lid, but I love the way the popcorn pops and tastes. Different than if I just use any old bowl. I recommend it.

Dr. Oz had one on his show yesterday. I thought it looked interesting.

Oddly, we have two as well. A Nordic and a Back to Basics. They both work well. A huge advantage for me is that you can use very little or even no oil - making it my go to low cal snack food.
Be sure to get high quality popcorn. We buy an organic popcorn from a small local food store that is fantastic and at 89 cents a pound, it really is not a splurge.

I use bagged, I picked one up last week with butter by mistake and won't eat it cold because of the cold butter or grease. Other wise I don't notice an unusual taste. I prefer to butter my own.

I frequently microwave basic popcorn for watching tv movies.

All I do is put about 1/4 cup popcorn kernels in a pyrex bowl, add a few drops of water & lightly mix so the kernels are just barely wet-coated, cover & run it in the microwave for five & 1/2 minutes.

We have an electric air-popper, but since coming up with this simple system, it's gathering dust up in the cupboard.

Melt butter on the stove, pour & mix.

I gave my daughter my tupperware microwave cookware. She uses one of them for popcorn. Makes great popcorn with less mess and fuss than on the stove.

I tried one of my pretty pottery dishes that has a cover, and unfortunately the second time I used it, it cracked.

I shall try a pyrex ware bowl. Thanks for the tip.

Moni

I had one years ago, but somewhere along the line switched to a hot-air popper, which I love.

Somebody on the Today Show mentioned the other day that you can microwave popcorn in a brown paper lunch bag. No oil needed. I don't know how she secured the top, though.

Alisande, Alton Brown demonstrated the paper bag technique on his show some time ago. He stapled the bag shut. I know - metal. But the teensy staples in tea bags don't seem to be a problem in the microwave and neither did the staples in the paper bag.

Thanks, Donna. I like the economics of that method. :-)

Can't stand microwave popcorn....I have a hot air corn pumper. No oil at all, no oil smell.

I've used the microwave paperbag method a few times and don't care for it. My recipe calls for tape instead of a staple. They both work. My problem is that a good amount of the corn does not pop or when it does, some is burned. I love my hot air popper (cheap one from Target) and use it 2 ot 3 times per week. The popcorn comes out perfect everytime :)