We chose Advantium due to the versatility and because it matched our Monogram oven beautifully.

I first used the Advantium at my folks house, and I know what you mean about the button punching: I just wanted to heat something up, and it seemed too complicated to me. However, my "best friend" became the EXPRESS button - punch it once for 30 seconds (instant on), twice for 60, three for 90 seconds, etc. Once I figured this out, I was less intimidated. I got more adventurous when our Advantium arrived, and I caught on in a few days to some of the more advanced functions - especially microwave. Because I rarely use the full extent of this oven's capabilities, I still sometimes have to look at the handy quick reference guide. It does make sense after some experience, so I'm having to use the "cheat sheet" much less after 3 months.

I'm still experimenting with it's presets, our experience is it tends to overcook some things, so if there is something rather delicate that we don't want to overheat, we go manually in steps.

We use our mostly as a microwave. My wife speedcooks sometimes (uses the halogen lights to brown chicken/turkey), and when entertaining, I use it as a 2nd convection oven, or a food warmer (has moist or dry warmer setting), or even a simple dinner plate warmer while I use our main oven for cooking. I could cook almost everything in the Advantium, and use the main oven for warming food/plates, but I still like to use the main oven for higher temperatures (e.g. bread) and roasting - especially larger items. In the case of bread baking, I use the Advantium as proof oven - it's perfect in that function.

I can toast with the Advantium, but I prefer a toaster oven we have nearby on a countertop as it's simple and does a better job. Also,the little toaster oven does the best job reheating things like pizza slices, and I can keep the Advantium available for microwaving/heating other things quickly.

I would always recommend an Advantium in any new or remodeled kitchen over a basic microwave, double ovens, or extra warmers.

-DH of gracesantacruz

I don't have mine in yet, but I know what you mean. I figure that because it's multi-functional, it's a matter, first, of choosing which appliance you want it to be first. :)

Mine is the monogram one, and there are so many menu sublists, I will never get to them all. The reheat options are so very useful. It doesn't destroy the food u r trying to warm. I made an interesting discovery; if you go to defrost/melt/marshmallows/5oz, you have the perfect setting to take the chill off of a bowl of strawberries for breakfast. Just add a splash of half-and-half & it's heaven.
Casey

OMG!!!! Casey, I don't believe this!! There's a setting for defrosting marshmellows?????

Like I said, I hope I live long enough to find all of the secrets hidden in the menus.
I only found that one by accident.
In fairness to GE, they do give you a large manual and a dvd for info/training.
Casey

We are on our second Advantium and I promise, it gets easier. We do not use the microwave feature for much more than heating coffee and making popcorn - oh I do make fabulous dried chickpeas in it - but we use the oven and speedcook features a lot.

An easy way to figure out speedcook options is to push the speedcook button and dial through the options. You can use the "back" button to go back and change options - just don't push start. Or at least make sure the black pan is in. We are not big frozen food consumers but half the house is vegetarian and the kids use the speedcooker for frozen veg. snacks and entrees pretty frequently. It does make for a fast pizza, homemade or frozen.

Truly, it is something I recommend without reservation. I have used the oven feature to bake as well as an extra oven when entertaining - love it.

I'm on my second Advantium also. My first one was through an upgrade to a microwave through Homeshield, didn't even know what it was but it looked nice so we got it. One of our favorite meals is using the Speedcook for a whole chicken, butterflied, rubbed with a little olive oil and sprinkled with lemon pepper. So easy! Our new one through our remodel is a Monogram so I may have to go through a slight learning curve, its a bit different but it will be worth it. My kids even commented when they realized we couldn't use the black GE model "Mom, you are going to get another Advantium, right?" They even love it (lol).
My favorite button also is the 30 second express.

Thanks, all, for responding. This is helpful! I started out thinking I wanted double ovens but it sounds as if an oven plus Advantium set-up will work just fine for us.

Did any of you consider a convection/MW instead?

Do any of you also have a small MW? I thought that we could add a small, no brainer MW to our set-up for those times we need 2 ovens and a MW. I'm also planning on a warming drawer.

This will give us more cooking options than I've ever had. It's hard to figure out what I need or more precisely what I will use (what will be worth the expense) when I've had only a fraction of these options.

We have had our Advantium for several years and love it. In our current remodel, we had to change from outside vent to recirculating. The manual says to install a carbon filter kit, but I cannot find one on the GE website nor anyone that carries it. Has anyone purchased this kit and if so where can I get it. I have ordered both filters available on GE's site, and neither one fits. Thanks in advance for any advice.