Wallycat: I was in your spot this spring/summer and ended up with the 800 instead of the 500. It was a decision based on reading comments on GW from folks who said they liked having the controls on the stainless strip instead of on the glass surface. I've come to understand why. If you have one of those smart phones with a touch screen, you'll understand. If your fingers are wet - or, it seems to me, too dry (if that makes sense) -- there isn't enough spark to communicate with the touch pad on the ceramic surface. Finger condition, though, makes no difference to selections made on the stainless strip. (With the 800, you still use the touch screen to select the burners you'll use.) Maybe I'm just rationalizing my decision, but I think that for something I use every day, it was worth the extra price for the selections on the strip. As to the boost issue, I just tried this experiment, I have a 36", so the two 7" burners on the left share power. I put one of the 7" burners on boost and then turned on the other 7" one. Turning on the second burner resulted in the cooktop automatically moving the first burner's cook level from boost to "9." I was able to put both burners on "9." In day-to-day cooking, though, I've not found the boost situation to be a problem. Probably because I haven't needed to use boost on two "shared" burners at the same time. Usually if I need boost on two, it's the large center burner + one of the side burners. So there's not been a sharing issue. Oh, yes, keep your eyes out for Bosch promos. The company seems to cycle at $300 off promo on cooktops with regularity.

The Bosch NIT5665UC is about $2300 whereas the NIT5666UC is $1700. I'm getting the 36" for the very reason it comes with the direct select temperature. I have no idea why they took it from the 30" unless it was a cost-cutting measure. The direct select is also the reason I'm choosing it over a similarly priced GE Profile 36". So far, here are all the appliances I'm getting: Bosch NIT5666UC 36" Induction cooktop Bosch HBL5450UC Wall oven w European convection Xtreme Air PX01-I42 42" Island Mount Range Hood Panasonic NNSE982S 2.2 cu. ft. Microwave w inverter I might get a new dishwasher and front-load washer/dryer, but I'll have to save that for a bit later once I pay for the new hardwoods, drywall, and granite countertop and let the financial dust settle for a while. This post was edited by karrillion on Sat, Apr 19, 14 at 15:32

I have the 800 and yes, I guess those are the main differences. With Auto-Chef, they supply you with a pan, you can program in meals that you are cooking, it preheats the pan to the proper temp, beeps when it is ready, makes adjustments based on the meal. The pan retails for over 100.00 although I'd say much of that is due to the Bosch label, but still, a great pan. I selected the 800 model not for the Auto-Chef features, although I do love the pan they sent, but for the controls on the trim. We are a family of 5, I did not want to constantly be cleaning fingerprints from the glass. I like the layout with them on the strip, it does not show any prints at all. Plus I prefer the looks of the unit with the controls on the strip versus glass. If I was going to spend this much on a cooktop, may as well get the one I prefer to look at as well as cook on. I saved money with Tramontina Tri-Ply cookware from Walmart. Highly rated on Chowhound forums and the reviews don't lie - it's great cookware at a superb price!

I have a 500 sitting on my island, waiting for countertops to be installed in 2 weeks. I didn't know I was so lucky to have one! I picked it out in August, before we started demolition. I didn't get the impression that it was difficult to secure. I was under the impression that the only big difference was the Auto Chef program. I'd never it figure out, but it might be handy for someone who has the patience to read manuals and follow directions. It is very attractive. It will be my first experience with induction, but I will post more when it is installed. Stephanie