My usual computer is taking five (or more like fifty-five), so I apologize for my delayed response of sincerely and gratefully thanking you all for your terrific insight and comments. This has been a really cathartic experience for me, both in terms of just putting it out there (writing my initial post) as well as getting such valuable feedback from you all. A quick point of clarification: the AR does have convection and a large capacity, it's the Gaggenau which has neither (nor french door but it does have a side-opening door), which is why the Gaggenau isn't a contender. I bake lots more than cookies -- night before last we made Sticky Toffee Pudding for a crowd, and baked in an earthenware 9X12 that gets heavy and unwieldy, esp. as it was a bain marie. I also bake almost all our breads (for which I often use a peel, so not sure the french door feature would affect that much) plus casseroles, etc. There are lots of things (both savory and sweet) which are baked and which aren't cookies which are also vegan / vegetarian! And it's these heavy things which make me lust for the french door feature. But in all fairness, baking cookies is my favorite -- how'd you know? If it were based on looks alone (between these two, AR and Electrolux), the Electrolux would win hands-down. But we haven't chosen kitchen apps based on looks (my mother does that and it's a joke trying to cook in her kitchen, but then again, she doesn't cook) but on function. To us (husband and me), the beauty is in its utility. If it works well and does what we need and want, then it'll look good to us! Anyway, this salutary back-and-forth with you all made me decide on the Electrolux. The only way I can get my hands on an AR is either to fly out to AR headquarters or purchase one. It is a brand-new product, and if I were to get one I'd be in the first generation, with all that implies (and I mean as a potential problem finder). The only place to sell one here (in CO) is a restaurant supply, and they'd have to special order me one (hence the discount, because to them ordering one oven for a residential customer when they're ordering in bulk for commercial purposes is no big deal). That would mean even though they'd also service it, it's not as if they'd see a ton of these ovens so who knows what experience(s) we could have .... I hadn't thought of that, so I am so, so grateful to you for bringing it up. How much would I resent an oven which malfunctioned, esp. an incredibly expensive oven? I'd be so ticked .... (That's not saying the AR will be a dud -- I've tried to read as much as I can about AR but its residential line [all of it, I think] is new. Electrolux is newish, too, but I've been able to read more about it.) For twenty-odd years (I'm in my 30s) I've baked in a wall oven with the door which opens down -- I'm used to it. I actually baked in an Electrolux and liked it. I love its big window and I really like its price. So, with the money I'm not spending on the AR I'm taking my little children and husband to New Orleans for the winter holidays plus I'll still have money left over! Imagine that .... Thank you, thank you, thank you all!

"I would give very serious consideration to the experience of the installer. The best window in the world is only as good as the quality of the installation." DING DING DING... We have a winner. I'd rather have poor windows installed perfectly then the best ever made installed by an idiot that can't follow basic instructions. If I had a dollar for every bad installation that was supported by a testiment of having previously installed thousands of windows, I'd have retired years ago. There are plenty of window installers that will be quick to tell you they have put in thousands without including the vital information.... not one was done correctly.

To get a SHGC of .60 in a window that is produced by a main stream manufacturer you can accomplish this with clear glass and argon. The result is a .60 SHGC and a u- value of .49. If you have to use solar shades to offset the poor energy efficiency what is the cost? Adding another product to the project will add more cost as well. The reason that Serious is unique is that they give you the ability to get high SGHC and low u-value at the same time. I don't believe that the cost of a window with a high u-value & SHGC plus a solar shading system is less than the cost of a Serious Window. You can get a Serious 525 series PW for approximately $275.00 with glass package 5 .22 u-value & .50 SHGC or glass package 8 .17 u-value & .25 SHGC. Yes I have seen both glass packages in the same house. There is a noticable difference but it is not offensive nor does it look dark. It is true that the number of these types of projects is few in most area's of the country. However in the Pacific NW we are seeing a lot of it. We have sold several single family projects (of these there are a few retrofits), a multi family building, and are working on a couple Net Zero office buildings. I think that as construction comes back we will see more and more of it. We are already seeing evidence of this. I am always interested in learning more about specific products or construction techniques. If there are specific brands out there that perform the same I am eager to learn more. Our business is focused on this market and the more I have to offer the more successful we will be.

That platypus was cute and playful with a cautious note. These committee assembled animals do have a poisonous spur on each hind leg. However, only the male has those; The females loose theirs as they grow up. According to the link below, their poison is different to several other types of poison. It is painful and long lasting. It has been observed that poison production peaks during mating season. http://web.expasy.org/spotlight/back_issues/029/